Just moments after announcing its official nine-race schedule for the debut season of the eighth-mile sanctioning body, there were already hosts of ringing endorsements from several the top names in drag racing.

Legendary chassis builder Jerry Haas of Jerry Haas Race Cars attended the introductory press conference at the Indiana Convention Center and came away incredibly impressed with the direction of the X-DRL.

“I'm very excited with the people involved. The integrity that brings to the series is unbelievable in my book. All of the sponsorship people, they're going to want to jump on board because this is the series that's going to continue to keep building in the future, and that's what we want,” Haas said. 

“We want something not only for 2013, but 2014, 2015 and 2016. We want a series that's going to continue to build and grow, and give the fans an awesome show.”

Other noteworthy endorsers of the X-DRL at the IMIS show included Racepak Data Systems, MSD Ignition and Five-Star Bodies, while other marquee drag racing companies like Tim McAmis Race Cars, Precision Turbo and Sonny’s Racing Engines have already committed to supporting the upstart X-DRL during the 2013 season.

“We're excited about the 2013 season with the X-DRL,” said Roger Conley of Racepak and MSD Ignition. “There's a lot of great tracks and new venues for the eighth-mile racing. All the people we've known and worked with over the years are with the X-DRL, and we're real excited about that.”

The nine-race schedule for the 2013 includes stops at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, historic Bristol Dragway, Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis and more, as each event will take place at a standout facility.

Additionally, sponsors praised an experienced X-DRL team that includes the ownership trio of Jeff Mitchell, David Hubbard and Larry Pearce, the sales team of Keith Goolsby and Mitch Chance, Director of Operations Chris Bell and Race Director David Cook.

But it was the direction and business plan of the X-DRL that also had plenty of people excited in Indianapolis.

“We’re very excited about the new X-DRL series and our bodies being used in the X-treme Pro Stock class,” Five Star Race Car co-founder Carl Schultz said. “We liked the energy and enthusiasm of the new group, the rules package they’re putting together and it’s just something that we find of appealing.

“It seems like there’s a lot of good people behind it and it’s going to be a great series for the racers. We’re very excited about the racing that’s going to take place next year in the X-DRL. We think it’s going to be a great success and we’re real happy to be a part of it. “

Added Tim McAmis of Tim McAmis Race Cars: “I feel that this series has the right business plan, right staff and all the right equipment, and that’s everything you need to have to put together a first-class event.”

The excitement level will also continue to grow in the coming weeks as the X-DRL reveals its impressive purse payouts, rules and other exciting news.

“These cars are going to go faster and faster, and that's the whole name of the game. My company has worked very hard to make these cars go faster, and with the X-DRL starting up, it's going to take things to a new level, and that's what I see, a new level for a racing series,” Haas said.