GLENDORA, Calif. -- Last year, Summit Racing Equipment, an industry leader in the distribution of auto racing parts and equipment through catalogs and the Internet, reached a multiyear, multimillion-dollar agreement with NHRA to become the primary sponsor of NHRA's Summit Racing Series.

The commitment by Summit was a huge boost to the sportsman series, which has long been the backbone of the sport. The sponsorship more than doubled the financial commitment to the series, including a record increase in cash payouts and awards. In addition, the series included a national event where a champion in each category was crowned. Summit Racing also developed extensive programming for both consumers and enthusiasts designed to increase visibility for the sport on a national level. Internet components and links to the Summit Racing (www.summitracing.com) and NHRA (www.nhra.com) web sites are part of the initiative to increase racer participation.

As many as 300,000 racers nationwide participated in the NHRA Summit Racing Series, beginning in 2000. The NHRA Summit Racing Series will be the largest organized series in drag racing nationwide.

"Summit Racing's increased involvement with NHRA and sponsorship of the E.T. Drag Racing Series significantly elevates our already established and successful grassroots racing programs," said NHRA President Tom Compton. "In addition, Summit has increased its visibility with grassroots drag racers, forging an even greater relationship with many of their best customers. Not only does Summit Racing's involvement with the E.T. program significantly increase the E.T. series purse, but it also maximizes opportunities available in the programs for our local-based competitors across North America.

"With Summit's aggressive approach to its sponsorship of this series, we have been able to enhance our value to member tracks while giving them the resources to stage events that benefit both the racer and the venue," Compton added.

The NHRA Summit Racing Series features a bracket racing format allowing drivers in many types of cars, including dragster, roadsters, sedans and coupes, to compete on an equal basis against each other. In addition to three categories of competition for cars, a motorcycle category is also featured.

NHRA Summit Racing Series racers compete for points and cash awards in a number of qualifying events at 140 NHRA member tracks throughout North America. Drivers who gain the most points will compete for individual and team honors at the Summit Racing NHRA Division E.T. Finals in each of NHRA's seven divisions. Individual winners in each category receive a division trophy and travel expenses to attend the Summit Racing NHRA National E.T. Finals, where they will compete for a "winner-takes-all" $5,000 purse.

In addition to the Summit Racing Series, Summit Racing is the primary sponsor for Mark Pawuk's Pontiac Firebird in Pro Stock; John Lingenfelter's Chevy S-10 in Pro Stock Truck; Dan Fletcher's '69 Camaro in Super Stock and '99 Pontiac Firebird in Stock. The company is also the presenting sponsor of NHRA's national event in Columbus, Ohio, and the title sponsor of the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas.

NHRA has featured an E.T. drag racing series since the mid-1970s. It provides safe, even, and exciting competition for the grassroots racer, the backbone of NHRA.

Summit Racing Equipment, the industry's largest direct marketer of performance automotive and truck equipment, is based in Tallmadge, Ohio, with warehouses in Tallmadge and Sparks, Nev. Founded in 1968, Summit Racing markets products through mail-order catalogs and the internet.