GLENDORA, Calif. -- NHRA announced today that Skoal Racing has agreed to a multi-year extension of the popular Skoal Showdown, a lucrative bonus event for Funny Car competitors featured during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race held every Labor Day weekend at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

“We are excited to announce that Skoal Racing has extended the Skoal Showdown and its commitment to the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president for sales and marketing, NHRA. “The Skoal Showdown is a very prestigious program for our Funny Car racers and an extremely thrilling and competitive program for NHRA fans to enjoy each season.”

The year’s eight best Funny Car teams qualify for the Skoal Showdown, which offers a race day purse of $147,000, including $100,000 to the winner. The Skoal Showdown features a total payout of $239,000, which includes $92,000 in No. 1 qualifier bonuses paid to the quickest Funny Car qualifier at each of the 23 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events leading up to the Skoal Showdown.

“U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) is proud to support the prestigious Skoal Showdown and excited to extend our longstanding relationship with the NHRA. NHRA POWERAde Drag Racing represents the best of the best and we are committed to working with the NHRA to further the growth of this exciting and dynamic sport,” said Andy Hoefer, director of one-on-one marketing, USSTC. “The Skoal Showdown recognizes and rewards the elite eight Funny Car teams who demonstrate the grit and uncompromising commitment it takes to be the best. We truly admire this passion for winning and look forward to crowning another Skoal Showdown champion this year at the Mac T! ools U.S. Nationals.”

In addition, Skoal Racing is the proud sponsor of Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s Snake Racing Team, consisting of Tommy Johnson Jr., who drives the Skoal Racing Chevy Monte Carlo and is currently sixth in the POWERade Series point standings with one victory this season, and Larry Dixon, who drives Snake’s Top Fuel dragster and is currently seventh in the POWERade Series point standings.

“The folks from Skoal Racing enjoy the sport of NHRA drag racing tremendously,” Prudhomme said. “I know the racers appreciate their support of not just our team, but the entire Funny Car category and sport. I go back a long way with Skoal Racing so it's great to see their commitment to the sport continue to flourish.”

Skoal Racing and Skoal Showdown are service marks of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), the principal subsidiary of UST (NYSE: UST).

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is a distinctly different tobacco company. Through its subsidiaries, it is a leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products. The Company’s primary brands are Skoal, Copenhagen, Red Seal and Husky. The Company is the only smokeless tobacco manufacturer to sign the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (STMSA). Under the STMSA, the Company voluntarily adopted an array of advertising and promotional restrictions, and agreed to pay $100 million towards programs to reduce youth access to tobacco prod! ucts and combat youth substance abuse.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series’ provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Sum! mit Racing Series, NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program presented by AAA.