NHRA NEWS: BERGENHOLTZ FEELS THE HEAT AS GM TEAMS MOUNT
CHARGE AT THE MOUNTAIN MADNESS NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications Dept., (626) 914-4761
BERGENHOLTZ FEELS THE HEAT AS GM TEAMS MOUNT CHARGE
AT THE MOUNTAIN MADNESS NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS
MORRISON, Colo. – Ed Bergenholtz, reigning NHRA Pro FWD World Champion, is beginning to feel the competition heat up in the class as he prepares for the upcoming Mountain Madness NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., June 10-11.
Bergenholtz is currently sitting atop the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series points lead in the Pro FWD class with his Audiobahn/Mazdaspeed 6, but he knows that the other drivers are coming on strong. Most of his competitors are driving GM cars which has made Bergenholtz feel at times like he is the lone foreign car against the domestics.
“The GM’s are banging on the door,” said Bergenholtz. “I had confidence at the beginning of the year, but (Bryan) Jimenez and (Marty) Ladwig are knocking on the door. I need to now bring my A-game.”
The Mountain Madness NHRA Sport Compact Nationals is the sixth race in the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series. There will be more than $27,000 in purse at stake for the racers in each of the five championship categories (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor), and it is the first race for the Western Regional NHRA Sportsman Championship. Defending race winners include Brad Personett (Pro RWD), Bergenholtz (Pro FWD), Paul Efantis (Modified), Gary Gardella (Hot Rod), and Scott Mohler (Honda Tuning All Motor).
Bergenholtz has high praise for Bandimere Speedway. “It is my most favorite track,” he said. “The way it is set up is just awesome. The elevation will be a problem for some of the other teams, but we have been here so much we have the data. I’ve got the tuning down due to my previous experience at the track.”
The Mountain Madness NHRA Sport Compact Nationals also is the sixth competition for Pro RWD team to earn a spot at the NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The top 10 drivers in the Pro RWD class of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Series will be eligible to compete at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
After five events this year Brad Personett has dominated the Pro RWD class with four event wins (Jupiter, Fla., Englishtown, N.J, Atco, N.J. and Topeka, Kan.). Matt Scranton won the other race at Dinwiddie, Va.
Heading into the Mountain Madness NHRA Sport Compact Nationals Pro FWD, Modifies, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor have competed at four events during the 2006 NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series season.
The Pro FWD class has become competitive as several teams are challenging Bergenholtz’s domination. Bergenholtz started out the year by winning the first two events (Jupiter, Fla. and Dinwiddie, Va.). Jason Hunt came along and challenged Bergenholtz by winning in Englishtown, N.J., and Bryan Jimenez won at Atco, N.J.
In the Modified class there have been three different winners: Justin Humphreys (Jupiter, Fla.); Paul Efantis (Dinwiddie, Va.); and Jorge Lazcano (Englishtown, N.J. and Atco, N.J.). This has made the points race extremely tight.
In Hot Rod, Ron Lummus has won three races this year (Dinwiddie, Va., Englishtown, N.J, and Atco, N.J.). Stephanie Eggum won the first race of the year at Jupiter, Fla.
The Honda Tuning All Motor class has seen teammates win twice each. Saul Salceda started out with wins at Jupiter, Fla. and Dinwiddie, Va. His teammate Norris Prayoonto has won the last two races at Englishtown, N.J. and Atco, N.J.
Following a very successful 2005 season, which saw increases in both participation by drivers and fans, the Xplôd series is looking to continue that growth in 2006. There will be new drivers to see on the track and new activities to view and participate in off the track or in the pits, which will provide fans with the opportunity to have a full day of fun.
While the quickest side-by-side sport compact racing in the world is happening on the track, fans will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities in the pit and the entertainment area. The NHRA Xplôd Stylefest presented by Extreme Autofest will provide fans with the chance to view the NHRA Tuner Car Show, which offers the best sport compact show cars, Q Power NHRA Dyno Challenge, NHRA Sound Challenge presented by Sony Xplôd, the Modified Magazine Bikini Xhibition presented by Pioneer Pro DJ, DJ Battle and live entertainment.
NHRA is the premier sanctioning body for sport compact drag racing. It is presenting the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series at nine tracks across the country from April through October. The series features the largest guaranteed sport compact event purse of more than $27,000 paid out per event. In addition, the series offers a year-end championship fund of $144,000, bonus program payouts near $20,000, along with the most lucrative contingency payout program in the sport at more than $2.1 million.
The series is highlighted by its five championship classes (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor). In addition, and at all nine of the stand-alone NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series events, the NHRA Xplôd Stylefest showcases a compliment of the lifestyle and entertainment elements synonymous with today’s sport compact scene. More information is available at nhrasportcompact.com.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series’ provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.
Brian Hacker
NHRA, Media Relations Manager
O - (626) 250-2424
C - (626) 428-0280
F - (626) 914-1491
