Tag: Sparks

Drag Racing is Back at Hot August Nights in Sparks, Nevada


SPARKS, Nev. – Drag racing is making a comeback to Hot August Nights. News 4’s Mackenzie Warren had the exclusive on the big announcement Tuesday morning on News 4 Today.

Hot August Nights cruises into Northern Nevada in less than one month. And to celebrate its 25th anniversary Hot August Nights is turning over a new leaf, make that engine–the event is bringing back the drag races.

Drag racing went away ten years ago and Hot August Nights diehards wanted it back ever since. The event used to be at the Reno-Stead Airport. For many racers that was too far away to drive. Another reason the popular event disappeared was the liability, especially after 9-11 when FAA regulations at the airport became more strict.

This year drag racing is coming back louder and faster than before. It’s also moving location. Bringing back the drags meant bringing in two key players: Full Throttle Performance and John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks.

Full Throttle Performance is organizing the races and the Nugget will provide the venue.

Charlie Carter, co-owner of Full Throttle, says it’s not all pedal-to-the-medal the racing takes some serious skill and finesse. Stephen Ascuaga, Chief Operating Officer of the Nugget, says it’s an honor to host the races and it took him just 30-seconds to say yes.

Racers will finish the course in five seconds.

For all you adrenaline junkies out there here are the details:

The drag race event consists of approximately an eighth of a mile track and will take place in the West parking lot of John Ascuaga’s Nugget from 12 p.m. -to- 10 p.m. From Wednesday, August 10th through Saturday, August 13th.

Hot August Nights Volunteers and Car Participants will gain free entry into the event. The gate fee for the general public is $10 daily.

To enter your car in a race, vehicles must be 1972 or older, with an American or European make. The cost to race is $25 per vehicle, per day for registered car participants and $45 per vehicle, per day for non-registered car participants.

Tires must be D.O.T. Approved (no slicks), no nitro/nitris and no racing fuels allowed. Daily prize for the fastest overall time will be awarded.

For more information on Hot August Nights please visit: www.hotaugustnights.net

T.J. Bell from Sparks has a sponsor for the Coca-Cola 600

MIAMI, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Green Smoke®, one of the nation’s leading electronic cigarette brands, is proud to announce that it will sponsor T.J. Bell in the 52nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 29th at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bell, who is known to NASCAR fans in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series, will pilot the No. 50 Green Smoke® Toyota Camry in his first attempt to qualify for NASCAR’s longest race on the sport’s largest stage – the Sprint Cup Series.

Green Smoke’s sponsorship of Bell will mark its first NASCAR endeavor, as well as the first NASCAR sponsorship by any organization within the electronic cigarette industry.

T.J. Bell from Sparks, NV and the No. 50 Green Smoke Toyota Camry.
T.J. Bell from Sparks, NV and the No. 50 Green Smoke Chevrolet.

“One of the world’s signature televised sporting events, NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 is the ideal global platform to showcase the partnership of Green Smoke® and T.J. Bell, a talented NASCAR driver who is making the move to NASCAR’s premiere division, the Sprint Cup Series,” states Steven Arnold, VP of Marketing & Customer Satisfaction for Green Smoke®, an industry leader in providing an authentic, alternative smoking experience.

“NASCAR represents the passion and peak performance of American race car driving to a worldwide audience and T.J. Bell epitomizes the NASCAR competitive spirit at its very best,” continued Arnold. “A gifted driver at the threshold of an exciting career, T.J.’s talent has captured the attention of the American public in past performances in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Bell’s No. 50 Green Smoke® Toyota Camry will be state-of-the-art equipment. We look forward to seeing Bell and the Green Smoke® Toyota Camry competing among the biggest names in NASCAR.”

“Every driver goes into racing wanting to compete at the highest level possible. Green Smoke® has come on board to make racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series a reality for me and I’m looking forward to putting our No. 50 Green Smoke® Toyota Camry to the test at Charlotte,” said Bell, who currently resides in Mooresville, NC. “This is a big step forward for my career and Green Smoke® couldn’t have picked a more perfect market to promote its product. I’m looking forward to a great future with Green Smoke® and a very exciting Coca-Cola 600 debut.”

T.J. Bell (Timothy Peter Bell, Jr.), born August 25, 1980 in Sparks, NV, has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. Prior to joining the stock car racing scene, he made a name for himself in the Toyota Atlantics Series. Bell has raced for more than two decades, accumulating 20 top-10 finishes in ARCA competition and 13 NASCAR career top-10s.

Green Smoke® will sponsor Bell’s No. 50 Toyota Camry for at least three Sprint Cup events this season.

About Green Smoke®

Green Smoke® Inc. is based in Miami, FL and was founded to provide smokers with an exciting new alternative to traditional cigarettes. As a leading electronic cigarette brand, Green Smoke® was amongst the first companies to deliver a simple two piece e-cigarette. Today, Green Smoke® continues to pride itself on consistently delivering the highest quality products and the most authentic e-cigarette smoking experience.

To follow T.J. Bell, visit http://tj-bell.com or on Twitter @TJBell_Racing.