HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY EXTENDS OFFICIAL STATUS, NAMING RIGHTS OF SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE SERIES THROUGH 2016

With the Harley-Davidson Museum® in downtown Milwaukee as a backdrop, hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts in the audience, and the Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team in attendance, NHRA officials announced today that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has extended both its official program with NHRA and its title sponsorship of the NHRA Harley-Davidson Sportsman Motorcycle Series through the 2016 season.

“This relationship began in 2006 and this extension represents the strength of the partnership between two iconic American brands: NHRA and Harley-Davidson,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “We are excited to extend this sponsorship through the 2016 season and appreciate everything the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has done and will continue to do to build and grow NHRA.”

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team first entered NHRA competition aboard Harley-Davidson V-Rod® in 2004, and has since claimed five NHRA Full Throttle world championships, including three consecutive with rider Andrew Hines (2004-’06) and two titles with Eddie Krawiec (2008, 2011).

“This relationship between Harley-Davidson and the NHRA has been rewarding at all levels,” said Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Kris Schoonover, “from the team’s success on the track to our interaction with the many Harley-Davidson riders and fans who attend every NHRA event, Harley-Davidson and drag racing really work well together, and the company is pleased to extend this partnership.”

This extension continues the all-encompassing involvement of Harley-Davidson with NHRA at a number of levels, including the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. As the official motorcycle of NHRA, Harley-Davidson has an extensive presence on-site at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events as well as in the ESPN2/ESPN2HD broadcasts.

One of the more popular elements on-site at each event in NHRA’s Nitro Alley is the Harley-Davidson display, which provides fans with the opportunity to see the latest Harley-Davidson motorcycles and enjoy many interactive elements. The company also will continue its motorcycle giveaway promotion in conjunction with NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events and maintain entitlement of the NHRA Harley-Davidson Sportsman Motorcycle Series.

The NHRA Harley-Davidson Sportsman Motorcycle Series is contested in four of NHRA’s seven divisions within the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The sponsorship provides Harley-Davidson with the opportunity to extend its brand across the country through NHRA’s sportsman racing community.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise.  For more information, visitwww.harley-davidson.com.

Biggest part of Brogdon's weekend was honoring Tennessee soldiers

NHRA Pro Stock driver Roger Brogdon was consistent all weekend, but in the end it was not enough to get him past the first round of eliminations on Father's Day.

"We just came up a little short," Brogdon said. "Until I learn how to drive, we ain't gonna beat nobody. We made five good runs, but just came up a little short."

The driver of the MAVTV/Lucas Oil Pontiac GXP made five runs all within a few thousandths of a second of each other – 6.712, 6.678, 6.689, and 6.688, respectively, in qualifying, but it wasn't enough for the sixth seed at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday at Bristol Dragway.

In what was the best race of the opening round, Brogdon was fastest off the start and made his pass in 6.682 seconds at 205.91 mph, but fell to Erica Enders, who made her run in 6.670 seconds at 206.51 mph.

"The guys did a good job with my car, but it just didn’t work out," Brogdon said.

But despite the early round loss, Brogdon had a good weekend in the car and at the track with the Hot Rod for Heroes program. All weekend, Brogdon carried nine photographs, taped to the dash inside his Pontiac, of Eastern Tennessee soldiers killed in combat.

"That was great," Brogdon said about having the Hot Rod for Heroes program with him at Bristol. "I was just real glad I was able to entertain all those people. It is such a great organization and what they are doing is amazing. I am always happy to be included in stuff like this."

Because of his solid runs, Brogdon will pack it up and get ready to head to Chicago for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals, June 28-July 1, at Route 66 Raceway.

"We don’t have a whole lot to test right now," Brogdon said. "The cars are making good runs. (The crew) is going to stay and work on some tires and stuff. But, we are just going to keep doing what we are doing until they give us something else to work on."

NITRO HARLEYS TO BE FEATURED IN BRISTOL

The always-entertaining NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson exhibitions will make their second and final scheduled appearance of the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 15-17. The NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson exhibitions feature eight-bike fields and will be showcased on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The high-powered, nitromethane-fueled Nitro Harleys can reach speeds of more than 200 mph and are always a huge hit with fans.