Drag racers within NHRA’s Lucas Oil Sportsman ranks will see increased benefits & exposure in 2016…
New Contingency Added
Lucas Oil Products Inc., a longtime supporter of Sportsman racing, unveiled a new contingency program for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, honoring Sportsman racers across North America.
The new Lucas Oil Contingency program will award $300 to all winners of national events in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as pay $100 to all runners-up. In addition, racers will be paid immediately, in the winner’s circle of each event.
There will be two different contingency programs, one for transmission and differentials lubricants and one for engine oil.
“The racers have been asking for this for a long time now, so we put together this program to give them a little extra incentive to use our products, which are the best in the world,” Lucas Oil co-founder Forrest Lucas said. “We also heard them when they said other contingency programs took a long time to pay them, so we will be paying them right there in the winner’s circle. We’re excited to kick this off in Pomona.”
To be eligible for the new Lucas Oil Contingency program, racers must purchase applicable products from the Lucas Oil trailer that will be at all national events. Products must be purchased before the first round of qualifying.
Displaying Lucas Oil stickers on race vehicles is encouraged but not required. Racers can get stickers at the Lucas Oil trailer.
The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and many other classes, kicks off with the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in February.
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series to be Televised
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where the future stars of NHRA Drag Racing are born, will be showcased in 16 races throughout the season on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and FOX Sports 2 (FS2) during 2016.
FS2 will televise a one hour program of select 2016 Lucas Oil Series events in primetime from 9-10 p.m. on the Thursday following each national event. In addition, FS1 will re-air the one hour telecasts within three days of the original FS2 Thursday broadcast.
Lucas Oil Series races also will appear in Canada and the Caribbean through FOX Sports Racing, as well as being available through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on the go and now is available to 86 million subscribers.
“The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is an important developmental series in NHRA Drag Racing and we are thrilled to showcase those great racers in action on the FOX Sports Networks,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA president. “It is important for our fans to connect with the Sportsman level of competition and we know that our new telecasts will succeed in that goal.”
The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is NHRA’s marquee Sportsman series. Racing categories include Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, Competition Eliminator and Super Stock, among others. Prominent graduates of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series who have gone on to successful careers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series include Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein, Shawn Langdon, Courtney Force, Erica Enders, Brittany Force, Alexis DeJoria, and Jeg Coughlin.
The first Lucas Oil Series telecast will air from the season-opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. (Feb. 18, 9-10 p.m.) on FS2 with a rebroadcast on FS1 (Feb. 19, 10-11 a.m.). FS1 will air a second rebroadcast of the season opener on Thursday, Feb. 25 from 8-9 p.m.
The season’s premiere event, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, will be telecast on Sept. 8 from 9-10 p.m. on FS2 with a re-air on FS1 on Sept. 11 from 3-4 p.m. The season-finale Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona will air on FS2 on Nov. 17 from 9-10 p.m. with FS1’s rebroadcast on Nov. 18 from 3-4 p.m.
Posted by NHRA Communications & Rob Geiger
DragRaceCanada file photos by Bruce Biegler
