NHRA's Craig Hutchinson Named Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter

BELLE ROSE, La. March 17, 2009: NHRA South Central division director Craig Hutchinson has been tapped by JEGS to be the Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter at the 6th Annual NHRA JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals. The event is March 20-22 at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La.

Hutchinson just celebrated 20 years of service with NHRA. During that time, Hutchinson, along with his wife Sue (also a 20-year NHRA veteran), has run the land of the Good Guys like a well-oiled machine. Along with the division’s three national events and the JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals, Hutchinson and his team oversee six Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series races and a myriad of other events in the division.

Hutchinson’s passion for drag racing dates back to his childhood in Chandler, Ariz., from where he would make the 25-mile trek - by bicycle - to the old BeeLine Dragway in Scottsdale, Ariz.

After college graduation, a stint in the Peace Corps and teaching high school, Hutchinson became one of the founding partners of Chandler’s Firebird Int’l Raceway, which opened in 1983. He served as the track’s operations director until 1987.

“Craig’s enthusiasm for the sport of drag racing and his concern for all his racers are always evident,” said Scott Woodruff, JEGS director of media. “We wanted to honor his 20 years of service to the National Hot Rod Association and we thought the Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter title would be one of the best ways to do it.”

There are three NHRA JEGS SPORTSnationals events scheduled in 2009. The Cajun SPORTSnationals is the first of the three and will be followed by the JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals (April 17-19) in Fontana, Calif., and the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals (September 25-27) in Columbus, Ohio.

The races are designed to showcase NHRA's sportsman categories exclusively. Competitors in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street will vie for more than $50,000 at each of the NHRA SPORTSnationals event this year. NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national event points will be awarded to drivers in all categories except Super Street. In addition, all three NHRA SPORTSnationals events will feature NHRA class eliminations, including a Super Stock Hemi Shootout.

Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will also run in conjunction with all three events and Sportsman Motorcycle will run at the JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals and at the JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals.