Former NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster title contender Sean O'Bannon can now officially throw his name into the Top Alcohol Funny Car hat after successfully completing his crossgrade licensing runs during this past weekend's Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at "The Strip" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  O'Bannon wheeled the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV's Dodge Charger to a 5.860 at 246.44 mph to complete his Top Alcohol Funny Car license.

 

O'Bannon, 28, of Fontana, Calif., is pleased with the outcome of the weekend despite not getting to compete in the race. 

 

"The main goal this weekend was to get my license," said O'Bannon.  "Considering we just picked the car up from Brad Hadman's shop this week, put it together in a couple of days, it was good to get this far.  I really have to credit our crew chief's Sam Shockley, Randy Anderson and our crew; the car went right down the track the first run."

 

"We still have some runs to make on the car to get it where it needs to be," O'Bannon continued.  "We're going to get the car back in the shop and then go do some testing out in Fontana.  Having a new car and driver, it actually worked out better for the long run that we didn't get our license in time to compete.  We are going to claim Division 6 for points since their season hasn't started and we've missed so many Division 7 races.  This will give us time to get this Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV's Charger up to speed to make a run at the national and divisional points."

 

O'Bannon's teammate Alexis De Joria, of Venice, Calif., failed to qualify after recording a career-best 5.86 in pre-race testing. 

 

"I'm very committed to learning this car," stated De Joria.  "The team has built me a cockpit simulator with pedals and controls just like my car.  We're going to mount sensors on the pedals to make sure I'm swapping feet just right.  I'm going to the shop every day to practice, and I'll do it a 100 times a day if I have to."