NHRA UNVEILS 2005 NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE

GLENDORA, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2004) – NHRA announced today its 2005 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, which features a return to all venues currently on the 2004 schedule.

The chase for 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world championships begins with the 45th running of the K&N Filters Winternationals at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway, Feb. 10-13, and ends at the legendary Southern California drag strip during the 41st annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 3-6.
Other schedule highlights include a move of the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago to June 9-12, while the Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals in Columbus, Ohio will move back to May 19-22.

Celebrating its 25th consecutive year at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. will be the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, and the O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals (Dallas) will be mark its 20th anniversary at the famed Texas Motorplex.

In the early part of the season, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will return to historic Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway for the 36th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, followed by the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, April 14-17. NHRA’s Memorial Day tradition in Topeka, Kan. continues with the 17th running of the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park.
All NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events will feature competition in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. Pro Stock Bike will again be featured at 15 events, including Gainesville, Fla.; Houston; Commerce, Ga.; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Englishtown, N.J.; St. Louis; Denver; Sonoma, Calif.; Brainerd, Minn.; Indianapolis; Reading, Pa.; Memphis, Tenn.; Las Vegas and Pomona, Calif.

ESPN and ESPN2 will again provide television coverage of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series on a same-day tape or live basis.

2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule

Feb. 10-13 45th annual
K&N Filters Winternationals Pomona, Calif.

Feb. 25-27 21st annual
Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals Phoenix

March 17-20 36th annual
Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, Fla.

April 8-10 18th annual
O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Houston

April 14-17 Sixth annual
NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals Las Vegas

April 29-May 1 Fifth annual
O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, Tenn.

May 12-15 25th annual
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Commerce, Ga.

May 19-22 41st annual
Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals Columbus, Ohio

May 26-29 17th annual
O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals Topeka, Kan.

June 9-12 Eighth annual
NHRA Route 66 Nationals Chicago

June 16-19 36th annual
K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals Englishtown, N.J.

June 24-26 Ninth annual
Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals St. Louis

July 15-17 26th annual
Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals Denver

July 22-24 18th annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Seattle

July 29 – 31 18th annual
FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals Sonoma, Calif.

Aug. 11-14 24th annual
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd, Minn.

Aug. 19-21 18th annual
O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals Memphis, Tenn.

Aug. 31 – Sept. 5 51st annual
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Indianapolis

Sept. 15-18 21st annual
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Reading, Pa.

Sept. 22-25 20th annual
O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals Dallas

Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 Fifth annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Chicago

Oct. 20-23 Fifth annual
ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals Las Vegas

Nov. 3-6 41st annual
Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Pomona, Calif.