New 6-second club announced

NHRA Signs Agreement With Mickey Thompson Performance Tires And Wheels To Sponsor Pro Stock Bike 6-Second Club

GLENDORA, Calif. (March 11, 2002) - The National Hot Rod Association has signed a multi-year agreement with Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels to sponsor the NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club, a special performance bonus for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors, it was announced today.

Beginning at the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors will have the opportunity to compete for the lucrative program, which will award $10,000 to the first Pro Stock Motorcycle racer to break the seven-second barrier. Pro Stock Motorcycle riders will be eligible for the NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club at all 14 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in 2002 that feature the two-wheel category.

"We're very pleased to announce this exciting new bonus program for our Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors," said Bob Wagner, NHRA vice president of sales and business development. "Breaking the seven-second barrier in Pro Stock Motorcycle is one of the last great milestones in drag racing. With the support of Mickey Thompson, we're proud to be able to offer this great incentive for the eight lucky riders who are first to ride their bikes into the six-second zone. We're confident that the NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club will create some thrilling drama for NHRA POWERade Drag Racing fans this season as our bike teams chase this performance milestone."

A total of eight riders will complete the NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club. The second rider to clock a quarter-mile run of 6.99 seconds or quicker will receive $3,000. The third rider to accomplish the feat will receive a check for $2,000 and the fourth rider will earn $1,000. Four checks worth $500 each will be distributed to riders five through eight in the club.

Each member of the NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club will receive a special recognition plaque to honor their achievement. The first rider to break the barrier also will receive a commemorative trophy.

"We have watched the progress of the Pro Stock Bikes over the years in our R&D efforts and have noticed a significant level of improvement since introducing our ET Drag Tires," said Jerry Francis, vice president of sales for Mickey Thompson. "We have continued to refine our performance levels and felt that now was the time to put this type of program together. Everyone at Mickey Thompson is very exited about this program and we feel the racers will be also. We are always pushing the envelope to improve our products and this will show how committed we are to the Pro Stock Bike market."

Matt Hines, rider of the Eagle One Suzuki, holds the NHRA national elapsed time record for Pro Stock Motorcycle at 7.092 seconds. Two-time defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Savoie holds the second-quickest pass on two wheels at 7.099 seconds.

Mickey Thompson Tires, with headquarters in Stow, Ohio and a West Coast office in Temecula, Calif., is a world wide leader in marketing high performance tires and wheels for a variety of automotive uses, including motorsports, street, and off-road.

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 POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 130 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 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Sport Compact 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.

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