Houston Raceway Park (HRP), the iconic drag strip located in the Houston suburb of Baytown, is "Making the Switch" to Pennzoil® through a new multi-year relationship that changes the name of the 30-year-old facility to "Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil."

"Today's announcement with Pennzoil marks another exciting chapter in the history of Houston Raceway Park," HRP Vice President Seth Angel said in a press release. "The commitment Pennzoil has made to the sport of NHRA drag racing, specifically through its association with Don Schumacher Racing, is a testament to its faith in the future of our sport. We couldn't be more thrilled to 'Make the Switch' to Pennzoil as we head into the 2019 race season."

The agreement with Pennzoil includes naming rights, designation as the Official Lubricant of Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil, logo placement on numerous buildings throughout the facility – including the left-lane scoreboard and the VIP Tower Suites – as well as all of the high-traffic areas within the pits.

"We are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with Houston Raceway Park," said Patty Lanning, Vice President of North American Marketing for Shell Lubricants in the press release.  "The Pennzoil brand, part of the Shell family of lubricants, has deep roots in motorsports, including many successful years in NHRA. In fact, our relationship with Don Schumacher Racing is a great example of that success, both on and off the track. This new entitlement at Houston Raceway Park is a perfect opportunity for Pennzoil and Houston Raceway Park to begin a new chapter and build on a solid history of supporting an incredibly exciting and popular motorsports series."

Matt Hagan, who drives a Dodge Funny Car for DSR sponsored by Pennzoil, was thrilled to be part of Monday’s announcement.

“It’s awesome to be sponsored to by Pennzoil and with Pennzoil to be right here in Houston and for them to bring their people in and show them a good time just brings it full circle with our sponsors and their company and what we are trying to do to grow our sport,” Hagan said. “When we can a huge corporation like Pennzoil partner in with what we are doing and in motorsports. I really feel like this is one of the most extreme sports out there. Put us against anything I will tell we are the most extreme sport there is. To have (Pennzoil’s) people come in and be a part of it and appreciate what we do is huge. It is good for the race track, it is good for our sponsorship at DSR and it is the overall package that makes everything come full circle.”

Leah Pritchett, who pilots a DSR Top Fuel dragster with backing from Pennzoil, concurred with Hagan.

“This is a 10-plus,” Pritchett said about the Houston Raceway Park announcement. “Being in the middle of it as we are right now sometimes it is difficult to see the magnitude, but every portion of this is being done at the highest class and just top notch. Houston is a very powerful track and a very fast track, records have been set here in all different categories and I think that is a perfect alignment for Pennzoil to power the track. For Matt and I to featured as part of it, it brings every portion I think of what drag racing stands for together. The pure power, the fans and the drivers and the vehicles and Matt and I and the team to complete the circle. It’s a true testament to Shell and Pennzoil to backing NHRA drag racing and motorsports.” 

The relationship serves as a new, extended business-to-business opportunity with Angel Brothers Enterprises and their Texas construction division. Greg and Gary Angel are the long-time owners of Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil. In addition to key B2B elements, the entitlement offers Pennzoil exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences at the facility to extend to its employees, loyal customers and Pennzoil race team fans.

In 2019, on the weekend of April 12-14, Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil will host the 32nd annual NHRA SpringNationals. The national-level race has become one of the most anticipated events on tour as the facility's extremely low elevation can make for some incredible racing due to the natural increase in horsepower the cars enjoy near sea-level.

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