OLPIN LOOKING FOR ENCORE PERFORMANCE IN JEG'S ALL-STAR EVENT
Wed, 2008-06-04 09:00
In addition to the generous cash payouts, the special edition trophy and the
custom made leather jacket, one of the many perks that is bestowed on each the
winners of the annual JEGS Allstars competition is the right to return the
following year to defend their title. One driver who is grateful for that
opportunity is Ed Olpin. The winner of the 2007 Super Gas title, Olpin, of
Pleasant Grove, Utah, will make the long drive back to Route 66 Raceway in
Joliet for the 24th edition of the JEGS Allstars, which takes place on Saturday,
June 7, during the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 Nationals. In addition to the individual honors, JEGS Allstars competitors, who must qualify for the special event through a year-long points battle within their respective NHRA geographic divisions, will be competing for the $20,000 bonus that is awarded to the overall team champions. All told, there is more than $100,000 on the line during the highly anticipated annual event. And, as if there wasn’t enough motivation for the JEGS Allstars contestants to put forth their best effort, any racer who can win the JEGS Allstars title on Saturday will have a chance to claim the JEGS double-up bonus by winning the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 Nationals the following day.
In addition to the generous cash payouts, the special edition trophy and the
custom made leather jacket, one of the many perks that is bestowed on each the
winners of the annual JEGS Allstars competition is the right to return the
following year to defend their title. One driver who is grateful for that
opportunity is Ed Olpin. The winner of the 2007 Super Gas title, Olpin, of
Pleasant Grove, Utah, will make the long drive back to Route 66 Raceway in
Joliet for the 24th edition of the JEGS Allstars, which takes place on Saturday,
June 7, during the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 Nationals. In addition to the individual honors, JEGS Allstars competitors, who must qualify for the special event through a year-long points battle within their respective NHRA geographic divisions, will be competing for the $20,000 bonus that is awarded to the overall team champions. All told, there is more than $100,000 on the line during the highly anticipated annual event. And, as if there wasn’t enough motivation for the JEGS Allstars contestants to put forth their best effort, any racer who can win the JEGS Allstars title on Saturday will have a chance to claim the JEGS double-up bonus by winning the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 Nationals the following day.
Following his 2007 victory Olpin has not slowed down. In six starts this
season, he has yet to lose in the opening round and heads into the Allstars as
the seventh-ranked Super Gas driver in the NHRA points standings. Another driver
who must be considered a favorite to capture the $4,500 first place prize in
Super Gas is Division 2 representative David Tatum III, of Palmetto, Ga. A
teammate to Super Comp racer Sherman Adcock Jr., Tatum won the Super Street
title at the JEGS Allstars race in 1991. He also qualified for the special event
in 1992 and 2006. A two-time winner of the JEGS SPORTSnationals, Tatum is also a
leading contender for the 2008 NHRA Lucas Oil Super Gas title.
One other racer who is hungry for a return trip to the Allstars is Division 6 representative Mike Coltrin of Boise, Idaho, who last competed in the special event in 2004. The rest of the JEGS Allstars Super Gas field will include Michael Sawyer (Division 1), Carl Root (Division 3), Wes Neely (Division 4), Doug Woody (Division 5), and Val Torres (Division 7).
One other racer who is hungry for a return trip to the Allstars is Division 6 representative Mike Coltrin of Boise, Idaho, who last competed in the special event in 2004. The rest of the JEGS Allstars Super Gas field will include Michael Sawyer (Division 1), Carl Root (Division 3), Wes Neely (Division 4), Doug Woody (Division 5), and Val Torres (Division 7).
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