Brogdon joins Bernstein under MAVTV and Lucas Oil umbrella

(Photo by MAVTV PR)

The Lucas Oil drag racing family has a new member with Pro Stock driver Rodger Brogdon joining the fold with his MAVTV/Lucas Oil/Charter Communications Pontiac GXP.

"It's very exciting for us to be joining with Forrest, Charlotte and Morgan Lucas," Brogdon said. "They are such a great family and the support and love they've shown for drag racing is tremendous. It's an honor."

Partnering with Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein, Brogdon will be a big part of the new network's public awareness strategy.

"Rodger and Brandon are perfect representatives for MAVTV," said MAVTV president Bob Patison. "They're both great racecar drivers, solid family men and well respected individuals in their communities. As we grow this network, we know they will be an integral part of spreading the word about the wonderful programming we'll always provide at MAVTV -- the best in Movies, Action and Variety."

Brogdon will continue to run a GXP before switching to the Chevy Camaro body when they become available in the spring. The team's power will still be supplied by Victor Cagnazzi Racing. That combination saw the affable Texan smash records, reach the finals in his hometown of Houston and finish a career-best eighth in 2011.

"Victor and his group provide us with great horsepower," said Brogdon, who qualified seventh at the season-opener in Pomona. "We know we can win any race we enter and that's important. We're more than happy with our relationship there."

A native of the Houston suburb of Tomball, Texas, Brogdon said the partnership with MAVTV will only make this team more fearsome as the ties between his new sponsors and teammates are strengthened.

"The people at Charter Communications have been great to work with and they're a big part of MAVTV's initial growth phase," Brogdon said. "They're certainly helping MAV take an extra step by getting them in several million more households.

"It's going to be fun to work with my new teammates. I got to know Morgan really well when he raced Top Alcohol Dragsters because he ran Division 4. He's a good kid and a great racecar driver. I'm also looking forward to getting to know Brandon Bernstein a little better. MAV has big plans for the future and it's an honor to be working with Brandon on getting this network as much exposure and notoriety as we can."

Brodgon, who won multiple Comp Eliminator titles in Div. 4 before making the move to Pro Stock, said that despite the new affiliation with MAVTV and Lucas Oil, he'll maintain the closest relationship with good friend, car owner and fellow racer, Steve Kent.

"Steve Kent and Kent Services and Trucking, man, what can I say about them? Bottom line, there's no way I'd be racing without Steve's support," Brogdon said. "He's the backbone of everything we do.

"We used to bang on each other pretty good in Comp Eliminator and finally one day he said we should join up and race together. We both wanted to move to Pro Stock and now here we are with an incredible group of sponsors and a race team that can win. I couldn't be happier."

Lucas Oil Continues Sponsorship of NHRA's Sportsman Divsion

NHRA announced today a historic extension of its long-running relationship with Lucas Oil Products, which has grown to become one of the most important and all-encompassing sponsor relationships in NHRA.   

The multi-faceted contract extension includes title rights of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., a continued designation as the official oil products of NHRA, naming rights at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and, most importantly, series sponsorship of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

“Lucas Oil is an integral part of NHRA,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA.  “Forrest, Charlotte and the entire company have become much more than a sponsor, but true friends to the entire NHRA racing community and everyone here at NHRA.  Everyone in the sport owes a debt of gratitude to Lucas Oil.”   The extension was officially signed at NHRA’s corporate headquarters in Glendora, Calif., with NHRA’s employees in the audience.

The centerpiece of the extension is the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Through the end of the new agreement, Lucas Oil will celebrate 14 years as sponsor of one of the most important and vital series at NHRA.  The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series features eight classes, 24 regional events and 19 divisional events around the country and showcases the skills and talents of tens of thousands of racers. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is also conducted at all 23 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events, with 16 showcasing the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories. These NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events are featured in 16 one-hour programs, produced in high definition, and broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. The Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories are where many of today’s NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers got their start, including: Alexis DeJoria, Courtney Force, Spencer Massey, Brandon Bernstein, and Morgan Lucas, among others.

“We are excited to announce a renewed and expanded marketing partnership with our friends at NHRA,” said Forrest Lucas, CEO, of Lucas Oil Products. “The NHRA is noted for their exciting, fast-paced events with some of the most dynamic racing in sports, including the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. We are excited to continue our involvement with the NHRA family of racers.”

In addition, Lucas Oil will maintain its status as the Official Oil of NHRA and retain title-rights sponsorship of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn. Lucas Oil also renewed its naming-rights sponsorship at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, home of the world’s most prestigious drag race, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, held every Labor Day weekend.

Other parts of the agreement include broadcast elements, on-site displays, signage, the ability to utilize the NHRA official logo on its products, and the opportunity to conduct consumer promotions.

In addition, Lucas Oil is the primary sponsor for several NHRA Full Throttle and NHRA Lucas Oil race teams. In the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Lucas Oil serves as the primary sponsor for five race teams: the GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster with driver Morgan Lucas, the MavTV/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster with driver Brandon Bernstein, the Lucas Oil Ford Mustang with Larry Morgan in Pro Stock, and the Lucas Oil Buell motorcycles with Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Hector Arana and Hector Arana Jr. Needless to say, Lucas Oil’s footprint in NHRA is significant and touches all aspects of racing.