Premier racing tour brings major event to North Florida
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. – Nitro Rallycross, the brainchild of action sports star Travis Pastrana, will host the final of its five races in the United States at The Florida International Rally & Motorsports Park (The FIRM) on Dec. 4-5, 2021.
Click here for a video outlining the event and the schedule.
In addition to going bumper to bumper against each other on NRX’s massive courses, these elite pros will have to contend with an extreme range of conditions – from the dry desert and towering mountains of the southwest to the lush wetlands of the southeast - showcasing extraordinary backdrops at every turn. The racing will be packed into intense, short-form battles, pitting drivers against one another head-to-head in 600 HP supercars capable of accelerating faster than a Formula 1 vehicle.
“It is so awesome to see the momentum building for Nitro Rallycross,” said Travis Pastrana, global motorsports icon and the driving force behind this racing revolution. “The reaction from teams has been fantastic. We’ve already confirmed more supercar entrants than ever before in an NRX event. Building four all new, unique and crazy tracks for this year to go along with Utah Motorsports Campus is something all of us have been working toward for years. It’s going to be round after round of new challenges and excitement.”
“We truly believe that NRX is the future of motorsport and our 2021 series will usher in a new era of rallycross in North America and beyond,” said Joe Carr, CEO of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment, parent company of Nitro Rallycross.
Each stop will also include a separate NRX NEXT competition to provide the next generation of emerging talent an opportunity to hone their skills in this pioneering new motorsport discipline. Drivers from both ranks will have the opportunity to train on NRX’s cutting-edge courses year-round, ramping up progression further still, since all tracks will be a permanent addition to each facility.
“The FIRM is excited to be the Florida venue for the NRX North American tour,” said Larina Hintze, Vice President of The FIRM. “We share the same passion and goal to create a memorable experience for enthusiasts while providing some of the best technical driver training in the world. Nitro Rallycross program is creating an exciting motorsports event the entire family can take part. At The FIRM, 'We Drive Passion' and we appreciate NRX giving us the opportunity to share our combined passion through this family fun event at The FIRM!"
The event also brings a worldwide television audience through the NRX partnership with NBC and Peacock. Automotive enthusiasts in the U.S. can watch every exhilarating fight to the finish live on Peacock for free. Eight hours from every North American stop will be streamed on NBCU’s new streaming service. In addition, a one-hour highlight show will air after each race on NBCSN.
“We are proud to partner with all of our regional partners in bringing this global sporting event to North Florida,” said Alan Verlander, President and CEO of Airstream Ventures. “We appreciate the NRX team giving us this opportunity to bring the world to our area and introduce them to all the great things this area has to offer. We look forward to this being a signature event that continues to grow in the future.”
Globally, Nitro Rallycross will be distributed in over 140 countries and has secured partnerships with the following broadcast partners –Tencent, beIN SPORTS and Supersport – with more to be announced soon.
Nitro Rallycross’ adrenaline-charged lap across the continent this year marks just the first leg of the property’s global expansion. A 10-race series will follow in 2022, featuring a spectacular winter race in Canada to add ice and snow to the conditions the drivers will face. Additional races will follow before the action shifts across the Atlantic to Europe and the Middle East. Next year will also see the introduction of a transformational electric SUV supercar class.
“Hosting an event of this magnitude is monumental for our community,” said Chairman Mike Cella, Clay County Board of County Commissioners. “Rally racing is full of adventure and family fun, which is a perfect fit for Clay County and the North Florida region. We look forward to welcoming racing competitors and fans from all over the world in December.”
“Bradford County is ready to welcome the world to our region and honored to be the home of this event,” said Pam Whittle, President of the North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce. “All of the fans coming in will enjoy exploring our area and experiencing all of the amazing things we have to offer.”
“The City of Keystone Heights is so very excited to see NRX holding such an incredible event right in our backyard,” said Karen Lake, Mayor of Keystone Heights. “On behalf of the City, we welcome you to our community and look forward to this great opportunity to host NRX and all those involved with the tour. We can’t wait to see all that NRX has to offer!”
The series has the backing of major brands. Foundational partner Red Bull has extended their multi-year alliance with Nitro Rallycross while another foundational sponsor, Yokohama, also returns, expanding their involvement to become the official tire partner for the series. Subaru Motorsports USA - which has participated in NRX from the beginning, fielding legendary drivers like Travis Pastrana and Scott Speed - is now joining as a series sponsor as well. Returning sponsor O’Reilly Auto Parts has also significantly increased their commitment.
Details on how fans can purchase tickets to experience Nitro Rallycross in person will also be announced soon.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joel Lamp, 904-304-2067