2009 NHRA JEGS CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
FINAL RESULTS - PHILLIPS DOUBLES; SELF SCORES SECOND IN A ROW
Picture perfect weather and more than 500 racers treated the fans to an unforgettable 6th Annual
Phillips of Forney, Texas, held off Scooter Choate, Hubbard, Texas, in the Super Comp final and former National Champion Sherman Adcock of Fortson, Ga., in Super Gas.
Kevin Self defended his JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals from a year ago winning over Greenwell Springs, La., resident Joey Tanksley. Self drove his ’32 roadster to 7.921 second lap at 163.69 mph.
In the TCI Comp Cams Top Dragster class, Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., took out local racer Thomas Levatino of La Place, La., with a run of 6.851 seconds, at 192.00 mph while NHRA Southeast Division Champion Jeffrey Barker took the win in the Sunset Racecraft Top Sportsman class over Mike Coughlin and his JEGS.com sponsored ’06 Cobalt. Baker, Warner Robins, Ga., clocked in at 7.159, 188.66.
Brad Zaskowski, Belmont, Mich., scored his second SPORTSNationals win in Super Stock winning back in 2007.
Rounding out the winners were Austin Williams of Burleson, Texas, beating Dan Fletcher in Stock; Mike Desio, Seminole, Fla., winning in Super Street over Paul Martinez; and Alex Barmettler making the trip from Maplewood, Minn., worth the drive in the Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson class.
Craig Treble took time off from the NHRA Full Throttle series in the Pro Stock Motorcycle to run in the Sportsman Motorcycle class this weekend falling short of the win. Also on hand was Troy Coughlin making exhibition passes in his Pro Street car and Elaine Larson in her jet dragster. Troy also runs in the NHRA Pro-Mod series out of the JEGS Mail Order camp.
Sportsnationals events date back to 1974 with most events in the 70’s and 80’s being ran in Bowling Green, Ky., with this being the first of three JEGS Sportsnationals scheduled for the 2009 NHRA season.
Many of this weekend’s competitors will head to Houston and Houston Raceway Park for next weekend’s NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The South Central Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series heads to the Texas Motorplex near Dallas, April 3-5, for their next event.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals at No Problem Raceway:
COMP ELIMINATOR
Kevin Self, Caddo, Okla., '32 Bantam, F/EA, 7.921, 163.69 def. Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Spgs, La., dragster, C/D, 7.588, 118.98
SUPER STOCK
Brad Zaskowski, Belmont, Mich., '87 Camaro, GT/G, 10.171, 117.26 def. Allan Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '66 Nova, GT/IA, broke
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Austin Williams, Burleson, Texas, '77 Roadrunner, G/SA, 11.250, 108.66 def. Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.236, 117.19
SUPER COMP
Tommy Phillips, Forney, Texas, dragster, 8.880, 167.51 def. Scooter Choate, Hubbard, Texas, dragster, foul.
SUPER GAS
Tommy Phillips, Forney, Texas, '57 Corvette, 9.900, 152.85 def. Sherman Adcock Jr, Fortson, Ga., '02 Trans Am, 9.925, 157.12
SUPER STREET
Mike Desio, Seminole, Fla., '67 Chevy II, 10.914, 139.36 def. Paul Martinez, Houston, Texas, '84 Trans Am, 10.879, 132.65
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Alex Barmettler, Maplewood, Minn., '78 Kawasaki, 9.320, 134.36 def. David Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '05 Suzuki, 8.376, 150.31
TOP DRAGSTER
Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., dragster, 6.851, 192.00 def. Thomas Levatino, LaPlace, La., dragster, 6.863, 185.74
TOP SPORTSMAN
Jeffrey Barker, Warner-Robins, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.159, 188.99 def. Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '06 Cobalt, 6.814, 200.71
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SATURDAY FINAL QUALIFYING - FIELDS SET FOR NHRA JEGS CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS QUALIFYING
The second day of the JEGS NHRA Cajun Sportsnationals was jammed pack with action as more than 550 racers made final qualifying
Leading things off was the conclusion of Friday’s heads-up class racing with Joe Teuton Jr. of Schriever, La., out running his teammate Tim Hebert, Thibodaux, La., in a battle of ’68 Super Stock Hemi Barracudas. Teuton ran 8.751 at 151.94 mph for the win. Another local racer Dempsey Pendarvis of Gonzales won in the AA/SA class in Stock Eliminator and Michael Mans, Rogers, Minn., knocked off Charlie Bohannon in the Stock/Super Stock CIC race in his ’00 Firebird.
