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GILLIAM, La. - As the NHRA Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series tour heads into it's final two races, the battle for the Division 4 Comp Eliminator title is still up for grabs as five drivers still have legitimate shots going into this weekend's event at Red River Raceway just outside of Shreveport, La. In addition to battling for valuable points, racers in Comp Eliminator will be vying for bonus cash provided by the Division 4 Comp Eliminator Shootout along with the $7,000 Roof-Tec "Luck of the Draw" bonus this weekend.
Joey Tanskley, of Greenwell Springs, La., currently leads the division with 303 points with his C/Dragster, but is followed closely by the defending Division 4 Champ, Craig Bourgeois, who trails by a mere 11 points in his A/Nostalgia Dragster. The Championship chase isn't limited to the top two, however. Charlie Watson, Jr., currently third, trails Tanksley by only two rounds (31 points) with his potent Super Mod Cobalt. Young Chase Williams, currently fifth, is within striking distance of the leaders, 76 points back with three events left to claim in his Super Mod Grand Am. The wild card in this points race is Scott Benham, who currently sits sixth with 210 points, but has only been to three races in his Super Mod Cavalier.
Championship scenarios are wide open at this point. Racers in Comp Eliminator can claim their best five out of the first eight division races they attend towards the Division Championship. Tanksley, Bourgeois and Watson all have been to six events, leaving two more events to claim for them. Williams has been to five, leaving three more events for him to claim. With only three races under his belt, Benham will be able to earn 'full' points at his next two events rather than replacing events like his competitors, which clearly makes him the spoiler in the field.
While Tanksley has the rest of the pack breathing down his neck, he can put some more distance between himself and the field with a strong showing, as he has a first round loss (30 points) he can replace (a win is 95 points). Bourgeois and Watson will be trying to improve on second round losses (41 points). Williams will be trying to replace a first round loss as well. Tanksley is in the driver's seat, but an early round exit and a late round showing by one of the other drivers could see another points leader by the event's end.
In addition to the Championship battle, there are a number of racers in contention for a top ten finish in the division. Only 50 points separate sixth place and 13th place.
If points wasn't enough, the Roof-Tec "Luck of the Draw" bonus has reached $7,000 going into this weekend's event. The bonus is available to a randomly selected qualifier prior to the event. If a racer wins the event from the "Lucky Draw" position, he or she will win the bonus. Each race another $1,000 is added to the Roof-Tec bonus. If the bonus is not won by the "Lucky Draw" qualifier at the final event in Noble, Okla., the $8,000 bonus will be awarded to the winner.
The Division 4 Comp Shootout Bonus Fund awards $6,000 per event to Competition Eliminator racers on top of the event payout. The Shootout is supported by sponsors Roof-Tec, NAPA Auto Parts, Southern Sand Blasting, Kent Services, Johnson Truck & Trailer, Carbery Fabrication, Ballistic Race Craft, Elite Motorsports and Medders Construction.
Photo courtesy Roger Richards @ Competition Plus
Division 4 Comp Eliminator Shootout
Bonus Cash and Championship hopes set the stage for a Comp Eliminator "Red River Shootout"
GILLIAM, La. - As the NHRA Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series tour heads into it's final two races, the battle for the Division 4 Comp Eliminator title is still up for grabs as five drivers still have legitimate shots going into this weekend's event at Red River Raceway just outside of Shreveport, La. In addition to battling for valuable points, racers in Comp Eliminator will be vying for bonus cash provided by the Division 4 Comp Eliminator Shootout along with the $7,000 Roof-Tec "Luck of the Draw" bonus this weekend.
Joey Tanskley, of Greenwell Springs, La., currently leads the division with 303 points with his C/Dragster, but is followed closely by the defending Division 4 Champ, Craig Bourgeois, who trails by a mere 11 points in his A/Nostalgia Dragster. The Championship chase isn't limited to the top two, however. Charlie Watson, Jr., currently third, trails Tanksley by only two rounds (31 points) with his potent Super Mod Cobalt. Young Chase Williams, currently fifth, is within striking distance of the leaders, 76 points back with three events left to claim in his Super Mod Grand Am. The wild card in this points race is Scott Benham, who currently sits sixth with 210 points, but has only been to three races in his Super Mod Cavalier.
Championship scenarios are wide open at this point. Racers in Comp Eliminator can claim their best five out of the first eight division races they attend towards the Division Championship. Tanksley, Bourgeois and Watson all have been to six events, leaving two more events to claim for them. Williams has been to five, leaving three more events for him to claim. With only three races under his belt, Benham will be able to earn 'full' points at his next two events rather than replacing events like his competitors, which clearly makes him the spoiler in the field.
While Tanksley has the rest of the pack breathing down his neck, he can put some more distance between himself and the field with a strong showing, as he has a first round loss (30 points) he can replace (a win is 95 points). Bourgeois and Watson will be trying to improve on second round losses (41 points). Williams will be trying to replace a first round loss as well. Tanksley is in the driver's seat, but an early round exit and a late round showing by one of the other drivers could see another points leader by the event's end.
In addition to the Championship battle, there are a number of racers in contention for a top ten finish in the division. Only 50 points separate sixth place and 13th place.
If points wasn't enough, the Roof-Tec "Luck of the Draw" bonus has reached $7,000 going into this weekend's event. The bonus is available to a randomly selected qualifier prior to the event. If a racer wins the event from the "Lucky Draw" position, he or she will win the bonus. Each race another $1,000 is added to the Roof-Tec bonus. If the bonus is not won by the "Lucky Draw" qualifier at the final event in Noble, Okla., the $8,000 bonus will be awarded to the winner.
The Division 4 Comp Shootout Bonus Fund awards $6,000 per event to Competition Eliminator racers on top of the event payout. The Shootout is supported by sponsors Roof-Tec, NAPA Auto Parts, Southern Sand Blasting, Kent Services, Johnson Truck & Trailer, Carbery Fabrication, Ballistic Race Craft, Elite Motorsports and Medders Construction.
Photo courtesy Roger Richards @ Competition Plus
