JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout Returns to I-57 Dragstrip, July 21-22
Benton, IL: Luke Bogacki and Scott Bailey are proud to announce that I-57 Dragstrip will host the 2nd annual JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout July 21-22. The event will serve a sequel to the successful 2011 SDCS that saw over 170 door cars converge on the Southern Illinois facility for a weekend of fun and fierce competition. The format for the 2nd annual JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout is essentially unchanged: the door car-only event will feature two days of main event competition with each winner taking home $7,500. The purse structure is exactly the same as 2011, as racers will earn prize money beginning with a victory in round three. The two-day weekend entry remains affordable, at $275.
“We were thrilled with the inaugural event last season,” explained co-promoter Luke Bogacki. “We’re not going to mess with a good thing. The purses, entry fees, buybacks, and bonus races are all exactly the same as 2011. We’re making minor additions and changes to the event based on what we learned last year, but for the most part we’ll follow the same format. We’ll host a racer’s appreciation barbecue on Friday night for those who come in early, and we’ve got even more great prizes in line for the racers at this year’s JEGS SDCS.”
|
|
Read more...
|
Brad Plourd Recalls Successful 2011 Season & Looks Ahead to 2012
2011 passed by quickly for Brad Plourd. That’s bound to happen given the way that Plourd, 29, earns his living. As a touring professional competitor within the sportsman categories of NHRA Lucas Oil competition, Plourd finds himself on the road much of the calendar year, with stops spanning the country from Washington to Florida, and California to Pennsylvania. Once he hits the race track, Plourd is at home in a variety of competition vehicles; most notably the Lucas Oil backed Super Comp dragster of Charlotte Lucas. He also routinely drives a pair of his own vehicles: a Lucas Oil backed ‘68 Camaro Stock Eliminator machine and a gorgeous ‘66 Chevy II bracket car.
On the track, Plourd is no stranger to success. Regarded as one of the most versatile drivers in the sportsman ranks, Plourd has driven in every NHRA sportsman category. He’s won 11 NHRA national events and is a 4-time NHRA Lucas Oil Division Champion. He is one of an elite group of drivers to have earned division crowns in 3 separate categories, having won the Division 6 title in Super Stock and Stock (twice), and a Division 3 championship in Super Comp.
|
|
Read more...
|
Jody Lang Captures 2011 ThisIsBracketRacing.com “Driver of the Year” Honors  Carterville, IL: Longtime Northwest Division standout Jody Lang held off a list of the biggest names in sportsman drag racing to claim the top spot in the BTE Power Rankings, earning the prestigious title of ThisIsBracketRacing.com “Driver of the Year.” The BTE Power Rankings on ThisIsBracketRacing.com is a unique program in which the site ranks sportsman competitors in North America regardless of class, sanction, or type of competition. The system awards drivers with “Power Points” for final round appearances in all major sportsman events, including NHRA and IHRA national and divisional events, as well as bracket races that feature a winner’s purse of $5,000 or more. To read the details of how points are awarded, click here: http://thisisbracketracing.com/rankings_points.cfm
The program’s initial two seasons saw runaway winners. Dan Fletcher dominated the 2009 points standings, earning Driver of the Year honors with an incredible 155 point total. A year later, Gary Williams eclipsed Fletcher’s mark with a score of 179 points, earning the title by nearly 70 markers. In contrast, 2011 marked a season of parity in the sportsman ranks, and lower scores atop the rankings provided a much tighter battle for the crown. The BTE Power Rankings saw more than 5 different leaders throughout the season, in a battle that wasn’t settled until the final points earning events of the season.
|
|
Read more...
|
Young Schmall Grabs First National Title
The Fast N’ Furious Racing team comprised of dad Joe and brothers Andy and Brandon finished their first season where all three team members had a car to drive the entire year. Before this, time was split between the team’s ’71 Chevrolet Vega, and ’69 Plymouth Fury III. The team finished their best combined year by securing three points series championships, three second place finishes, a King of the Track championship, division championship, and national championship. The trio combined to win 23 events and make 35 final round appearances.
Brandon capped off a banner year of winning championships in both the Pro and Super Pro classes in the MDRA points series by capturing his first Division 5 Pro ET, and Summit ET National Championships. All of this was done in his first full season behind the wheel of the Fastronix Performance Wiring backed 1970 Dodge Challenger owned by Dennis “Big D” Remer. Brandon was quick to thank Fastronix, owners Dennis and Greg, and Summit Racing Equipment for their involvement in the ET Series. “Without them none of this would be possible; it was an experience I’ll never forget.”
|
|
Read more...
|
Bogacki Closes Season with a Pair of $5,000 Wins at Palm Beach International
West Palm Beach, FL: Noted sportsman competitor Luke Bogacki closed his 2011 campaign with a pair of $5,000 wins at the annual Palm Beach International Raceway 5-Day Bracket Championships.
