NHRA News: Xplod Series Advance Package for Jupiter,
Fla.
PALM BEACH NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS
WHAT: Second annual Palm Beach NHRA Sport Compact Nationals presented by Speed & Truck World, RJ Gators, & Buzz 103.1, the eighth of 11 events in the $2.5 million NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series. Heads-up, no breakout competition leading to 2006 NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series world championships in five different championship classes (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor). Four heads-up sportsman (Sport RWD, UrbanRacer.com Sport FWD, BFGoodrich Tires Street Stock and Quick 16) classes leading to the 2006 East Region Sportsman Class championships, plus 2 ET brackets.
WHERE: Moroso Motorsports Park: From the south: Take I-95 north (exit 79B) or the Florida Turnpike (exit 109) to PGA Blvd. Go west to SR 710 and turn right, go 8.2 miles to track.
From the north: Take I-95 south (exit 87B) or the Florida Turnpike (exit 116) to Indiantown Rd./SR 706. Go west to SR 710 and turn left, go three miles to track.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Aug 19-20, 2006.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $270,000.
SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, Aug. 19
GATES OPEN at 2 p.m.
E.T. TIME TRIALS are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
HEADS-UP QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3, 5 and 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 20
GATES OPEN at 9 a.m.
NHRA XPLOD STYLEFEST 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BIKINI CONTEST at 2:30 p.m.
E.T. TIME TRIALS are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon
ELIMINATIONS (AM, HR, SF, SR, SS, Q16; only if 9 or more cars) scheduled for 10 a.m.
OPENING CEREMONIES begin at 1 p.m.
ELIMINATIONS 1:30 p.m.
TELEVISION: Race - Thursday, Aug. 31, 3 p.m. (ET) ESPN2. Repeat telecast: Thursday, Sept. 7, 2 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Inside Drag Racing: NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Report, Sunday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Stylefest – Thursday, Aug. 31, 4 p.m. (ET), ESPN2. Repeat telecast: Thursday, Sept 7, 3 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
**Check local listings, television schedule subject to change.
TICKETS: For ticket information call Moroso Motorsports Park at (561) 622-1400 or visit www.morosomotorsportspark.com.
Tickets will be available at the gate. Friday: $13, Child (11 & under) free. Saturday and Sunday: Adult $20, Child (11 & under) free.
2-day ticket for Saturday/Sunday; Adult $35.
2005 WINNERS: Matt Scranton, Pro RWD; Shaun Carlson, Pro FWD; Ken Scheepers, Modified; Gary Gardella, Hot Rod;
Jesus Padillla, Honda Tuning All Motor
TRACK
RECORDS: Pro RWD -- 6.55 seconds by Matt Hartford, Chevrolet, April ’05; 216.86 mph by Brad Personett, Toyota, April ‘05
Pro FWD -- 7.95 seconds by Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda, April ’06; 181.34 mph by Bryan Jimenez, Chevy, April ‘06
Modified -- 7.57 seconds and 179.49 mph by Elliot Rivera, Toyota, April ‘06
Hot Rod – 8.05 seconds and 177.69 mph by Stephanie Eggum, Honda, April ‘06
All Motor -- 9.83 seconds and 138.33 mph by Saul Salceda, Acura, April ‘06
NATIONAL
RECORDS: PRO RWD -- 6.47 seconds (May ’06, Topeka, Kan.) and 220.15 mph (May ’06, Atco, N.J.) by Brad Personett, Scion tC
PRO FWD -- 7.51 seconds (May ’06, Englishtown, N.J.) and 196.44 mph (July ‘06, Las Vegas) by Jason Hunt, Chevy Cobalt,
MODIFIED -- 7.49 seconds (May ’06, Englishtown, N.J.) and 185.23 mph (July ’06, Las Vegas) by Jorge Lazcano, Mazda RX7
HOT ROD – 8.03 seconds (April ’06, Richmond, Va.) and 181.40 mph (May ‘06, Englishtown, N.J.) by Ron Lummus, Pontiac Sunfire
ALL MOTOR -- 9.64 seconds and 141.89 mph (May ’06, Atco, N.J) by Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda Civic
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SCRANTON LOOKING FORWARD TO DEFENDING HIS WIN
AT MOROSO MOTORSPORTS PARK
JUPITER, Fla. – Matt Scranton is looking forward to defending last year’s win at the upcoming Palm Beach NHRA Sport Compact Nationals presented by Speed & Truck World, RJ Gators, and Buzz 103.1 at Moroso Motorsports Park, Aug. 19-20.
Scranton, who won last year’s event by defeating the current Pro RWD points leader Brad Personett, has been keeping pace with Personett by winning twice and being
runner-up four times in seven events. He is currently 88 points out of the series lead.
