NHRA - Race Notes from Maple Grove Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHEAST DIVISION
MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2002

RACE NOTES FROM THE COCA-COLA NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY

"INSTANT GREEN" RACE A HIT AMONGST RACERS

Reading, Pa., - Held in conjunction with the Coca-Cola NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway was an "Instant Green" race in Super Stock and Stock, the first in modern drag racing history in the two classes.  
This concept was developed by Maple Grove's George Case and NHRA Northeast Division Director Bob Lang, as competitors raced on a handicapped green-light start, with racers dialing in their own handicaps.  
"We wanted to offer our racers a chance to race on an instant green start, to eliminate red lights," said Case. "But this race was also for fun. It's something that Lang and myself have been thinking about for some time." 
The "Instant Green" idea was well received by the 32 Super Stock and 25 Stock racers who participated, including Super Stock racer Sal Biondo.
"This was pretty neat, not being able to go red and leaving pretty much high and wide-open, 4,600 rpm as opposed to 3,000, which is where I usually leave in the Super Stocker," he said. "The instant green is the way to go. Not being able to go red was great."
Winners in this unique event were Biondo of Maspeth, N.Y., in Super Stock and Dave LeBrun of Uncasville, Conn., in Stock.   
The "Instant Green" concept will be offered again to both Super Stock and Stock racers during Maple Grove's Dutch Classic later in the year.  
	For more information concerning this race, call Maple Grove Raceway at (610) 856-7200.  

STARTING TREE ELIMINATED DURING ROUND ONE OF SUPER STREET

	Reading, Pa. - The starting tree was taken out during round one of Super Street eliminations on Saturday when driver Herman Terpstra broke an axle as he came off the starting line, making his car veer sharply to the right and hit the tree.  
Racing was delayed for almost three hours as NHRA staff and track officials installed a new tree and fixed wiring that was shredded by the accident.  No injuries were reported.

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