Naming rights for IRP purchased by O'Reilly

In a landmark announcement, historic Indianapolis Raceway Park has been renamed O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis name and logo were unveiled during a press conference Wednesday at the multi-purpose motorsports complex. O'Reilly Auto Parts is one of the nation's largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts.

The track entitlement agreement gives O'Reilly Auto Parts naming rights to the famed multi-use motorsports attraction, host of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the world's oldest and most prestigious drag race, and the Kroger SpeedFest, which includes the Kroger 200 Busch Series race.

Selected as one of the world's "Top 12 Shrines to Speed" in 2004 by RACER Magazine, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is located just west of downtown Indianapolis in Clermont, Ind. Owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the facility thrives as one of the busiest multi-purpose auto racing venues in the United States and features a quarter-mile drag strip, .686-mile asphalt oval and a 2.5-mile road course.

"We are extremely proud of the relationship we have developed with O'Reilly Auto Parts over the years and are pleased to see the company expand its involvement with NHRA through this track entitlement," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "As the host for the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and many other key auto racing events, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is already recognized as one of the most tradition-rich and versatile multi-use motorsports facilities in the world. With O'Reilly's support it will allow us to expedite the ongoing multi-phase improvement projects currently underway at the facility."

It is the second NHRA-owned racing facility to sign a corporate partner, joining famed Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. NHRA also owns Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga.; Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway; and National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio.

The naming rights agreement comes at a time when the facility is in the middle of a modernization project. The remodeling project has included improvements to the racing surfaces on the drag strip and oval, as well as the construction of new skybox suites at the drag strip and installation of new SAFER barrier walls at the oval track.

"We are extremely excited about this partnership with O'Reilly Auto Parts and feel it will be a great benefit for the racers, fans and extended motorsports community," said Ron Anderson, general manager, sales and development director, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. "We are proud to be able to provide O'Reilly Auto Parts with a significant branding and marketing platform at one of the nation's busiest motorsports facilities, in the world's auto racing capital of Indianapolis."

For O'Reilly Auto Parts, the announcement will help generate exposure for the company as it expands its business into the Indianapolis area. O'Reilly just opened a major distribution center in Brownsburg, Ind., which is located a few miles from O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.