James Caro, Houma, La., is low qualifier in Super Stock for Sunday’s eliminations and is joined by Robert Shaw of Sedalia, Mo., in Stock. In Comp Eliminator it was Adam Hickey of Hammond, La., claiming the top spot in his ’06 Cobalt.
In Top Dragster it was Michael Manners owning the day as the Willis, Texas, racer took home the trophy in the Top Dragster Shootout and also held on to the top qualifying spot in the Comp Cams TCI Top Dragster class for Sunday. Manners ran down Scott Williamson of DeRidder, La., in the shootout with a lap of 6.154 seconds at 189.58. Denham Springs, La., racer Joey Marcotte sits in the No. 2 qualifying position.
TOP DRAGSTER SHOOTOUT
Mike Manners, Willis, Texas, dragster, 6.154, 189.58 def. Scott Williamson, DeRidder, La., dragster, 6.643, 179.95
TOP SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT
Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '07 GTO, 6.483, 211.20 def. Mike Manners, Willis, Texas, '53 Corvette, 6.837, 203.43
KING OF THE BAYOU SUPER STREET
Tom Phillips, Dallas, '68 Camaro, 10.905, 129.18 def. Johnathan Blades, Baker, La., '68 Camaro, 10.941, 125.80
KING OF THE BAYOU SUPER COMP
Steve Cohen, Trilby, Fla., dragster, 8.908, 169.78 def. Bart Nelson, La Porte, Texas, dragster, 8.938, 168.03.
KING OF THE BAYOU SUPER GAS
Jacklyn Gebhardt-Still, Jacksonville, Ill., '66 Corvette, 9.923, 150.40 def. Jim Hughes, Phoenix, Ariz., '02 Corvette, 9.935, 143.61
STOCK/SUPER STOCK CIC
Michael Mans, Rogers, Minn., '00 Firebird SS/CS, 9.220, 143.69 def. Charlie Bohannon, Valley Station, Ky., '67 Corvette SS/HA, 9.594, 133.90
HEMI SUPER STOCK CHALLENGE
Joe Teuton Jr., Schriever, La., '68 Barracuda, 8.751, 151.94 def. Tim Hebert, Thibodaux, La., '68 Barracuda, 8.995, 145.25
COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Adam Hickey, Hammond, La., '06 Cobalt, C/SMA, 8.116 seconds, -0.714 (under index)
2) Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., dragster, G/ED, 7.940, -0.660
3) Bruno Massel, Woodbridge, Ill., '08 Cobalt, DD/AT, 7.242, -0.658
4) Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.224, -0.656
5) Kevin Self, Caddo, Okla., '32 Bantam, F/EA, 7.919, -0.651
6) Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Spgs, La., dragster, C/D, 6.867, -0.633
7) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.244, -0.626
8) Jody Holland, Harrah, Okla., '72 Opel GT, L/AA, 8.932, -0.618
9) Charles Watson, Humble, Texas, '07 Cobalt, F/SM, 8.637, -0.613
10) Craig Bourgeois, Metairie, La., dragster, B/ND, 6.947, -0.603
SUPER STOCK
1) James Caro, Houma, La., '05 Stratus, SS/BM, 8.259 seconds, -1.391 (under index)
2) Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '90 Calais, GT/MA, 10.683, -1.367
3) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '05 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.450, -1.350
4) J.W. Hames, Madison, Miss., '89 Daytona, GT/IA, 10.153, -1.347
5) Grant Lewis, Jesup, Ga., '05 Pontiac, SS/EM, 9.014, -1.336
6) Allan Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '66 Nova, GT/IA, 10.191, -1.309
7) Rich South, Pataskala, Ohio, '05 Sunfire, GT/EA, 9.681, -1.269
8) Allen Myrick, Walker, La., '78 Aspen, SS/JA, 10.033, -1.267
9) Jonathan Womack, Houston, '07 Cavalier, SS/BS, 8.742, -1.208
10) Vic Penrod, Walters, Okla., '95 Achieva, GT/LA, 10.644, -1.206
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Robert Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., '77 Seville, U/SA, 13.664 seconds, -1.486 (under index)
2) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, M/SA, 11.929, -1.221
3) Floyd Russo, Gonzales, La., '01 Trans Am, A/SA, 10.081, -1.219
4) Gregory Hill, Louisville, Ky., '71 Camaro, E/SA, 10.783, -1.217
