NHRA and Travis Tritt form alliance

Report from Motorsport News International

Oct. 26, 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications

NHRA FORMS ALLIANCE WITH COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR TRAVIS TRITT

GLENDORA, Calif. -- Country music superstar Travis Tritt and the National Hot Rod Association will pursue joint promotional opportunities starting at the 1996 Winston Select Finals.

Warner Brothers recording artist Tritt has sold 14 million records and has 12 No. 1 hits, including such country standards as "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)," "Country Club" and "Anymore." His latest Warner Brothers record is "The Restless Kind."

"We think this is a great opportunity for NHRA and Travis," NHRA President Dallas Gardner said. "This is a logical, exciting partnership because many of our fans love country music, and Travis is one of the most popular superstars in the music industry today. The promotional potential for both of us is unlimited."

Tritt will be the grand marshal of the Winston Select Finals, Oct. 24-27 at Pomona Raceway. He also will serve as the co-host of the NHRA Winston Championship Awards Ceremony on Oct. 28 at Cerritos, Calif. The ceremony will be televised from 8-10 p.m. (EST) Nov. 1 on The Nashville Network.

A longtime drag racing fan, Tritt will attend Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School on Oct. 29-30 at Pomona Raceway to earn his NHRA Super Comp competition license.

Many cross-promotional opportunities will be pursued with Tritt to combine NHRA Winston Drag Racing and country music. Those plans include merchandising, television appearances and video promotions. Tritt also will write a unique NHRA-themed song and video that will precede every NHRA telecast, and he will record a rendition of the national anthem to be used at every NHRA national event. -30-

-- Paul Kelly NHRA Communications

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