Castrol GTX Sponsors Jr. Drag Racing League

GLENDORA, Calif. - Castrol Consumer North America has reached a multi-year agreement with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to become the series sponsor of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League.

In addition to becoming the title sponsor for the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League, Castrol also becomes the official motor oil of the Jr. Drag Racing League. The three-year agreement will extend through 2002.

"We're delighted that Castrol has decided to increase its support of the NHRA by becoming the title sponsor of the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League," said Gary Darcy, NHRA vice president of marketing. "Castrol has certainly demonstrated an ability to effectively utilize NHRA championship drag racing programs to market their products over the years. With their sponsorship of the Jr. Drag Racing League, Castrol is venturing into the most basic level of grassroots motorsports and tapping into an unlimited resource - NHRA drag racers of the future."

The Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League will feature for the first-time two premier events for the next three years. The NHRA Castrol GTX Western Conference Finals, July 27-29, at Bandimere Speedway in Denver; and the NHRA Castrol GTX Eastern Conference Finals, June 29-July 1, at Maple Grove Raceway, in Reading, Pa. Overall, the two events will award more than $200,000 in savings bonds.

NHRA Jr. Dragsters are half-scale dragsters powered by five-horsepower engines that produce speeds up to 85 mph. The NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League is open to anyone to join, but drivers must be between the ages of 8-17 to compete. The average age of a Jr. drag racer is 12 years old.

In addition to the Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League, Castrol North America, Inc. is also the primary sponsor for Funny Cars driven by John Force and Tony Pedregon and Pro Stock Trucks driven by Steve Johns and Rob Slavinski. Castrol also sponsors an NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event in Dallas in the spring and is the presenting sponsor for a second Dallas event, in the fall.

"The Castrol family couldn't be happier with our increased involvement with the NHRA," said John Howell, manager of motorsports for Castrol Consumer North America. "Our sponsorship of the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League enhances our commitment to the sport of NHRA drag racing by providing a solid foundation for the champions of tomorrow."

The NHRA debuted the Jr. Drag Racing League in 1992, with the first National Championships contested at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1994. The Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League enables young racing fans to compete on a safe level in a controlled environment. Graduates of the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League that now compete in sportsman and pro NHRA categories include Super Comp racer Erica Enders and Pro Stock driver Richie Stevens.

"The Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League is a very unique program and unparalleled in the world of motorsports," said Darcy. "It provides the ultimate forum for our young fans to participate in drag racing in a controlled and safe environment. No form of motorsports on the planet provides such a venue and it is a testament to NHRA's commitment to the growth of the sport and to its growing fan base."

Castrol Consumer North America markets leadership brands Castrol GTX®, Castrol SYNTEC® and Castrol SYNTEC BLEND®, in the conventional, full synthetic and synthetic blend lubricant product segments, respectively. Castrol also maintains a leadership position in the automotive chemical market via the Castrol SUPER CLEAN® line of products.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 85,000 racers and members nationwide and 142 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 Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing E.T. Drag Racing Series, Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League and the Street Legal Program.