NHRA News: Xplod Series Advance Package for Englishtown,
N.J.
NHRA SPORT COMPACT FALLNATIONALS
WHAT: Fifth Annual NHRA Sport Compact Fallnationals presented by Toyo Tires, the 10th 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 three ET brackets and Suzuki Pro Street Bike Shootout.
WHERE: From the north: New Jersey Turnpike south to Exit 9, follow the signs to Route 18 south. Go six miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Route 527 south five miles. Make a left onto Pension Road (Raceway Park billboard on left). Go 1/4-mile, track entrance on the left.
From the south: New Jersey Turnpike north to Exit 8 to Route 33 east. Go eight miles to the Englishtown Exit. Take Route 527 north. Go through Englishtown. At the Exxon gas station make a right onto Gordons Corner Road. Go 1/4-mile, make a left onto Pension Road. Go two miles, track entrance is on the right.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 2006.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $270,000.
SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, SEPT. 30
GATES OPEN 10 a.m.
TIME TRIALS from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HEADS-UP QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1, 3, and 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCT. 1
GATES OPEN 8 a.m.
NHRA XPLOD STYLEFEST begins at 10 a.m.
E.T. TIME TRIALS 9 to 10 a.m. (muffled), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (unmuffled)
HEADS-UP QUALIFYING 10:30 a.m.
ELIMINATIONS (AM, HR, SF, SR, SS, Q16; only if 9 or more cars) 11 a.m.
OPENING CEREMONIES begin at 12:30 p.m.
ELIMINATIONS 1 p.m.
TELEVISION: Race - Sunday, Oct. 15, 2 a.m. (ET) ESPN2. Repeat telecast: Thursday, Oct. 22, 4 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Inside Drag Racing: NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Report, Sunday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Stylefest – Sunday, Oct. 15, 2:30 a.m. (ET), ESPN2. Repeat telecast: Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
**Check local listings, television schedule subject to change.
TICKETS: For ticket information call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800.
Tickets will be available at the gate. Saturday: Adult $15, Child (6-12) $5, (under 6) free. Sunday: Adult $20, Child (6-12) $5, (under 6) free. Two-day ticket for Saturday/Sunday; Adult $30, Child (6-12) $10.
2005 WINNERS: Ed Marx, Pro RWD; Ed Bergenholtz, Pro FWD; Justin Humphreys, Modified; Ron Lummus, Hot Rod;
Jesus Padillla, Honda Tuning All Motor
TRACK
RECORDS: PRO RWD -- 6.54 seconds by Steph Papadakis, Honda, Oct. ’04; 213.50 mph by Brad Personett, Scion, May ‘06
PRO FWD -- 7.51 seconds and 195.19 by Jason Hunt, Chevy, May ’06
MODIFIED -- 7.49 seconds by Jorge Lazcano, Mazda, May ‘06 and 181.96 mph by Paul Efantis, Toyota, May ‘06
HOT ROD – 8.04 seconds by Ron Lummus, Pontiac, May ‘06 and 183.12 mph by Stephanie Eggum, Honda, May ‘06
ALL MOTOR – 9.70 seconds and 141.56 mph by Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda, May ‘06
NATIONAL
RECORDS: PRO RWD -- 6.41 seconds by Brad Personett, Scion tC, Sept. ’06, Indianapolis; 220.15 mph by Personett, May ‘06, Topeka, Kan.
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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DRIVERS LOOKING TO GAIN IN POINTS CHASE AT UPCOMING
NHRA XPLOD SPORT COMPACT RACING SERIES EVENT
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – The NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series is getting set for the upcoming fifth annual NHRA Sport Compact Fallnationals presented by Toyo Tires at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park on Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
For four straight years competitors of the NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series have competed at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Fans attending the NHRA Sport Compact Fallnationals may see records fall, and will definitely see the best side by side sport compact racing in the world on the track.
This year’s race will be an action packed event both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, drivers in three categories will be finishing the final round from the rained-out race from Moroso Motorsports Park in Jupiter, Fla. Ron Townsend and Jason Hunt are slated for the finals in Pro FWD. Paul Efantis and Jorge Lazcano will drive in the Modified final, and Stephanie Eggum and Ron Lummus will race in the final of Hot Rod. Two categories were able to finish before the event was postponed. Gary White was able to claim his first NHRA Wally in Pro RWD and Norris Prayoonto (Honda Tuning All Motor) was able to win his third career NHRA Wally.
The battle in Honda Tuning All Motor has been a very interesting one this year. In the three final rounds that Prayoonto and Lookofsky have raced against each other, Prayoonto has a 3-0 record. Yet, the points standings reflect Lookofsky having a comfortable 145 point lead over Prayoonto with just two events remaining. So, if these two race each other in the final at Englishtown it should be an interesting battle for domination.
The NHRA Sport Compact Fallnationals presented by Toyo Tires is the 10th race in the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series. There is 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 sixth and final race for the Eastern Regional NHRA Sportsman Championship. Defending race winners include Ed Marx (Pro RWD), Ed Bergenholtz (Pro FWD), Justin Humphreys (Modified), Ron Lummus (Hot Rod), and Jesus Padilla (Honda Tuning All Motor).
After nine events this year, Brad Personett has dominated the Pro RWD class with six event wins (Jupiter, Fla. (April); Englishtown, N.J (May); Atco, N.J.; Topeka, Kan.; Denver; and Indianapolis). Scranton has won races at Dinwiddie, Va. and Las Vegas, and White won his first NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Series race in Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.)
Heading into the NHRA Sport Compact Fallnationals presented by Toyo Tires, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor have competed at seven events during the 2006 NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series season. The only category to complete the seventh event in Jupiter, Fla. before rain postponed the event was Honda Tuning All Motor.
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. (April) and Dinwiddie, Va.). Jason Hunt came along and challenged Bergenholtz by winning in Englishtown, N.J. (May) 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. (April)); Paul Efantis (Dinwiddie, Va., and Las Vegas); Jorge Lazcano (Englishtown, N.J. (May) 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 (May); Atco, N.J.; and Las Vegas). Stephanie Eggum won the first race of the year at Jupiter, Fla. (April), and Chuck Seitsinger won in Morrison, Colo.
The Honda Tuning All Motor class has seen teammates win a total of five races this season. Saul Salceda started out with wins at Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Dinwiddie, Va. His teammate Prayoonto has won three races at Englishtown, N.J., Atco, N.J. and Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.). Points leader Lookofsky has won 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, 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 Drags 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 (6) 1,001
2. Matt Scranton, Toyota (2) 893
3. Gary White, Toyota (1) 783
4. Manuel Cruz, Nissan 240
5. Len Monserrat, Mitsubishi 236
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) 740
2. Norris Prayoonto, Honda (3) 595
3. Saul Salceda, Acura (2) 595
4. Vince Tiaga, Mazda 398
6. Leslie Armendariz, Scion 351
5. Scott Kelley, Toyota 321
7. Scott Mohler, Dodge 219
8 Jesus Padilla, Mazda 146
9. Thomas Borgia, VW 104
10. Domingo Alvarez, Mazda 85
Brian Hacker
Media Relations Manager, NHRA
(626) 250-2424
(626) 428-0280, cell
(626) 914-1491, fax