5) Dean Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.735, -1.215
6) John Duzac, Covington, La., '67 Camaro, D/S, 10.610, -1.190
7) Charley Downing, Britton, Mich., '83 Malibu Wgn, O/SA, 12.262, -1.188
8) David Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '02 Firebird, A/SA, 10.118, -1.182
9) Bill Dyer, Port Byron, Ill., '85 Mustang, N/S, 12.072, -1.178
10) John McCarthy Jr., Lyndon, Ky., '60 Kingswood, U/SA, 14.000, -1.150
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Lisa Bennett, Lucas, Texas, '95 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.003 seconds reaction time
2) Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '07 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.003
3) Jason Clampit, Lino Lake, Minn., '93 Harley Sprts, ETMX, 0.003
4) Bruce Sampson, Forest Lake, Minn., '82 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.004
5) David Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '05 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.005
6) Todd Blanchard, Napoleonville, La., '91 Honda, ETMX, 0.008
7) Craig Treble, Harvey, La., '00 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.009
8) Aaron Schrupp, Mound, Minn., '01 Polaris, ETMX, 0.010
9) Keith Altazin, Broussard, La., '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.011
10) James Enloe, Prairieville, La., '86 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.014
TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., '68 Camaro, 6.380 seconds, 221.42 mph
2) Mike Manners, Willis, Texas, '53 Corvette, 6.433, 219.22
3) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '07 GTO, 6.460, 213.00
4) Johnny Adkins, Linden, Tenn., '57 Chevy, 6.655, 202.97
5) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., '57 Chevy, 6.701, 204.91
6) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '06 Cobalt, 6.735, 206.39
7) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '06 GTO, 6.785, 203.86
8) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 Chevy, 6.789, 202.33
9) Matthew Buck, Lantana, Fla., '96 Firebird, 6.793, 205.22
10) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '08 GXP, 6.797, 201.61
TOP DRAGSTER
1) Mike Manners, Willis, Texas, dragster, 6.086 seconds, 226.81 mph
2) Joey Marcotte, Denham Spgs, La., dragster, 6.291, 191.40
3) Don Aydelott, Vernon, Texas, dragster, 6.394, 213.60
4) P J Vicari, Crown Pte, La., dragster, 6.438, 207.88
5) Scott Williamson, DeRidder, La., dragster, 6.492, 206.73
6) Jason Dennis, Lubbock, Texas, dragster, 6.568, 204.42
7) George Tyler, Franklin, La., dragster, 6.586, 207.59
8) Chip Rumis, Romona, Calif., dragster, 6.606, 201.55
9) Jimmy Lewis, Forney, Texas, dragster, 6.619, 201.49
10) Joseph Collier, Clyde, Texas, dragster, 6.622, 224.21
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SATURDAY - KING OF THE BAYOU CHAMPS CROWNED AS JEGS NHRA CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS ROLLS ON
The first champions of the sixth annual JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals
were crowned Saturday at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La.
Steve Cohen, Jacklyn Gebhardt-Still and Tom Phillips each won
individual titles in the special King of the Bayou race that has become
a staple of the Cajun SPORTSnationals. Cohen, of Trilby, Fla., drove
his dragster to the Super Comp win over Bart Nelson. Gebhardt-Still, of
Jacksonville, Ill., drove to the Super Gas title by beating former NHRA
national champion Jim Hughes in the final and Phillips, of Dallas,
Texas claimed top honors in Super Street by beating Jonathan Blades. In
addition to the $1,000 winner’s check, Phillips also claimed a $500
bonus for running closest to his index.
