News release: Sponsorship announced for 4-wide NHRA event

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2011) - Standing in front of a 40-ton sand sculpture of an NHRA Top Fuel dragster, zMAX Dragway officials announced VisitMyrtleBeach.com as the new title sponsor of the second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 14-17 at zMAX Dragway.

Myrtle Beach, S.C., popularly known as The Grand Strand, has been one of the South’s most popular tourism destinations for years and www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com/NHRA will now attach its name to the most unique event in drag racing at the sport’s premier facility. The Four-Wide Nationals is the only event on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series calendar where competitors break from the traditional form of two-wide drag racing to race four wide with a 32,000 horsepower assault on the Bellagio of drag strips.

“The Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is excited to kick off its 2011 marketing partnership with the Charlotte Motor Speedway at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, which is hands down the greatest spectacle in drag racing,” said Scott Schult, executive vice president of marketing for the MBACVB. “It’s a great fit because both our organizations are about delivering family friendly experiences.  We look forward to growing the Myrtle Beach fan base through this multi-channel marketing partnership.”

In addition to sponsoring the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Visit Myrtle Beach will become the official vacation destination of Charlotte Motor Speedway and zMAX Dragway and partner on a number of cross promotions throughout 2011, including May Fest, Myrtle Beach’s month-long celebration in May that will include themed weekends and activities at key locations along The Grand Strand.

“This is a great partnership for a number of reasons,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “At the core of it is the fact that our fans love racing and they love Myrtle Beach.  We both offer excellent family friendly entertainment on a year-round basis, to the same demographic and in similar geographic areas. To have Visit Myrtle Beach come on board with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is a testament not only to NHRA drag racing but to this event, which we believe can become one of the greatest in the sport.”

“We are pleased to welcome Visit Myrtle Beach into the NHRA family of sponsors,” said Tony Driscoll, vice president of sales and business development, NHRA. “Their involvement with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will elevate awareness about the Myrtle Beach experience around the region as well as nationally through exposure on ESPN2. We look forward to a great partnership.”

As a part of the new sponsorship, fans can now purchase tickets to the second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, April 14-17, by going to www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com/NHRA. To purchase tickets by phone, call the zMAX Dragway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

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