“This is turning out to be like in 2004 when the points race went down to the final round in the final race,” said Scranton. “It is great to be in the championship points race to give our sponsors the best bang for their buck.”
The Palm Beach NHRA Sport Compact Nationals is the eighth 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 fifth race for the Eastern Regional NHRA Sportsman Championship. Defending race winners include Scranton (Pro RWD), Shaun Carlson (Pro FWD), Ken Scheepers (Modified), Gary Gardella (Hot Rod), and Jesus Padilla (Honda Tuning All Motor).
Scranton has good reason to enjoy racing at Moroso Motorsports Park. He lives just a few hours west and his family, friends, and fans come out to cheer him on during the weekend.
“It is not a far trip to Moroso for my family and friends,” said Scranton. “The fans are incredible at Moroso. It is not unusual to have it standing room only on Sunday afternoon. The track treats the fans well.”
As for the track itself Scranton says, “It is a good track, but tricky with the heat and humidity. We are going to be testing in Bradenton to get a set-up similar to Moroso since the conditions are similar. We will also go back through our log books to see our set-up for past races at Moroso.”
The Palm Beach NHRA Sport Compact Nationals also is the eighth competition for Pro RWD teams 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 O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
After seven events this year, Brad Personett has dominated the Pro RWD class with five event wins (Jupiter, Fla., Englishtown, N.J, Atco, N.J. Topeka, Kan., and Denver). Scranton has won races at Dinwiddie, Va. and Las Vegas.
Heading into the Palm Beach NHRA Sport Compact Nationals, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor have competed at six 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 Las Vegas, and Bryan Jimenez (Atco, N.J.) and Marty Ladwig (Morrison, Colo.) have each won single events.
In the Modified class there have been four different winners: Justin Humphreys (Jupiter, Fla.); Paul Efantis (Dinwiddie, Va., and Las Vegas); Jorge Lazcano (Englishtown, N.J. and Atco, N.J.); and Dee Karagiannis (Denver). This has made the points race extremely tight.
In Hot Rod, Ron Lummus has won four races this year (Dinwiddie, Va., Englishtown, N.J, Atco, N.J., and Las Vegas). Stephanie Eggum won the first race of the year at Jupiter, Fla., and Chuck Seitsinger won in Morrison, Colo.
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 won the next two races at Englishtown, N.J. and Atco, N.J. Points leader Jeremy Lookofsky has won the last two events in Morrison, Colo. and Las Vegas.
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 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 Spearmint Rhino, tons of giveaways 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.
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NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series 2006 Point Standings
PRO RWD (Victories in parentheses)
1. Brad Personett, Scion (5) 786
2. Matt Scranton, Toyota (2) 698
3. Gary White, Toyota 591
4. Manuel Cruz, Nissan 165
5. Len Monserrat, Mitsubishi 161
6. Carlos Montano, Mazda 130
7. Abel Ibarra, Mazda 76
PRO FWD
1. Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda (2) 556
2. Marty Ladwig, Chevrolet (1) 512
3. Bryan Jimenez, Chevrolet (1) 455
4. Gary Gardella, Chevrolet 434
5. Jason Hunt, Chevrolet (2) 407
6. Ronald Townsend, Chevrolet 312
7. Jerrold Rhodes, Honda 52
MODIFIED
1. Demetrios Karagiannis, Mazda (1) 513
2. Justin Humphreys, Lexus (1) 446
3. Paul Efantis, Toyota (2) 428
4. Michael Lowe, Mazda 409
5. Jorge Lazcano, Mazda (2) 354
6. Ken Scheepers, Mazda 266
7. Steve Topletz, Toyota 160
8. Jorge Juarbe, Toyota 152
9. Elliot Rivera, Toyota 98
10. Thomas Shambaugh, Toyota 63
HOT ROD
1. Ron Lummus, Pontiac (4) 586
2. Stephane Beauregard, Dodge 501
3. Stephanie Eggum, Honda (1) 494
4. Mike Crawford, Dodge 395
5. Kenny Tran, Honda 332
6. Chuck Seitsinger, Honda (1) 224
7. Eric Del Rosario, Honda 53
8. Bryan Bridges, Custom 52
9. Joe Housley, Honda 52
7. Stephen Merman, Honda 52
HONDA TUNING ALL MOTOR
1. Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda (2) 644
2. Saul Salceda, Acura (2) 517
3. Norris Prayoonto, Honda (2) 481
4. Vince Tiaga, Mazda 345
5. Scott Kelley, Toyota 321
6. Leslie Armendariz, Scion 274
7. Scott Mohler, Dodge 219
8. Thomas Borgia, VW 104
9. Jesus Padilla, Mazda 91
10. Angel Valentin, Mazda 32
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Brian Hacker
Media Relations Manager, NHRA
(626) 250-2424
(626) 428-0280, cell
(626) 914-1491, fax
