The California-based National Hot Rod Association announced Thursday that it is moving its technical department headquarters to Indianapolis.
   
The tech department will be housed at the offices at O’Reilly Raceway Park on Indianapolis’ west side. ORP is owned by the NHRA. Glen Gray, NHRA vice president of technical operations will be relocated from California to Indianapolis in the coming months. The move also could mean a handful of other NHRA jobs could be moved to Indianapolis, according to NHRA officials.
 
“We have been aggressively expanding our technical services capabilities and believe this move will enhance our ability to not only serve our constituents, but retain and recruit some of the finest technical talent in the country,” said NHRA President Tom Compton.

With the move, the tech department will be more readily available to the racing community, given the number of teams based in Indianapolis and Brownsburg and the number of licensed drivers in the eastern and central time zones, Compton said. In addition, the proximity to a more active drag strip will allow for further testing opportunities for all categories and products of drag racing, he said.
    
NHRA will maintain a technical presence on the West Coast, with national technical director Danny Gracia remaining in the company’s Glendora, Calif. headquarters, along with technical services representative and newly appointed Division 7 tech director, Pat Cvengros.

NHRA has been placing personnel in key locations around the country over the last year.  Besides the tech department headquarters moving to Indianapolis, NHRA recently established a sales office in Charlotte, N.C.

The NHRA, the nation’s primary sanctioning body for professional drag racing which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, will maintain its corporate headquarters in Glendora.