GLENDORA, Calif. -- It was announced today that long-time member of the Division 6 Safety Team, Frank Nelson Jr., has been named NHRA Northwest Division Director (Div. 6).

“Nelson is well established in the Northwest Division and his familiarity with the racers and NHRA Member Tracks in the region, made him the ideal candidate for the job,” said Josh Peterson, vice president of racing administration at NHRA. “His entrepreneurial assets as a small business owner are well-suited to assist and grow the NHRA Member Track network in the Northwest.”

Nelson began working with the Division 6 Safety Safari in 1994 and served as safety director starting in 2007. He is a certified SFI instructor and as safety director he works with race tracks both within and outside the division on the SFI Safety Program.

Outside his duties at NHRA sanctioned events, Nelson is a managing partner of Pacific Power Batteries of Bellingham, a retail battery store in Bellingham, Wash. Prior to that, Nelson worked for Waste Management Northwest for 13 years.

“I’m excited to serve the racing community, both drivers and track owners and operators, in Division 6,” said Nelson, who resides in Lake Stevens, Wash. “I have worked for years within the Pacific Northwest and believe the relationships I have developed will advance and grow racer participation and tracks in the region.”

Nelson begins his new role as Division 6 Director May 1.

NHRA’s Northwest Division is responsible for conducting and overseeing drag racing activities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Currently, there are 17 NHRA Member Tracks in the region including one in Idaho, two in Montana, six in Oregon, five in Washington and three in Western Canada.