50th anniversary special events

GLENDORA, Calif. (March 27, 2001) - Fireworks, car club gatherings, duels and lucrative bonus shootouts are several of the featured attractions planned for the 47th annual U.S. Nationals as the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) continues its year-long 50th anniversary celebration.

The U.S. Nationals, the most prestigious drag racing event in the world, will take place on its traditional Labor Day Weekend dates, Aug. 29 - Sept. 3, at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The $2.5 million race is the 18th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

"It is only fitting that we conduct special activities and events in what is truly the most anticipated and talked about drag racing event in the world," said Tom Compton, president of NHRA. "There will be no place in the world come Labor Day weekend that a fan of NHRA Drag Racing would want to be than at the 47th running of the U.S. Nationals at the historic Indianapolis Raceway Park facility, in this, our 50th anniversary year."

Highlighting the weekend of thunder will be the return of Saturday night qualifying, one of the most spectacular sights in all of motorsports. Of course, fans also will be able to experience night qualifying on Friday as well. In addition, NHRA plans special car club days on Sunday and Monday where the sanctioning body expects a wide variety of late model and vintage hot rods will be showcased.

On Saturday night, more than 900 Chevrolets will be parked in the IRP oval as part of a Chevrolet Car Club event. Other special 50th anniversary commemorative celebrations are planned throughout the weekend and will be announced in the near future. A special hospitality tent will be erected on-site to honor the many proud past champions of the U.S. Nationals over the last 46 years.

Another tradition at the U.S. Nationals -- the lucrative Budweiser Shootout -- will once again pit the year's eight quickest Funny Car teams in a special elimination format that will pay the winner $100,000. For Funny Car competitors who win both the Budweiser Shootout and the U.S. Nationals, a special "double-up" bonus of $50,000 will be awarded by the NHRA.

Qualified Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors also will race for bonus cash in the $50,000 Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel. Should a Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor "double-up" by winning the Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel and U.S. Nationals, he or she will receive a $10,000 bonus from NHRA.

Fans of the ultra-competitive Super Stock category will be treated to the popular Mopar Hemi-Shootout. In all, more than 1,000 cars are expected to compete during the event, with thousands more participating in the numerous car club activities.

Those interested in participating in the event, in either the competition or car club activities, can call the NHRA at (626) 914-4761. For ticket information, call (800) 884-NHRA.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has nearly 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

-NHRA