Champions were also crowned today in the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman
Shootout races, which are special bonus events that are open to the top
eight qualifiers in each eliminator. Mike Manners of Willis, Texas,
whose dragster was easily the quickest car in Top Dragster, won the
Shootout with a 6.15 elapsed time to defeat Scott Williamson. Manners
just missed a double in the Top Sportsman Shootout as he reached the
final round but was turned aside by former SPORTSnationals winner Keith
Raftery of Lake Charles, La. Raftery, the No. 3 qualifier in the Top
Sportsman class, got a head-start against Manner and then pulled away
for the win, 6.48 to 6.83.
Finally, there was a special combo race held for competitors in Super
Stock and Stock. The event featured a unique eliminator format which is
similar to the one used to handicap racers in Comp Eliminator, allowing
the quickest drivers in each class to showcase their performance. Mike
Mans of Rogers, Minn., prevailed in the final round against Charlie
Bohannon of Valley Station, Ky.
A new leader emerged in the final qualifying session for Competition
Eliminator racers as Adam Hickey of Hammond, La., drove his ’08 Cobalt
to the top spot. Hickey leads Glen Treadwell and yesterday’s leader
Bruno Massel, who was bumped to third.
Craig Treble, who normally competes in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class
in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, is the top qualifier in
the Sportsman Motorcycle division with his Suzuki Hayabusa. Treble, of
Harvey, La., earned the top spot by posting the best starting line
reaction time of any rider in the field.
With the field of 32 drivers set for final eliminations in Top
Sportsman, Mike Coughlin remains the No. 6 qualifier with his JEGS.com
Chevy Cobalt. The former three-time SPORTSnationals champion ran a best
of 6.735 seconds and is scheduled to face Chris Gilitti of Spring,
Texas, when the first round of eliminations takes place on Sunday
morning. All 32 qualifiers in Top Sportsman ran 7.34 seconds or
quicker, making for a very fast field.
“We qualified No. 6, which is right about where I expected to be,” said
Coughlin. “So far, everything is going very smoothly. We haven’t had
any big surprises and my JEGS.com Cobalt has been very consistent. This
field is loaded with a lot of good drivers and a lot of fast cars so
whoever wins tomorrow will definitely have to earn it but I’m looking
forward to the challenge.”
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FRIDAY - JEGS CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS UNDER WAY IN BELLE ROSE; FOLSE LEADS QUALIFYING
In the first rounds of qualifying at No Problem Raceway for the 6th Annual JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals,
Earl Folse of Raceland, La., leads the Top Sportsman class running
6.380 seconds at 221.42 mph followed by Keith Raftery, Lake Charles,
La., at 6.460, 213.00.
Joining Folse were Top Dragster driver Michael Manners, Willis, Texas,
and Bruno Massel of Woodridge, Ill., in Comp Eliminator taking the No.
1 qualifying positions in their classes.
Manners clocked in at 226.81 mph in 6.086 seconds and is followed by
Joey Marcotte out of Denham Springs, La., at 6.291 seconds, 191.40
mph. Bruno drove his ’08 Cobalt to a pass of 7.242 seconds with Scott
Benham landing in the No. 2 spot in his ’02 S-10 truck.
Local
runner James Caro of Houma, La., outran the field in Super Stock with a
pass of 8.259 seconds driving an ’05 Dodge while Robert Shaw of
Sedalia, Mo., leads a field of 105 racers in Stock Eliminator.
Opening day also brought heads up class racing for the Stock and Super Stock racers with a number of
Louisiana residence taking home the trophy including Caro; Allen Myrick
of Walker; Gilbert Johnson and Kenny Jeansonne of Lecompte; Byron
Latino of Donaldsonville; Michael Bryant of New Orleans; and Larry
Cummings of Hammond in Super Stock.
Local winners in the Stock class were lead by the father and son team
of Jimmy and Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. of Donaldsonville; John Duzac of
Covington; David Latino, also of Donaldsonville; Kent LaPorte of
Lafayette; George Roussel Jr. of Thibodaux; and Patrick Courts of New
Iberia.
