Championship contenders head for JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/SportsNationals_Pacific.jpg" alt="SportsNationals_Pacific" align="right"borders="0"/>
FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 2-5) – Auto Club Dragway at Fontana will become a battleground for the nation’s best amateur drag racers when the third annual JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals takes center stage this weekend. Several hundred racers are expected to attend the event, which showcases racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The racers who attend the SPORTSnationals will be competing for a share of more than $65,000 in cash and an additional $400,000 in posted contingency awards. Several high profile contestants are also hoping to earn valuable points that could ultimately lead to an NHRA national or divisional championship.
The field in Competition Eliminator figures to be loaded with such talent as four drivers currently ranked in the top ten are expected to attend including current points leader Dan Fletcher of Churchville, N.Y. Driving for the Fontana based Braun Racing team, Fletcher has won five events this year in his 170-mph Chevy Cobalt. Other top contenders include Jim Cowan of Dewey, Ariz., who is currently ranked third; Doug Lambeck of Corona Del Mar, Calif., who sits fourth, and former national champion Dean Carter of Glendale, Ariz., who is seventh.
Following a win at last weekend’s Northwest Division event in Medford, Ore., Jimmy DeFrank of Chatsworth, Calif., is considered the favorite to claim his third NHRA Super Stock title. DeFrank, who is also ranked among the top ten drivers in Stock Eliminator, will be challenged by third-ranked Greg Luneack of Vista, Calif., and Ryan McClanahan of Alta Loma, Calif., and Tony Mandella of Upland, Calif., who are also ranked in the top ten.
The SPORTSnationals could also help decided the title in Stock eliminator as Toby Lang of Auburn, Wash., is one of the top contenders. Currently ranked third, Lang could boost his points total with a victory.
In addition to Comp, Super Stock and Stock, titles will also be awarded in Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street, as well as the exciting new Top Dragster and Top Sportsman divisional programs. Saturday’s program will also include a Mopar Hemi Challenge race for drivers in the top Super Stock class.
The JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals is the third of three special sportsman only events held each year. The JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals is contested at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La., and the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals is held at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.
Qualifying for the event will begin on Friday, Oct. 3 and continue on Saturday, Oct. 4. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/SportsNationals_Pacific.jpg" alt="SportsNationals_Pacific" align="right"borders="0"/>
FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 2-5) – Auto Club Dragway at Fontana will become a battleground for the nation’s best amateur drag racers when the third annual JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals takes center stage this weekend. Several hundred racers are expected to attend the event, which showcases racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The racers who attend the SPORTSnationals will be competing for a share of more than $65,000 in cash and an additional $400,000 in posted contingency awards. Several high profile contestants are also hoping to earn valuable points that could ultimately lead to an NHRA national or divisional championship.
The field in Competition Eliminator figures to be loaded with such talent as four drivers currently ranked in the top ten are expected to attend including current points leader Dan Fletcher of Churchville, N.Y. Driving for the Fontana based Braun Racing team, Fletcher has won five events this year in his 170-mph Chevy Cobalt. Other top contenders include Jim Cowan of Dewey, Ariz., who is currently ranked third; Doug Lambeck of Corona Del Mar, Calif., who sits fourth, and former national champion Dean Carter of Glendale, Ariz., who is seventh.
Following a win at last weekend’s Northwest Division event in Medford, Ore., Jimmy DeFrank of Chatsworth, Calif., is considered the favorite to claim his third NHRA Super Stock title. DeFrank, who is also ranked among the top ten drivers in Stock Eliminator, will be challenged by third-ranked Greg Luneack of Vista, Calif., and Ryan McClanahan of Alta Loma, Calif., and Tony Mandella of Upland, Calif., who are also ranked in the top ten.
The SPORTSnationals could also help decided the title in Stock eliminator as Toby Lang of Auburn, Wash., is one of the top contenders. Currently ranked third, Lang could boost his points total with a victory.
In addition to Comp, Super Stock and Stock, titles will also be awarded in Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street, as well as the exciting new Top Dragster and Top Sportsman divisional programs. Saturday’s program will also include a Mopar Hemi Challenge race for drivers in the top Super Stock class.
The JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals is the third of three special sportsman only events held each year. The JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals is contested at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La., and the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals is held at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.
Qualifying for the event will begin on Friday, Oct. 3 and continue on Saturday, Oct. 4. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5.
