NHRA News: Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals advance
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NITTO NHRA SPORT COMPACT WORLD FINALS
WHAT: Sixth Annual Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals, the final 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 West Region Sportsman Class championships.
WHERE: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, Calif. Track is located off I-10 at Fairplex Drive. Go north on Fairplex drive to the Fairplex.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22, 2006.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $270,000.
SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, OCT. 21
GATES OPEN 7 a.m.
TIME TRIALS from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HEADS-UP QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m., 2, and 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCT. 22
GATES OPEN 8 a.m.
NHRA XPLOD STYLEFEST begins at 10 a.m.
E.T. TIME TRIALS 9 to 11:30 a.m.
ELIMINATIONS (AM, HR, SF, SR, SS, Q16; only if 9 or more cars) 10:30 a.m.
OPENING CEREMONIES begin at noon
ELIMINATIONS 12:30 p.m.
TELEVISION: Race - Sunday, Nov. 5, 3 a.m. (ET) ESPN2. Repeat telecast: Sunday, Nov. 30, 3 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Inside Drag Racing: NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Report, Sunday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Stylefest – Sunday, Nov. 5, 3:30 a.m. (ET), ESPN2. Repeat telecast: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 3:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
**Check local listings, television schedule subject to change.
TICKETS: For tickets information call NHRA, (626) 914-4761). All tickets will be sold the day of the event at the gate.
Saturday: Adult $15, Child (9) free. Sunday: Adult $20, Child (under 9) free. Two-day ticket for Saturday/Sunday; Adult $30.
2005 WINNERS: Brad Personett, Pro RWD; Marty Ladwig, Pro FWD; Dee Karagiannis, Modified; Ron Lummus, Hot Rod;
Tony Shagday, Honda Tuning All Motor
TRACK
RECORDS: PRO RWD -- 6.53 seconds and 216.69 mph by Brad Personett, Scion, Oct. ’05
PRO FWD – To be set at this event
MODIFIED -- 7.86 seconds and 169.13 mph by Dee Karagiannis, Mazda, Oct. ‘05
HOT ROD – To be set at this event
ALL MOTOR – 9.63 seconds and 141.80 mph by Tony Shagday, Acura, Oct. ‘05
NATIONAL
RECORDS: PRO RWD -- 6.41 seconds (Sept. ’06, Indianapolis) and 220.15 (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 -- 7.32 seconds by Angel Rodriguez, Toyota Starlet; 187.16 mph by Justin Humphreys, Lexus (Sept. ‘06, Englishtown, N.J.)
HOT ROD – 7.90 seconds and 184.25 mph (Oct. ‘06, Englishtown, N.J.) by Stephanie Eggum, Honda Civic
ALL MOTOR -- 9.56 seconds (Oct. ’06, Englishtown, N.J.) by Norris Prayoonto, Honda Insight; 141.89 mph (May ’06, Atco, N.J) by Jeremy
Lookofsky, Honda Civic
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SEASON-ENDING WORLD FINALS TO DECIDE NHRA XPLÔD SPORT COMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONS
POMONA, Calif. – The NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series is getting set for the season-ending, world champion deciding sixth annual Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Oct. 21-22.
For five years competitors of the NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series have competed at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Fans attending the Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals will see champions crowned at the final event of the year.
The Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals is the final race in the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series. There is more than $27,000 at stake for the drivers in each of the five championship categories (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor), and it is the third and final race for the Western Regional NHRA Sportsman Championship. Defending race winners include Brad Personett (Pro RWD), Marty Ladwig (Pro FWD), Dee Karagiannis (Modified), Ron Lummus (Hot Rod), and Tony Shagday (Honda Tuning All Motor).
The five drivers who are sitting atop the standings coming into Pomona all have one thought on their minds and that is to just make it through the weekend. Those five drivers are: Personett (Pro RWD); Ed Bergenholtz (Pro FWD); Paul Efantis (Modified); Lummus (Hot Rod); and Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda Tuning All Motor).
Personett (Elkhart, Ind.) has been the season-long leader in the Pro RWD category, and he is looking to capture his second consecutive NHRA world championship. He also has been the No. 1 qualifier in nine of the 10 events held this season. Personett leads his nearest competitor, Matt Scranton, by 129 points.
“It’s just what we’ve been working towards all year,” Personett said. “It makes me feel good (to be in the lead).”
After 10 events this year, Brad Personett has dominated the Pro RWD class with seven event wins (Jupiter, Fla. (April); Englishtown, N.J (May); Atco, N.J.; Topeka, Kan.; Denver; Indianapolis; and Englishtown, N.J. (Oct.)). Scranton has won races at Dinwiddie, Va. and Las Vegas, and White won his first NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Series race in Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.).
Bergenholtz (Santa Ana, Calif.) is also looking to capture his second consecutive NHRA Xplôd world championship. He has an 83-point lead over Marty Ladwig going into Pomona and feels good about his chance for another championship.
“I’m excited about the possibility of back-to-back championships,” Bergenholtz said. “It would be incredible. I am still cautious even though I have an 83-point lead. I will treat it like any other race.”
