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Based on a new high-profile sponsorship, officials from Memphis Motorsports Park are anticipating increased attendance at this year's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Mid-South Nationals-which has grown to become the Memphis race facility's largest annual event.
This year's race, which will be held Sept. 19-22, marks the first year with O'Reilly as the title sponsor, and Motorsports Park vice president Jason Rittenberry says the regional presence of the company should help marketing efforts aimed at drawing more fans from states like Alabama and Louisiana.
O'Reilly, with a strong presence in Louisiana and enormous experience in sponsoring motor sports, has been promoting the race in its retail locations with flyers and discount ticket coupons and could help the Motorsports Park draw more NHRA fans to the Memphis event, Motorsports Park officials say.
"That's a market that O'Reilly has really opened up to us that we haven't touched the past," says Rob Stallins, Motorsports Park director of public relations.
O'Reilly became the title sponsor for the event, which is in its 15th year, in November as it moved into the Memphis market with its first local stores, agreeing to a fouryear deal.
Kevin Greven,...