Bogacki kicked off the weekend with a $5,000 win in Tuesday night’s 1/8th mile event behind the wheel of his familiar ThisIsBracketRacing.com backed American Race Cars dragster. After winning the opening round with a .014 reaction time, Bogacki put on a starting line clinic, posting reaction times ranging from .000 to .008 in the remaining seven rounds to earn the victory. His win was highlighted by back-to-back .006 packages in rounds 3 and 4, and a .002 package in the semi-final round. In the final, he used another great .001 reaction time to take the advantage over Gene Drogan and slowed to a 4.596 on his 4.58 dial to take the victory by .010 of a second.
The next day, disaster struck for Bogacki in round 3 of the quarter mile main event when his powerful Huntsville Engine 582 broke a connecting rod. Undeterred, Bogacki and his crew removed the damaged powerplant and replaced it with a spare Huntsville Engine bullet in time for Thursday’s main event. In that race, he advanced to the quarterfinal round before falling to Gary Williams. From there, Bogacki went into Thursday night’s 1/8th mile event and immediately picked up where he left off in the Tuesday race.
|
|
Read more...
|
Biondo Caps Stellar Season with Sixth World Championship 
Maspeth, NY: When he defeated second place Mike Sawyer in the opening round of Super Gas eliminations at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, CA, Peter Biondo clinched the 2011 NHRA Super Gas Lucas Oil World Championship. The title marked Biondo’s sixth NHRA World Championship and first in the 9.90 category. As if the season-capping title wasn’t enough, Biondo continued through eliminations and put the proverbial icing on the cake by winning the Super Gas crown at the NHRA Finals, besting Dana Keniry in a close final round.
“What can I say,” asked Biondo. “We had a great season. I was disappointed not to win the championship in Super Stock (Biondo finished 2nd in the national points chase), but to be able to clinch the Super Gas title was a great feeling. Then winning the race here was an added bonus. We really finished the season strong, which always makes the winter go by quicker!”
In 2011, Biondo made significant additions to his already overflowing trophy case, as 12 new NHRA “Wally” trophies made their way into his possession throughout the season. He earned six NHRA divisional victories, 4 NHRA national event crowns, and the NHRA Division 1 championship in Super Gas (his 14th divisional title) in addition to the most coveted trophy of all: the NHRA Lucas Oil Championship Wally.
|
|
Read more...
|
IHRA Sportsman Racing Expands Again with Division 7
NORWALK, Ohio --One year after expanding into the northwest with the newly created Division 6 Border Bandits in the western United States and Canada, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced that it will be expanding again, this time in the southwest and western part of the U.S.
While details are still be worked out, including a division name, a complete track list and a finalized schedule, the IHRA is thrilled to continue its expansion west and giving racers in the southwest and west an opportunity to compete in the Summit SuperSeries and Summit Team Finals programs.
"We have been working for years trying to expand our reach to new areas of the United States and Canada and I am proud to say that over the past two years we have worked hard to accomplish those goals," said IHRA Vice President Skooter Peaco. "With the new Division 7 we will reach racers that have never had an option in racing and we hope to give that to them by providing the same great customer service and sportsman-oriented focus that has helped us excel in other regions.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Jackie Alley wins NHRA Super Stock World Title
Eagle, Idaho- Jackie Alley started racing at Firebird Raceway in 1996. On Sunday, she was crowned NHRA Super Stock world champion, the first person from Idaho to win such a title. “A lot of it still hasn’t sunk in to me yet, it all still seems so unbelievable,” Alley said. “It’s quite an honor to be the first person in Idaho to win. Alley started racing because she was tired of sitting in the stands watching her husband, Mick, compete. Said Mick, now her crew chief: “She told me, ‘I’m a do-er, not a watcher. If we’re going to continue doing this, build me a car.’ Jackie has steadily climbed through the ranks by racing around the country. In July, she won her first national competition in Denver, and her confidence blossomed. “I did go into it wanting to destroy,” Jackie said. “I think that’s probably what pushed me over the top.”
|
|
Read more...
|
NHRA Summit National Champions Crowned  POMONA, Calif. -- The NHRA Summit Racing Series crowned their four National Champions this past weekend at Auto Club Dragway at Pomona during the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Brandon Schmall and Mark Horton led the winners as Schmall, Lino Lakes, Minn., took home the trophy and the championship in the Pro class. Schmall drove his '70 Challenger to a 9.918 second lap in the final to defeat Paul Comeau, Vancouver, Wash., and his '39 Chevy. A starting line advantage of 6-hundredths of a second proved to be the difference as Schmall left first and never looked back.
