JEGS Allstars celebrates Silver Anniversary in 2009 with more action expected

JOLIET, Ill. May 6, 2009: During the summer of 1985, a group of NHRA’s most successful sportsman drag racers from all over the United States were invited to Bowling Green, Ky., for a special event then known as the TRW Allstars. Competing for individual and overall honors against rival teams representing each of NHRA’s seven geographic divisions, the inaugural event was dominated by the Northeast Division (Div. 1), as world champions Bob Newberry, Bill Walsh, and Alan Peters won in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Stock Eliminator, respectively. An additional win by Joe DePasquale in Super Street sealed the win for the Division 1 team, whose members shared a $10,000 bonus.

A quarter-century later, the same event, now backed by performance parts giant JEGS Mail Order and known officially as the JEGS Sportsman Allstars, is still going strong and it will celebrate its Silver Anniversary during the upcoming United Association Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., June 6.

Over the last 25 years, hundreds of NHRA’s most talented sportsman drivers have had the opportunity to compete in the JEGS Allstars race, which moved from its home in Bowling Green to Columbus, Ohio in 1987 before finally settling in Joliet in 2002. Racers must earn an invitation into the JEGS Allstars by accumulating points during the previous season’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events held within their home division, insuring that each of the participants are members of a very exclusive fraternity.

Over the years, the Allstars has helped to launch the careers of many of today’s best known professional racers including five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., and current Top Fuel contenders Morgan Lucas, his teammate, current Rookie of the Year favorite Shawn Langdon, “Hot Rod” Fuller and 76-time NHRA national event winner Pat Austin. The list of former JEGS Allstars champions who later became successful pros also includes Blaine Johnson and Darrell Russell, a pair of up-and-coming Top Fuel drivers who were tragically killed in the prime of their careers.

With 12 world championships and nearly 80 career national event victories, Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Frank Manzo is regarded as one of NHRA’s most successful racers. Not surprisingly, Manzo is also the king of the JEGS Sportsman Allstars race with six individual titles to his credit. Manzo, of Morganville, N.J., didn’t get his first Allstars victory until 1995, but quickly made up for lost time, collecting additional wins in 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Manzo remains the only six-time winner of the JEGS Allstars and North Central Division Super Street ace Rudy Matthews is close behind with five wins. Several others have four wins including Pat Austin, and Edmond Richardson. The JEGS Allstars has produced a pair of father-son winners in Comp champions David and Bo Nickens and west coast Top Alcohol Funny Car racers Mike and Doug Gordon. The Allstars isn’t exclusive to men either, as female drivers Shelly Howard, Maryann Method, Brenda Grubbs, and Lynn Hoosigian are all former champions.

Although the prize money is significant, it is not the primary motivation for most JEGS Allstars participants. Rather, their motivation comes from the camaraderie that is fostered among teammates. It is a common sight during the JEGS Allstars to see drivers and their crews gathered on the starting line, cheering wildly and providing encouragement to their teammates. More often than not, the overall point title isn’t decided until the final rounds are completed. On more than one occasion, the competition has been deadlocked, forcing officials to refer to a tie-breaker in order to determine a champion.

When it comes to team honors, the balance of power has consistently favored the east coast racers as the Northeast and Southeast Division teams have each won six team titles. The North Central Division and South Central Divisions have each claimed five overall wins, leaving just two for the Northwest Division team. The teams from the West Central and Pacific Divisions are still seeking their first Allstars titles.

The drama is already building for this year’s event as the teams from the Northeast and Southeast Divisions battle for a record seventh overall team title while the West Central and Pacific Divisions look to break through for their first titles. Manzo also figures to garner a lot of attention as he returns to Joliet in search of his seventh JEGS Allstars crown against a field of the sport’s best Top Alcohol Funny Car racers.