The Pro FWD class has become competitive as several teams have been challenging Bergenholtz’s domination. Bergenholtz started out the year by winning the first two events (Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Dinwiddie, Va.), and then winning the next to last event in Englishtown, N.J. Jason Hunt came along and challenged Bergenholtz by winning in Englishtown, N.J. (May) and Las Vegas, and Bryan Jimenez (Atco, N.J.) and 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., Las Vegas, and Englishtown, N.J (Oct.)); Jorge Lazcano (Englishtown, N.J. (May) and Atco, N.J.); and Dee Karagiannis (Denver). This has made the points race extremely tight. There are 25 points separating the top four drivers.
Efantis (Ijamsville, Md.) holds a slim one-point lead over Justin Humphreys, a 14-point lead over Lazcano, and a 25-point lead over Karagiannis. Karagiannis was the leader going into the last race and dropped to fourth after failing to qualify.
“It feels more comfortable (having the points lead) going into the final race as the leader,” Efantis said. “Considering we missed two races it feels good going into Pomona with the lead. We won our other championship going into Pomona (2004) so this is familiar territory. We need to qualify well. Whoever makes it the farthest will be the winner.”
In Hot Rod, Lummus has won five races this year (Dinwiddie, Va.; Englishtown, N.J (May); Atco, N.J.; Las Vegas; and Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.)). Stephanie Eggum has won two races this year at Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Englishtown, N.J. (Oct.), and Chuck Seitsinger won in Morrison, Colo.
Lummus (Anaheim, Calif.) is excited about wrapping up the championship in Pomona, which is his home track, but also has some concerns. He holds a 70-point lead over his nearest competitor, Eggum.
“It is awesome to be coming to my home track with the lead, but it is also bittersweet,” Lummus said. “The rule changes and revision about turbos have allowed the other teams to come around and battle. But, we have had to run with a smaller turbo and it has caused a performance disadvantage. As hard as we work it is still not enough. I will just need to drive my way to the final.”
The Honda Tuning All Motor class has seen teammates win a total of six races this season. Saul Salceda started out with wins at Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Dinwiddie, Va. His teammate Prayoonto has won four races at Englishtown, N.J. (May), Atco, N.J., Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.), and Englishtown, N.J. Points leader Lookofsky has won two events in Morrison, Colo. and Las Vegas.
Lookofsky maintains a comfortable 106-point lead over Prayoonto. He is looking to win his first NHRA Xplôd world championship.
“We come into Pomona just like any other race,” Lookofsky said. “I can’t wait for the season to be over and take a vacation. I am more nervous about the vacation (He will be traveling with his daughter Victoria for the first time on a plane) than Pomona.”
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 Extreme Autofest Supershow featuring 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, Lowrider Hop, Boost Mobile FreestyleMx.com Tour, 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 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 (7) 1,119
2. Matt Scranton, Toyota (2) 990
3. Gary White, Toyota (1) 859
4. Manuel Cruz, Nissan 294
5. Len Monserrat, Mitsubishi 236
6. Carlos Montano, Mazda 130
7. Abel Ibarra, Mazda 76
PRO FWD
1. Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda (3) 725
2. Marty Ladwig, Chevrolet (1) 642
3. Bryan Jimenez, Chevrolet (1) 605
4. Gary Gardella, Chevrolet 548
5. Jason Hunt, Chevrolet (2) 523
6. Ronald Townsend, Chevrolet (1) 504
7. Christian Rado, Scion 161
7. Jerrold Rhodes, Honda 52
MODIFIED
1. Paul Efantis, Toyota (3) 600
2. Justin Humphreys, Lexus (1) 599
3. Jorge Lazcano, Mazda (3) 586
4. Demetrios Karagiannis, Mazda (1) 575
5. Michael Lowe, Mazda 462
6. Ken Scheepers, Mazda 327
7. Steve Topletz, Toyota 245
8. Jorge Juarbe, Toyota 208
9. Elliot Rivera, Toyota 108
10. Walberto Torres, Toyota 108
HOT ROD
1. Ron Lummus, Pontiac (5) 800
2. Stephanie Eggum, Honda (2) 730
3. Stephane Beauregard, Dodge 612
4. Mike Crawford, Dodge 525
5. Kenny Tran, Scion 481
6. Chuck Seitsinger, Honda (1) 224
7. Sav Leone, Custom 179
8. Stephen Merman, Honda 103
9. Eric Del Rosario, Honda 53
10. Bryan Bridges, Custom 52
HONDA TUNING ALL MOTOR
1. Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda (2) 838
2. Norris Prayoonto, Honda (4) 732
3. Saul Salceda, Acura (2) 647
4. Vince Tiaga, Mazda 452
6. Leslie Armendariz, Scion 427
5. Scott Kelley, Toyota 396
7. Scott Mohler, Dodge 219
9. Thomas Borgia, VW 157
8. Jesus Padilla, Mazda 146
10. Domingo Alvarez, Mazda 85
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