JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals Rolls Into Fontana

Fontana, April 14, 2009: This weekend (April 17-19) nearly 500 of the nation’s best sportsman drag racers will roll into Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif., for the fourth annual JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals. The second of three JEGS SPORTSnationals events contested each season, the Pacific SPORTSnationals attracts NHRA Lucas Oil Series competitors from all over the western United States in nine separate eliminator categories; Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and the very popular Top Sportsman, Top Dragster eliminators. For the first time ever, the popular Sportsman Motorcycle class will also be included at this year’s event.

The large fields are expected to include past SPORTSnationals winners including 2008 champs Doug Lambeck (Comp), Mark Faul (Super Stock), Dave Moreno (Stock), Mike Ferderer (Super Comp), Ed DeStaute (Super Gas), Mike Blodgett (Super Street), Larry Scarth (Top Sportsman), and JR Leerkamp (Top Dragster).

Lambeck, of Corona Del Mar, Calif., has already reached the late rounds at several events this year including the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona. In order to defend his Comp title, Lambeck, who drives a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire, will have to fend off a tough field that is likely to include former national champion Dean Carter, past SPORTSnationals winner Justin Lamb, and current NHRA Pacific Division points leader Mike DePalma.

Last year, Faul, of Tacoma, Wash., accomplished a rare feat when he won the Super Stock title and also posted a runner-up finish in Stock. In order to accomplish a similar feat at this year’s event, Faul will once again have to outlast some of the best sportsman racers west of the Mississippi including former national champion Jimmy DeFrank of Tarzana, Calif., Tibor Kadar of Peoria, Ariz., and Greg Luneack of Vista., Calif., and Jody Lang of Puyallup, Wash., who won both the Super Stock and Stock titles at the recent NHRA event in Las Vegas. Competitors in Super Stock and Stock will also have the opportunity to compete in Class Eliminations where similarly classified vehicles will have the opportunity to race in a heads-up format.

Some of the quickest and fastest cars in Fontana will be found in the Top Sportsman and Top Dragster classes where six-second runs at over 200-mph are commonplace. Joe Roubicek of Village, Calif., will look to extend his lead in the Top Sportsman category while Chip Rumis of Ramona, Calif., will look to do likewise in Top Dragster.

The JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals will also mark the second leg of the 2009 JEGS Crown competition. The JEGS Crown is a very special limited edition trophy that is awarded to any driver who can win two JEGS SPORTSnationals events in a single season. Should any of the champions from the recent Cajun SPORTSnationals also win in Fontana, they will receive the one-of-a-kind prize, which was designed by noted race car fabricator Dan Driesbach.

JEGS SPORTSnationals events are known throughout the sportsman drag racing community as races that are both fun and competitive this year’s Pacific SPORTSnationals is no different. On Thursday night, April 16, the event will feature a popular pre-race party which is held at Dave & Busters restaurant and amusement center located a few miles from the track in the Ontario Mills Mall. The party will include an autograph session, a race car display and door prizes.