Elite group in the running for JEGS Crown trophy

DELAWARE, May 19, 2009: An elite field of 15 highly skilled sportsman drag racers are in the running for the coveted JEGS Crown trophy, a special award which could be bestowed upon one or more of them at the upcoming JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals, Sept. 25-27. The JEGS Crown is a specially designed trophy that was painstakingly handcrafted by Dan Dreisbach, of Naked Sculpture www.naked-sculpture.com. It is considered by many to be drag racing equivalent to an Olympic Gold Medal simply because it is so difficult to obtain. The only way to win the JEGS Crown is to win an eliminator title at two of the three JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals events held each year; the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose, La., the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, Calif., and the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus, Ohio. Since it’s creation in 2005, the JEGS Crown has been claimed just once, by former Pro Mod racer and current Top Fuel team owner Mike Ashley.

The 15 drivers who earlier this season claimed victories in Belle Rose and Fontana, will now have the opportunity to head to Columbus later this year for a shot at the unique award. They are, Kevin Self, Ed Sigmon, Brad Zaskowski, Mark Faul, Austin Williams, Leo Glasbrenner, Tommy Phillips, Thomas Bayer, Hollis Colleasure, Mike DeSio, Michael Blodgett, Casey Spradlin, Tom Yancer, and Jeffrey Barker, and Jed Bourquin.

The driver who has perhaps the best shot at winning the JEGS Crown is Phillips of Forney, Texas, simple because he will have two shots at the Crown as a result of his rare double victory at the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals. Phillips won in Super Comp and Super Gas and if he can repeat in either eliminator in Columbus, he’ll take home the prized hardware.

“Winning two national events in the same day was awesome, but winning that [JEGS Crown] trophy would also be really cool,” said Phillips, “It’s obviously not an easy thing to win, but as they say, ‘Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.’”

Another racer who believes he has a decent shot at the award is Zaskowski, the winner of the Super Stock title in Belle Rose. A resident of Grand Rapids, Mich., Zaskowski is very familiar with National Trail Raceway. He is also a two-time SPORTSnationals winner, having also won the Belle Rose race in 2007.

“I wish the rules were a little different because I’ve won the [Cajun] SPORTSnationals twice, but unfortunately, it was in back-to-back years.” said Zaskowski. “Actually, I’ve come close. Two years ago after I won in Belle Rose, I went to Columbus and got down to the last eight cars. Maybe this year.”

A couple of other drivers who also bear watching include DeSio, of Seminole, Fla., who has already won two national events in Super Street this season, and Bayer, of Fontana, Calif., who has won three Super Comp titles this year and is the current points leader in that class.