Lucas Oil named presenting sponsor
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil is set for Sept. 2-7 at historic O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The race is the final event of the regular season in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship and will feature more than 10 hours of television coverage by ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Tickets are available for the event by calling (800) 884-NHRA.
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil can define a drag racing career and past winners of the event comprise a who’s who of the quarter-mile sport, including its greatest legends: Nine-time winner Bob Glidden; ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits, an eight-time winner; seven-time winners Don ‘The Snake’ Prudhomme and Tony Schumacher, and four-time winner John Force. The demanding event will showcase more than 1,000 drag racing vehicles and competition in 12 NHRA categories, including the marquee 7,000 horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.
“We are proud to welcome Lucas Oil aboard as a presenting sponsor for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the most historic and tradition-rich race in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series," said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “Lucas Oil has a vital connection to the city of Indianapolis and to have its support as a presenting sponsor of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, one of the premier sporting events in the great city of Indianapolis, will help us continue to take this prestigious race to new levels of popularity."
The commitment increases Lucas Oil’s involvement in NHRA Championship Drag Racing. The company also sponsors the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for NHRA’s large sportsman racing community. It is also is the sponsor of the popular Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., and was recently named the title sponsor of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals in Phoenix. In addition, Lucas Oil provides several sponsorships for race teams, including the Top Fuel dragsters driven by Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon and European champion Andy Carter. The company also sponsors many race teams in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, including multi-time Top Alcohol Funny Car world champ Frank Manzo.
“We are excited to partner with NHRA, Mac Tools and O’Reilly Raceway Park to become an important part of the world’s premier drag race," said Bob Patison, executive vice president, Lucas Oil Products. “Our company has such a great relationship with the city of Indianapolis through our sponsorship of Lucas Oil Stadium that it is only natural for us to become a presenting sponsor of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, another one of Indianapolis’ sports gems."