Seasoned sportsman drag racer and Top Alcohol Dragster hopeful Summer Richardson’s expanded 2025 schedule was halted before it even began last week when her primary marketing partner was barred by NHRA officials.
The Southern California racer, who competes regularly in Top Dragster in the NHRA’s Pacific Division, made her Top Alcohol Dragster debut in 2023, with key support from the content creation platform OnlyFans. She again promoted the OnlyFans brand in Top Dragster in 2024, and with its expanded support, had locked in a 12-race schedule in Top Alcohol Dragster for this season. But just a month prior to the regional opener in Phoenix, Richardson was informed that she would no longer be permitted to showcase the OnlyFans brand on her race cars.
“My 2025 season was shut down this week by NHRA due to my title sponsor. They have banned me as an OnlyFans sponsored athlete,” Richardson shared in a now-viral social media post. “I am devastated! As everyone in this sport knows, it is expensive to compete at the Top Alcohol level and above — you need that corporate backing. NHRA has allowed me to run my title sponsor, OnlyFans, for two years. What is so horrific about the entire thing is how NHRA handled it. I understand the reasoning as to why they did it, but this should have been a warning to me in 2024. Shutting down my season one month before I’m scheduled to hit the track, with contracts that have been signed for months and funds distributed is very disheartening. So, this being said, as of right now I will not be competing in any NHRA events for the 2025 season. I’m sorry to all my race fans as this has been a devastating blow to me, my family, and the team I was so excited to race with this season.”
“I’ve had zero issues for two years,” she reiterated to DRAGZINE. “This all happened last week out of nowhere. I was completely blindsided. They gave me no real reason outside of saying it makes some partners and drivers uncomfortable. The way they handled it was so wrong. This should have been a warning last year. The only said that they were sorry, and when we asked questions, the only response again was ‘I’m sorry!’ ”
Per Section 21 of the General Regulations within the 2025 NHRA rulebook, the organization’s official policy is as follows:
NHRA reserves the right to regulate any advertising or other material that is present on site at any NHRA event including without limitation any material appearing on any participant, on the body or any other visible part of any vehicle or transporter participating in NHRA events including support vehicles, in any pit area, in any area of the dragstrip from the staging lanes to the end of the dragstrip, and any item or material on site that may constitute product placement. Participants and vehicles may be excluded from competition and from event facilities if, in NHRA’s discretion, any advertising or other material displayed on a person, race or support vehicle, or in a pit area or otherwise is not in the best interests of NHRA and the sport of drag racing, and/or is or may be in conflict with any applicable law.
“The NHRA remains committed to upholding our family-friendly environment on and off the track,” NHRA officials shared in a statement provided to DRAGZINE. “While we respect all businesses and their right to operate, we have decided to not approve sponsorships that may not align with the expectations of our diverse fanbase, participants, and partners. Our goal is to continue to create a welcoming atmosphere for fans of all ages and backgrounds.”
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