O’Reilley Auto Parts to Extend Sponsorship to NHRA racers
NHRA, the main sanctioning body for the drag racing sport in the United States, has promptly announced that O’Reilly Auto Parts has readily agreed to extend its sponsorship of the Auto Parts NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex all the way up to the year 2010. If it is to be recalled, O’Reilly Auto Parts has been with NHRA since as early as 1999, which just goes to illustrate the level of partnership these two organizations have developed through the years.
Ron Byerly, O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Vice President of Advertising and Marketing, has this to say on the multi-year extension for NHRA: “O’Reilly Auto Parts is extremely excited to have the opportunity to continue our long-term association with NHRA and the Texas Motorplex. Our relationship with NHRA has grown significantly over the years and we welcome the opportunity to continue to enable our customers to experience the excitement of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing.”
Just recently, in a move to strenghten its specialty and influence on the drag racing industry, O’Reilly has signed a long-term rights deal to the Raceway Park located in Indianapolis. For those unfamiliar with the venue, this just happens to be the home of the world’s largest drag racing event, which is the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
Nevertheless, it is still with the NHRA where O’Reilly Auto Parts is more closely associated. Indeed, the strong relationship between the two parties has been tested through time. But more than the length of service, their camaraderie is also apparent in that O’Reilly’s participation does not just end with the NHRA Fall Nationals, it also has title rights sponsorship of other prestigious NHRA events. This would include the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in the states of Topeka, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis, and Bristol. O’Reilly is also serving as series sponsor of NHRA’s version of the little league division, aptly tagged as O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League.
Gary Darcy, NHRA Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, is more than content with support of the auto parts giant, “O’Reilly Auto Parts continues to be an outstanding partner for NHRA. We appreciate O’Reilly’s significant involvement in NHRA Drag Racing, from our grassroots programs to the NHRA POWERade Series. We look forward to working with O’Reilly Auto Parts for many years to come.”
Another highly satisfied client is Texas Motorplex General Manager, Arthur O’Bright: “O’Reilly continues to be one of the best sponsors in the sport of drag racing and we’re proud to have them as part of the Texas Motorplex family. Our relationship as facility and primary sponsor has just improved and made the O’Reilly Fall Nationals even better throughout the years and we’re looking forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.”