NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES REPRESENTATIVES RING OPENING BELL AT NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

More than 20 NHRA sponsors and/or partners who are listed on the New York Stock Exchange were invited by the NYSE to take part in the event, which serves as a kickoff for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, which will be hosting the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals June 11-14 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series remains the only major motorsport to host a race in the New York Area, the nation's No. 1 DMA.

NHRA President Tom Compton was joined in ringing The Opening Bell by Coca-Cola North America Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing Beatriz Perez, Coca-Cola North America Director of Motorsports Marketing Ben Reiling, and George Pyne, President of IMG's Sports and Entertainment Group.

The contingent on the podium also included drivers Antron Brown (Matco Tools), Ashley Force Hood (Ford, BP/Castrol), Bob Tasca (Ford), Tony Pedregon (Quaker State), Eddie Krawiec (Harley-Davidson), and Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer (GEICO) - as well as Marci Brand, Regional Vice President for the Automotive Americas (Castrol); Darryl Hazel President, Ford Customer Service Division (Ford); Tim Gilmore, Vice President Sales (Matco Tools); and GEICO executive Eric Vaden.

The Opening Bell was shown around the world on the four major business channels (CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg and CNN) and also was simulcast on the giant flat screen on the W Hotel in Times Square. You can download a webcast of the event here (http://www.nyse.com/events/1244456705229.html).

NHRA was featured on CNBC, as well as on Fox Business, where Compton, Perez, and Tasca were interviewed. NHRA also will be featured on Fox Business' America's Nightly Scoreboard at 7:40 p.m. ET Wednesday, where GEICO-sponsored racers Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer will be interviewed.

NHRA also hosted a fan fest in front of the NYSE featuring the Matco Tools dragster, Geico Powersports dragster, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, and the Geico Powersports Suzuki. Full Throttle Energy Drink was represented on a themed NHRA Full Throttle Series banner on the façade of the NYSE.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 events through its NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.