Lisa Bennett grabbed the top spot in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson on her ’95 Suzuki.
Friday will wrap up with the annual crawfish boil for all racers, crew
members, and officials with several hundred pounds of crawfish being
brought in for the occasion.
“We throw a party and a drag race breaks out,” voiced Pat Joffrion who built and owns No Problem Raceway.
Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at No Problem Raceway. Gates open
at 8 a.m. with racing kicking off at 9 a.m. on Saturday with Top
Dragster and Top Sportsman qualifying at 10 and 11:30 a.m. The is also
a Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Shootout on tap for Saturday along
with the King of the Bayou competition for Super Comp, Super Gas, and
Super Street. Comp Eliminator will run their final qualifying at 1:30
and 5 p.m.
Tickets are $20 each day which includes a pit pass. No Problem Raceway
is located in Belle Rose, La. Exit 1-10 at Sorrento (Exit 182). Follow
exit to Hwy 70 (Sunshine Bridge -Donaldsonville). Cross Sunshine Bridge
and remain in the left lane. Follow Hwy. 70 for 12 miles toward Morgan
City. Three miles past the intersection of Hwy 70 & 1, turn right
onto Hwy. 996. Track is one mile on the right.
For more information, call No Problem Raceway (985) 369-3692 or visit www.noproblemraceway.com .
The following are Friday’s qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals event at No Problem
Raceway:
COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Bruno Massel, Woodbridge, Ill., '08 Cobalt, DD/AT, 7.242 seconds, -0.658 (under index)
2) Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.224, -0.656
3) Kevin Self, Caddo, Okla., '32 Bantam, F/EA, 7.919, -0.651
4) Adam Hickey, Hammond, La., '06 Cobalt, C/SMA, 8.186, -0.644
5) Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., dragster, C/D, 6.867, -0.633
6) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.251, -0.619
7) Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., dragster, G/ED, 7.992, -0.608
8) Craig Bourgeois, Metairie, La., dragster, B/ND, 6.969, -0.581
9) Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, '08 Cobalt, A/SMA, 7.981, -0.579
10) Charles Watson, Humble, Texas, '07 Cobalt, F/SM, 8.693, -0.557
SUPER STOCK
1) James Caro, Houma, La., '05 Stratus, SS/BM, 8.259 seconds, -1.391 (under index)
2) Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '90 Calais, GT/MA, 10.683, -1.367
3) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '05 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.450, -1.350
4) J.W. Hames, Madison, Miss., '89 Daytona, GT/IA, 10.153, -1.347
5) Grant Lewis, Jesup, Ga., '05 Pontiac, SS/EM, 9.014, -1.336
6) Allan Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '66 Nova, GT/IA, 10.191, -1.309
7) Tim Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '88 Cutlass, GT/KA, 10.478, -1.272
8) Rich South, Pataskala, Ohio, '05 Sunfire, GT/EA, 9.681, -1.269
9) Allen Myrick, Walker, La., '78 Aspen, SS/JA, 10.033, -1.267
10) Jonathan Womack, Houston, '07 Cavalier, SS/BS, 8.742, -1.208
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Robert Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., '77 Seville, U/SA, 13.664 seconds, -1.486 (under index)
2) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, M/SA, 11.929, -1.221
3) Floyd Russo, Gonzales, La., '01 Trans Am, A/SA, 10.081, -1.219
4) Gregory Hill, Louisville, Ky., '71 Camaro, E/SA, 10.783, -1.217
5) Dean Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.735, -1.215
6) John Duzac, Covington, La., '67 Camaro, D/S, 10.610, -1.190
7) Charley Downing, Britton, Mich., '83 Malibu Wgn, O/SA, 12.262, -1.188
8) David Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '02 Firebird, A/SA, 10.118, -1.182
9) Bill Dyer, Port Byron, Ill., '85 Mustang, N/S, 12.072, -1.178
10) John McCarthy Jr., Lyndon, Ky., '60 Kingswood, U/SA, 14.000, -1.150
TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., '68 Camaro, 6.380 seconds, 221.42 mph
2) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '07 GTO, 6.460, 213.00
3) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '06 Cobalt, 6.752, 205.91
4) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '06 GTO, 6.785, 203.86
5) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 Chevy, 6.796, 202.33
6) Vince Hoda, Diamondhead, Miss., '00 Firebird, 6.835, 202.27
7) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., '57 Chevy, 6.857, 201.79
8) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '06 GTO, 6.895, 202.61
