GSA Ending NHRA Pro Mod Series Sponsorship in 2014
ProCare Rx and Get Screened America, led by Roger Burgess, will be scaling back their involvement after their contract expires in 2014 as primary sponsor for the NHRA Pro Mod racing series. (Photo by Ian Tocher; Click image for larger version)
Get Screened America has informed NHRA that it will no longer fund the television broadcast of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series beginning with the 2012 season. However, Get Screened America confirmed its commitment to remain as series sponsor until the end of 2014, fulfilling the terms of the initial deal which began in 2010.
The formation of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series was made possible by the financial commitment and support of ProCare Rx and Get Screened America, led by Roger Burgess. NHRA hopes to find a new series sponsor to replace Get Screened America and continue the series beyond 2014. However, if a sponsor is not found before December 2012, the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will be discontinued after the 2014 race season.
Beginning in 2012, Get Screened America opted out of funding television coverage of the series, which currently airs on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Get Screened America provided 100 percent of the financial support necessary for these programs.
“We are glad that we were able to create the series, however, for it to continue, another entity will need to get involved,” said Roger Burgess. “The series can offer a lot to a new sponsor and I will work hand-in-hand with NHRA to search for a new one.”
After the first seven races of the 2011 NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Khalid Balooshi leads the championship standings, 23 points ahead of Danny Rowe. Rounding out the top five are Ed Hoover, Ken Lang, and Mike Castellana. In Englishtown, N.J. last month, Melanie Troxel set both ends of the NHRA national record with a pass of 5.772 seconds at 258.71 mph in her turbocharged ProCare Rx ’53 Corvette. The next race that will include the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series is the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31 – Sept. 5 in Indianapolis.
“We can’t thank Roger and his team enough for everything they have done and NHRA will continue to work with him through the 2014 season,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “Roger’s financial support made the series and television broadcast possible and for that we are grateful.”
The NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series was formed in 2010 with the financial commitment of ProCare Rx and Get Screened America, who agreed to a multi-year commitment to fund the series. As announced when the series was formed, continuation of the series depends on dedicated sponsorship. The 2012 NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series schedule will be announced later this year.
NHRA should step up to the plate and help this great class, or are they going to do like they did to the prostock trucks I hope not promods are what funny cars were back in the late 60`s and early 70`s, these men and women who drive these cars are great racers and groups like NHRA need to help them