FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications, (626) 914-4761
NHRA Media Center Online: https://media.nhra.com
GLENDORA, Calif. (June 26, 2014) – It was announced today that the NHRA has named Mid-Atlantic Energy, which services well completion needs of the shale gas industry in the Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia tri-state area, as presenting sponsor for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series event at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals, June 26-29 at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. It is the sixth of 10 races in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
“This track is in our backyard and it is a great opportunity for our customers and employees to attend an NHRA event,” said Jim Laurita, CEO of Mid-Atlantic Energy. “We are ready to share our passion for drag racing and a weekend of relaxation with friends.”
Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer race cars, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast. The growing class is highlighted by historic muscle cars like,’67 Mustangs and ’68 Firebirds and ’69 Camaros, as well as a variety of newer American muscle cars. With more than 3,000 horsepower, the suspended door pro mod cars travel the quarter-mile in less than six seconds at speeds exceeding 250 mph.
Mid-Atlantic Energy Service is a locally owned and operated oil & gas service company operating in the Marcellus and Utica shales in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Laurita family, which owns Mid-Atlantic, has been in the energy business for more than 60 years and are a leading producer of coal for electric needs as well as producing stone and constructing well sites for the oil and gas industry.
The 2014 NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series competes during a 10-race schedule, with each event televised on the Velocity Channel. The season kicked off at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with Mike Castellana taking the opening victory over 2013 series champion Rickie Smith. Mike Janis took the second race of the season at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals, defeating Castellana in the final. Rickie Smith defeated Von Smith to win the third race of the season at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.
Von Smith raced to victory in the fourth race of the season at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, N.J., beating Jason Hamstra. In the fifth race of the season at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol, Tenn., Pete Farber defeated Steve Matusek.
Each race will air in a half-hour show on the Velocity Channel, which launched in October and is owned by the Discovery Network. The shows, produced by Masters Entertainment Group, will air during 10 consecutive weeks in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Youth Racing for teens and the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.