9) Johnny Adkins, Linden, Tenn., '57 Chevy, 6.898, 196.07
10) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '06 Cobalt, 6.903, 198.35
TOP DRAGSTER
1) Mike Manners, Willis, Texas, dragster, 6.086 seconds, 226.81 mph
2) Joey Marcotte, Denham Spgs, La., dragster, 6.291, 191.40
3) Don Aydelott, Vernon, Texas, dragster, 6.407, 213.40
4) Scott Williamson, DeRidder, La., dragster, 6.567, 205.60
5) George Tyler, Franklin, La., dragster, 6.586, 207.59
6) Chip Rumis, Romona, Calif., dragster, 6.614, 201.55
7) Joseph Collier, Clyde, Texas, dragster, 6.622, 224.21
8) Allen Constantine, La Place, La., dragster, 6.656, 200.05
9) Robert Cool, La Place, La., dragster, 6.658, 197.28
10) Andy McCool, Carriere, Miss., dragster, 6.682, 199.17
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Lisa Bennett, Lucas, Texas, '95 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.003 seconds reaction time
2) Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '07 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.003
3) Jason Clampit, Lino Lake, Minn., '93 Harley Sprts, ETMX, 0.003
4) Bruce Sampson, Forest Lake, Minn., '82 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.004
5) David Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '05 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.006
6) Todd Blanchard, Napoleonville, La., '91 Honda, ETMX, 0.008
7) Aaron Schrupp, Mound, Minn., '01 Polaris, ETMX, 0.010
8) Keith Altazin, Broussard, La., '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.011
9) James Enloe, Prairieville, La., '86 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.014
10) Eddie Glaze, Houston, '90 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.017
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CRAIG HUTCHISON NAMED GRAND MARSHAL/HONORARY STARTER FOR EVENT
NHRA South Central division director Craig Hutchinson has been tapped
by JEGS to be the Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter at the 6th 
Annual NHRA JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals. The event is March 20-22 at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La.
Hutchinson just celebrated 20 years of service with NHRA. During that
time, Hutchinson, along with his wife Sue (also a 20-year NHRA
veteran), has run the land of the Good Guys like a well-oiled machine.
Along with the division’s three national events and the JEGS Cajun
SPORTSnationals, Hutchinson and his team oversee six Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series races and a myriad of other events in the division.
Hutchinson’s passion for drag racing dates back to his childhood in
Chandler, Ariz., from where he would make the 25-mile trek - by bicycle
- to the old BeeLine Dragway in Scottsdale, Ariz.
After college graduation, a stint in the Peace Corps and teaching high
school, Hutchinson became one of the founding partners of Chandler’s
Firebird Int’l Raceway, which opened in 1983. He served as the track’s
operations director until 1987.
“Craig’s enthusiasm for the sport of drag racing and his concern for
all his racers are always evident,” said Scott Woodruff, JEGS director
of media. “We wanted to honor his 20 years of service to the National
Hot Rod Association and we thought the Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter
title would be one of the best ways to do it.”
There are three NHRA JEGS SPORTSnationals events scheduled in 2009.
The Cajun SPORTSnationals is the first of the three and will be
followed by the JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals (April 17-19) in Fontana,
Calif., and the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals (September 25-27) in
Columbus, Ohio.
The races are designed to showcase NHRA's sportsman categories
exclusively. Competitors in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super
Comp, Super Gas and Super Street will vie for more than $50,000 at each
of the NHRA SPORTSnationals event this year. NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series national event points will be awarded to drivers in all
categories except Super Street. In addition, all three NHRA
SPORTSnationals events will feature NHRA class eliminations, including
a Super Stock Hemi Shootout.
Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will also run in conjunction with all
three events and Sportsman Motorcycle will run at the JEGS Cajun
SPORTSnationals and at the JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals.
