1999 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule Announced
6 August 1998
GLENDORA, Calif. -- The NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series will again feature 22 national events, but several significant date changes highlight the 1999 schedule, released Aug. 5 by the National Hot Rod Association.R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and the National Hot Rod Association will make an additional announcement Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. regarding a special event. The national event facility lineup, however, will remain unchanged, featuring the same venues as the 1998 schedule.
Events affected by date changes include Gainesville, Fla.'s Mac Tools Gatornationals, March 18-21, and Houston's Pennzoil Nationals presented by HiLo/O'Reilly Auto Parts, April 8-11. The Mac Tools Gatornationals will move back two weeks in the lineup, while the event at Houston will be held three weeks later than usual.
Atlanta's FRAM Nationals will be held one month later than its traditional date, on May 13-16, taking the date normally occupied by Englishtown, N.J.'s Mopar Parts Nationals, which will now be held one week later, May 20-23.
Virginia's Pennzoil Nationals presented by Trak Auto will move forward one week to April 29-May 2, trading places with Dallas' Castrol Lone Star Nationals, which will be held April 22-25.
Another significant change in the 1999 schedule will include breaking up the two three-in-a-row race spans. Replacing the eastern and western swings will be six different sets of back-to-back races.
"The 1999 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series schedule may be the best ever in trying to place events in the time slots that will give each event the best opportunity for continued growth," said NHRA President Dallas Gardner. "The geographic transition of the Series will be easier on the race teams and supporting industry with the elimination of the crunch we experienced the past two years with having to run three in a row on two occasions. In 1999, we will run several events back-to-back, but even the famed western swing will be broken up with an open weekend after the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals in Denver."
Three other events will be held on new dates: Arizona Nationals (Feb. 25-28); Chicago's FRAM Route 66 Nationals (June 3-6); and Sonoma, Calif.'s Autolite Nationals (Aug. 6-8).
Other traditional aspects of the schedule remain intact, including the 45th U.S. Nationals, Sept. 1-6 at Indianapolis. The Texas Motorplex near Dallas, and Houston Raceway Park will again play host to two national events.
The NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series season will continue to start and finish at Pomona Raceway in Pomona, Calif. The season opens with the 39th annual Chief Auto Parts Winternationals, Feb. 4-7, and closes with the 35th Winston Finals, Nov. 11-14.
"The competition in every market place is the most difficult it has ever been, not only with added motorsports events, but simply with general sports and entertainment activities," said Gardner. "It's difficult to find the optimum time for each event, but I think we're pretty close."
1999 NHRA WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES NATIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE
Feb. 4-7 39th annual CHIEF AUTO PARTS WINTERNATIONALS presented by Pennzoil, Pomona, Calif. Feb. 25-28 15th annual ARIZONA NATIONALS, Phoenix
March 18-21 30th annual MAC TOOLS GATORNATIONALS, Gainesville, Fla.
April 8-11 12th annual PENNZOIL NATIONALS presented by HiLo/O'Reilly Auto Parts, Houston
April 22-25 Third annual CASTROL LONE STAR NATIONALS presented by HiLo/O'Reilly Auto Parts, Dallas
April 29-May 2 Fifth annual PENNZOIL NATIONALS presented by Trak Auto, Richmond, Va.
May 13-16 19th annual FRAM NATIONALS, Atlanta
May 20-23 30th annual MOPAR PARTS NATIONALS, Englishtown, N.J.
June 3-6 Second annual FRAM ROUTE 66 NATIONALS, Chicago
June 10-13 35th annual PONTIAC EXCITEMENT NATIONALS presented by Summit Racing, Columbus, Ohio
June 24-27 Third annual SEARS CRAFTSMAN NATIONALS, Madison, Ill.
July 15-18 21st annual MOPAR PARTS MILE-HIGH NATIONALS, Denver
July 30-Aug. 1 12th annual PROLONG SUPER LUBRICANTS NORTHWEST NATIONALS presented by Al's Auto Parts, Seattle
Aug. 6-8 12th annual AUTOLITE NATIONALS, Sonoma, Calif.
Aug. 19-22 18th annual VISIONAIRE NORTHSTAR NATIONALS, Brainerd, Minn.
Sept. 1-6 45th annual U.S. NATIONALS, Indianapolis
Sept. 16-19 15th annual KEYSTONE NATIONALS, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 30-Oct. 3 11th annual PARTS AMERICA NATIONALS, Topeka, Kan.
Oct. 7-10 12th annual PENNZOIL NATIONALS presented by AutoZone, Memphis, Tenn.
Oct. 21-24 14th annual REVELL NATIONALS, Dallas
Oct. 28-31 Third annual MATCO TOOLS SUPERNATIONALS, Houston
Nov. 11-14 35th annual WINSTON FINALS, Pomona, Calif.
