For just the second time in its 58-year history, the fabled NHRA U.S. Nationals, held every Labor Day weekend at the legendary Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, will gain a new title rights sponsor, as the General Motors Company and its Chevrolet Performance brand has signed a multi-year agreement to back the world’s largest and most prestigious drag racing event.

Known as the Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals, the 2013 running of the event is scheduled for August 28 to September 2, and will feature 11 hours of programming coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD, including six hours of race day coverage, Monday, September 2, from noon to 6 p.m. ET.

“NHRA and Chevrolet Performance are iconic American brands,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president sales and marketing, NHRA. “We can’t think of a better or more fitting brand to align with NHRA’s greatest and most prestigious event than Chevrolet Performance.”

General Motors and its brands are not unfamiliar to NHRA, having been involved in the sport since the beginning and winning its first NHRA Manufacturers Cup with Chevrolet in 1966.  Between Chevrolet and other GM divisions, General Motors has won the NHRA Manufacturers Cup a record 43 times, the last in 2010. In fact, from 1966 to 2010, a General Motors brand won the award every year except 1970 and 1982.

“The heart and soul of Chevrolet Performance is on display in the staging lanes at the U.S. Nationals, making this partnership with one of the most historic races in NHRA Drag Racing all the more important,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Our engineers are continually developing new engines and engine components for sportsman and professional racers; and events like the U.S Nationals are their proving ground.”

The Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals is the final event of the 18-race regular season schedule, and marks the final race for competitors to earn a spot in the coveted Countdown to the Championship playoff that determines the Mello Yello Series champions over the seasons’ final six races.