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EVENT PREVIEW - Gearing up for the JEGS Cajun SPORTSNationals
For the last six years, the date of the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals
has been circled on the calendars of sportsman drag racers 
across
the country. One of three sportsman events backed by JEGS Mail Order,
the Cajun SPORTSnationals annually attracts a field of more than 500
competitors to No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La.
The event continues a longstanding tradition of NHRA SPORTSnationals
events, where competitors in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series are the
stars of the show. At the end of the action packed weekend, champions
will be crowned in Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super
Comp, Super Gas, Super Street and the Sportsman Motorcycle class. The
Belle Rose event also features open competition in Top Sportsman and
Top Dragster, two relatively new classes that are becoming tremendously
popular with racers and fans alike.
Since No Problem Raceway Park is located in the heart of the NHRA South
Central Division, it is home to some of the sport’s best Competition
Eliminator racers including defending JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals champ
Kevin Self, runner-up Scott Benham, and former SPORTSnationals winner
Craig Bourgeois. Bourgeois, who claimed back-to-back Belle Rose wins in
2006 and 2007, will again be one of the favorites with his front engine
dragster, which competes in the A/Nostalgia Dragster class.
One driver to watch in Super Stock is Houma, La., native Joe Teuton
Jr., who opened the 2009 season with back-to-back final round finishes
at Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events and was a finalist at the 2007
SPORTSnationals. In order to win his first SPORTSnationals title,
Teuton, who drives a vintage Hemi-powered ’68 Barracuda, must first
fend off a challenge from former national champions Dan Fletcher and
Kevin Helms, and James Caro, who is fresh off a final round appearance
at last weekend’s AC Delco Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
In Stock Eliminator, the biggest threat comes from the Texas-based
Emmons brothers; Harvey Jr., and his identical triplet brothers, Gary,
Jerry, and Terry. The Emmons family has had great success just about
everywhere including Belle Rose where Gary grabbed back-to-back wins in
2007 and 2007. Another driver who has had a lot of success in Belle
Rose is Jeff Strickland, who has reached the final round in three of
the last four years, winning the 2005 event in Stock and the 2008 race
in Super Stock.
The world class racers that populate the heads-up classes; Super Comp,
Super Gas, and Super Street are too numerous to mention but it is
likely that 2008 Belle Rose winners Charles Roth, Craig Anderson, and
Trevor Land will all be back to defend their titles. It is not uncommon
for the three Super classes to attract 80 or more participants each,
which means that there are seven rounds of competition before a
champion is crowned.
Some of the most exciting racing in Belle Rose will undoubtedly be in
the Top Sportsman and Top Dragster classes which feature highly
competitive side-by-side racing at speeds of over 200-mph. Both classes
feature 32-car qualified fields which often produce bump spots in the
seven-second range and it is not uncommon for the top qualifiers in the
Top Dragster class to flirt with the five-second zone. Team JEGS own
Mike Coughlin will be a part of the Top Sportsman field with his
JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt. Coughlin won the Super Comp title at the 2005
Belle Rose SPORTSnationals and later claimed back-to-back Top Sportsman
titles at the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus, Ohio in
2006 and 2007.
As an added bonus, the 2009 Belle Rose champions will also be eligible
for the JEGS Crown, a special trophy that is highly coveted by
sportsman racers because it is extremely difficult to win. The only way
to win the JEGS crown is by winning two of the three JEGS
SPORTSnationals events in a given year. Since its inception in 2005,
the JEGS Crown trophy has been claimed just once; by Pro Mod racer Mike
Ashley.
As many racers have discovered, the on-track action is only part of the
appeal of the JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals as No Problem Track Operator
Pat Joffrion and his staff have worked tirelessly to create a
fun-filled event. Among the many special features of the Belle Rose
race is the popular Saturday night cookout that features local fare
including crawfish and shrimp. No Problem Raceway Park also features a
sports tavern located in the bottom floor of the timing tower which is
a popular after hours hangout. As one racer aptly put it, “The
SPORTSnationals isn’t so much a drag race as it is a party that happens
to take place at a dragstrip.”
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
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