NHRA released its 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule
today featuring 24 events. In addition, NHRA announced an event purse
increase in excess of $1.3 million.
Beginning in 2009, national event winners in both Top Fuel and Funny
Car will each receive $50,000, an increase of 25 percent. Pro Stock
national event winners will receive $25,000, while Pro Stock Motorcycle
winners will receive $10,000. At the most prestigious drag racing event
in the world, the 55th running of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, winners
in the top two nitro classes will receive a check for $100,000, while
Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle winners will earn $50,000 and
$20,000, respectively.
Increases at national events also were announced for runners-up,
semi-finalists and second round finishers. At the Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals, increases were announced for semi-finalists and second round
finishers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock categories, while Pro
Stock Motorcycles received increases for runner-up and second round
finishers. In all, the total increase in event purses in the four
professional classes is $1,353,700.