Horton, a Callahan, Fla., resident, worked through three rounds of eliminations in Super Pro and faced off with Steven Shearer, Exeter, Calif., in the final round. Shearer left early with a red-light foul start handing the win to Horton who went on to a near perfect run of 8.107 seconds on an 8.10 dial-in and a reaction time of 0.006 seconds for a combined package of 0.013. Horton's dragster that runs on E85 Ethanol fuel ran consistent all day with runs of 8.093 (8.09 dial) and 8.102 (8.09 dial) in rounds one and two.
|
|
Read more...
|
IHRA Expands Summit Sportsman Spectacular Program in 2012 
NORWALK, Ohio --After a successful debut in 2011, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is pleased to announce that the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Spectacular program will be expanded to include three huge races to be held across the United States in 2012
The only big money, all sportsman class race to feature all seven national event sportsman categories will feature events at San Antonio Raceway May 25-27, Maryland International Raceway July 13-15 and Memphis International Raceway October 12-14. Each race is open to racers carrying a valid IHRA or NHRA license with $5,000 going to the winner of each of the seven IHRA sportsman classes. Winners meeting certain criteria will also be eligible for the season-ending IHRA Summit Tournament of Champions.
|
|
Read more...
|
IHRA to hold $200,000 Summit Sportsman World Finals at Memphis International Raceway in 2012
NORWALK, Ohio --With renovations complete and the track ready to go, the International Hot Rod Association is pleased to announce the much-anticipated return of championship sportsman drag racing to Memphis International Raceway.
The track, located in beautiful Millington, Tenn., will host three full days of sportsman drag racing at the IHRA World Finals in October of 2012 featuring three distinct races and the crowning of champions in all of IHRA's sportsman categories.
"Memphis International Raceway is honored to be the host track for the 2012 IHRA World Finals," Vice President and General Manager Pam Kendrick stated. "Next season marks the initial year for the IHRA and MIR partnership to build a successful program for the racers. We are excited to cap off our first full season as Memphis International Raceway with the World Finals."
More centrally located than ever before, the IHRA is thrilled to be bringing its biggest weekend of racing yet to Memphis International Raceway to close out the 2012 season.
|
|
Read more...
|
Schedule for the Nov. 23-27 Las Vegas Bracket Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Tuesday, Nov. 22
Gates open for all pre-registered participants – Noon-5 p.m.
Tech inspection for pre-registered participants – 2-5 p.m.
|
|
Read more...
|
NHRA and Summit Racing Equipment Extend Series Sponsorship of Popular NHRA Summit Racing Series  GLENDORA, Calif. --NHRA officials announced today that Summit Racing Equipment has signed a multi-year agreement to extend its title sponsorship of the popular NHRA Summit Racing Series.
We can't thank Summit Racing Equipment enough for its commitment to and support of the NHRA Summit Racing Series, said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. Summit Racing Equipment's contribution to helping support the racer community is immeasurable.
The NHRA Summit Racing Series features a bracket racing format staged at NHRA Member Tracks nationwide that allows drivers in many types of vehicles, including dragsters, roadsters, sedans, and coupes to compete on an equal basis against each other. In addition to the three categories of competition for cars, a motorcycle category also is featured. Summit has sponsored the series since the 2000 season.
|
|
Read more...
|
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Results - The Strip
Las Vegas- Joe Santangelo went seven rounds in Stock eliminator to take the win and the NHRA Lucas Oil National Championship today at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Short Line Express Gambler Shootout event. Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., beat Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Donaldsonville, La., in the final round as both were chasing Jody Lang for the Championship.
Santangelo’s win in his ’95 Camaro moved him past Lang for the championship. Hidalgo also had a shot at the title but the win gave Santangelo an insurmountable lead over Hidalgo with one race remaining, and Lang is out of events where he can score points.
Frank Manzo and Gary Stinnett are the other two drivers that have clinched 2011 NHRA Lucas Oil National Championships out of the seven up for grabs. This is Manzo’s 15th National Championship in Top Alcohol Dragster while Stinnett grabbed his fourth, and second in a row, in the Super Comp category.
|
|
Read more...
|
Carr Wins The Nitrofish Million; Vail, Folk, and Ewing also Score 
Montgomery, AL: The 16th annual Nitrofish Million returned to it’s Southern roots, as it rolled into Montgomery Motorsports Park October 19-23. Over 300 of the most talented and successful sportsman bracket racers in the nation converged on the Southern Alabama facility and provided some of the most tightly contested bracket competition of the season. Action started Thursday with the J.W. Performance $20,000-to-win event, the first of the weekend’s “Triple 20’s.”
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
