HOT ROD Drag Week™ Sells Out in Record Time,

HOT ROD Drag Week™ Sells Out in Record Time,
Will Make SPEED TV Debut; Texas Motorplex plays host Sept. 11

Competitors Prepare for Five Days, 1,200 Miles, Four States, Five Drag Runs – No Help

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Who will accept the challenge? Two hundred HOT ROD fans with the same goal in mind – to drive the fastest street-legal car on the track, that’s who. In just a two-week registration period, the 2012 HOT ROD Drag Week™ field reached its capacity of 200 entrants; with another 78 drivers having thrown their hats into the ring in case someone backs out.

The stage is set for the most epic five days in the seven-year history of HOT ROD Drag Week™. And for the first time ever, this event will be captured on TV’s SPEED channel. Beginning Sept. 9, competitors will be put to a grueling five-day test of drag racing, covering more than 1,200 miles in the same car, with the same engine, in the search for HOT ROD’s Fastest Street Car in America. Participants will register times at four quarter-mile drag strips – including some looking to top 200 mph in the quarter-mile in less than 6 seconds.

The famous all-concrete quarter-mile at Texas Motorplex will play host to those brave competitors on Tuesday, Sept. 11. A ceremony honoring U.S. military and all service men and women will open the day at 8:30 a.m. and racers will have until 1:30 p.m. to log their best pass. Spectator tickets are just $5 for adults, youth 12 and under are free and all active military with ID are free as well.

But it’s not just about clocking the lowest elapsed time on the strips; the drivers will also have to follow a specified route from city to city. The crew at HOT ROD will require photographic evidence from each driver that shows that they are adhering to the prescribed route. These drivers will be on the clock for five straight days and must remain alert to all rules at all times during their journey.

To make the adventure even more difficult, competitors will not have the luxury of having chase vehicles or support from outside team members. Entrants can tow their own trailers that comply with HOT ROD’s guidelines, but they must work alone.

Because this year’s event sold out so quickly, organizers are currently examining the feasibility of expanding the field to 250 entrants.

“The popularity of HOT ROD Drag Week™ tells us that nothing about the economy or gas prices is going to stop the passion of hot rodders,” said HOT ROD Editor-in-Chief David Freiburger. “This event has nationwide attention, and drag racers of street-legal cars feel there’s no other race that really proves a car’s reliability and speed.”

Larry Larson has won the last three events, stunning the performance world by running his ’66 Chevy Nova from zero to 201 mph in 6.95 seconds after driving it on public highways for a week. There is no production car in the world, for any price, that can match the performance of Larry’s hand-built hot rod.

For the first time in its seven-year history, HOT ROD Drag Week^TM will appear on television, airing on an episode of HOT ROD TV on SPEED through the sponsorship of an aftermarket overdrive company called Gear Vendors, the title sponsor of Drag Week.

HOT ROD Drag Week^TM 2012 is an adventure of hot rods, survival and newfound friends at every turn. Anyone can participate, and the competition is open to seven different classes of cars. Fans can learn more about HOT ROD Drag Week^TM 2012 at www.hotrod.com.

Schedule for HOT ROD Drag Week™ 2012:

Registration Day: Sunday, September 9 – Tulsa Raceway Park, Tulsa, Okla.
Day 1: Monday, September 10 – Tulsa Raceway Park, Tulsa, Okla.
Day2: Tuesday, September 11 – Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas
Day 3: Wednesday, September 12 – Thunder Road Raceway Park, Gilliam, La.
Day 4: Thursday, September 13 – Memphis International Raceway, Memphis, Tenn.
Day 5: Friday, September 14 – Tulsa Raceway Park, Tulsa, Okla.

For the first time, spectators are encouraged to come out and watch the battle to see who has HOT ROD’s Fastest Street Car in America. All track days are $5 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. Visit www.hotrod.com to learn more.

HOT ROD Drag Week™ is an example of the bigger-then-ever ambitions for HOT ROD. Originally founded in January 1948, HOT ROD magazine is the oldest and largest performance car magazine available today. Recognizing it as the trusted source of all things performance automotive, HOT ROD’s parent company, Source Interlink Media, has made a significant investment in revitalizing and re-launching its HOT ROD brand and products over the next year. The most notable brand enhancement will be the launch of the revamped print magazine beginning with the September 2012 issue, on sale July 10. The new format will feature a 50% increase in editorial pages and an all- new design presentation; both of which will support a complete reinvention of the content.

As HOT ROD builds up to its 65^th anniversary in 2013, the editorial staff is pushing the envelope to re-energize readers by providing content that redefines the automotive genre as they know it.

“Our mission is to consider what we used to do – in fact, what every car magazine used to do – and to ask ourselves how we can make it bigger, better, faster, louder. Wilder ideas, more emotional presentations, pure entertainment,” said Freiburger. “At least a few times per issue, I want the reader to think, ‘I can’t believe they did that!’ HOT ROD Drag Week™ is one of those jaw-droppers.”

The launch of an all-new website, HOTROD.com, on May 1 was another exciting milestone in the revitalization of the HOT ROD brand. This new website was just the first step in creating HOT ROD’s new identity while emphasizing its focus on multimedia content delivery with brand extensions that include HOTROD.com, a mobile version of HOTROD.com, the “HOT ROD Then & Now” App for iPad, HOT ROD Live Radio, and HOT ROD TV, the oldest automotive show on the air and the one that started the genre, on SPEED.

Texas Motorplex was the first all-concrete stadium-style drag racing facility ever constructed. Built in 1986, Texas Motorplex has been the place of many drag racing milestones and world record performances. The Billy Meyer-owned facility hosts a number of racing and car show events between March and November each year and also features the Champion’s Club – an 11,000 square-foot facility – that serves fully catered events throughout the year.

About HOT ROD Magazine:

HOT ROD Magazine, part of Source Interlink Media, LLC, is the world’s largest performance automotive brand. With over six million readers, HOT ROD has delivered the performance industry’s most respected tech tips, product tests and events for over 60 years. This magazine’s unique style attracts veteran rod builders and general car fans alike.

About Source Interlink Media:

Source Interlink Media, LLC is the premier source of special interest media in the United States. With more than 75 publications, 100 Web sites, 800 branded products, 50+ events, and TV and radio programs, SIM is the largest provider of content to enthusiast communities interested in automotive, action sports, home theatre and other niche activities. The division’s strategy is to wholly focus on targeted audiences by leveraging and expanding upon its core market-leading brands through a multiplatform media approach.