NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES 2011 EVENT SCHEDULE

NHRA released its 2011 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule on Nov. 13th.  It will feature 41 events, with a minimum of five races conducted in each of NHRA’s seven divisions and four series specialty events….

The 2011 schedule also includes the addition of a new event July 22-24 at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H. in the Northeast Division.

NHRA Lucas Oil Series drivers in seven categories compete for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships and a share of the $561,000 purse.  The series also includes three sportsman-focused national events: the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose, La.; the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, Calif.; and the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus, Ohio.

The 2011 season marks the 10th year of Lucas Oil’s support of NHRA sportsman racers in a partnership that extends through 2012.

Headlined by the powerful Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series allows racers to compete for a championship close to home.  Other categories that compete in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series are Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street.  Some divisions also opt to run additional categories, including Top Sportsman, Top Dragster and the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley-Davidson.

“We are extremely proud to be involved with the dedicated racers who compete each weekend in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,” said Forrest Lucas, owner and CEO of Lucas Oil Products.  “We can’t wait to start another successful and memorable racing season.”

Bonus programs available to competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series include the $100,000 JEGS Allstars, the NHRA Perfectly Strange Performance Award, in which a total of $45,000 is up for grabs throughout, and the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson.  Individual divisions may also have additional bonus programs available to racers.

Some prominent graduates of the NHRA Lucas Oil Series who have gone on to successful careers in the NHRA Full Throttle Series include Brandon Bernstein, Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, Ashley Force Hood, and Jeg Coughlin.

Headquartered in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products was founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket. The Lucas Oil product line features engine oils, greases, gear lubes and problem-solving additives for everyday cars and trucks. In addition, Lucas Oil continues to be directly involved in the American racing industry at all levels through multiple vehicle sponsorships and racing events. More information on Lucas Oil Products can be found by visiting www.LucasOil.com.

2011 NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE

NORTHEAST DIVISION

May 27-29          Maple Grove Raceway                                     Reading, Pa.

July 1-3              Lebanon Valley Dragway                                 West Lebanon, N.Y.

July 22-24          New England Dragway                                     Eping, N.H.

Aug. 5-7             Atco Raceway                                                       Atco, N.J.

Aug. 19-21         Cecil County Dragway                                       Rising Sun, Md.

Sept. 9-11           Old Bridge Township Raceway Park            Englishtown, N.J.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Feb. 11-13             Bradenton Motorsports Park                             Bradenton, Fla.

Feb. 18-20             Gainesville Raceway                                            Gainesville, Fla.

March 4-6              South Georgia Motorsports Park                     Cecil, Ga.

May 20-22             Atlanta Dragway                                                    Commerce, Ga.

Oct. 14-16             Silver Dollar Raceway                                           Reynolds, Ga.

NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION

April 29-May 1     O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis             Indianapolis

May 13-15             Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park   Norwalk, Ohio

June 10-12             Route 66 Raceway                                                    Joliet, Ill.

July 22-24             National Trail Raceway                                          Columbus, Ohio

July 30-31             Mid-Michigan Motorplex*                                    Stanton, Mich.

Aug. 26-28            Beech Bend Raceway Park                                    Bowling Green, Ky.

SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION

Feb. 18-20             No Problem Raceway                                        Belle Rose, La.

March 4-6              Houston Raceway Park                                     Houston, Texas

April 15-17            Texas Motorplex                                                Ennis, Texas

June 10-12             Tulsa Raceway Park                                           Tulsa, Okla.

Sept. 16-18            Houston Raceway Park                                     Baytown, Texas

Oct. 7-9                 Thunder Valley Raceway Park                         Noble, Okla.

WEST CENTRAL DIVISION

April 13-15            SRCA Dragstrip                                                Great Bend, Kan.

May 27-29             Brainerd International Raceway              Brainerd, Minn.

June 17-19             Bandimere Speedway                                   Morrison, Colo.

Aug. 12-13            Cordova Raceway Park                                  Cordova, Ill.

Aug. 26-27            Heartland Park Topeka                                 Topeka, Kan.

Sept. 9-11              Tri-State Raceway                                           Earlville, Iowa

NORTHWEST DIVISION

April 29-May 1     Firebird Raceway *                                           Boise, Idaho

May 27-29             Mission Raceway                                       Mission, B.C.

June 17-19             Spokane County Raceway                             Spokane, Ore.

July 15-17             Woodburn Dragstrip                                        Woodburn, Ore.

Aug. 19-21            Pacific Raceways                                                 Seattle, Wash.

Sept.10-11             Champion Raceway                                           Eagle Point, Ore.           

PACIFIC DIVISION

Feb. 18-20             Firebird International Raceway                 Chandler, Ariz.

May 20-22             Auto Club Famoso Raceway                         Bakersfield, Calif.

June 10-12             Top Gun Raceway                                             Fallon, Nev.

July 22-24             Infineon Raceway*                                           Sonoma, Calif.

Oct. 7-9                 Southwestern International Raceway        Tucson, Ariz.

Nov. 4-6                The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway   Las Vegas  NV

NHRA LUCAS OIL SERIES SPECIAL EVENTS

March 18-20          JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals *          Belle Rose, La.

May 13-15             JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals*         Fontana, Calif.

June 9                    JEGS Allstars                                                            Joliet, Ill.

Sept. 23-25            JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals *     Columbus, Ohio

* Top Alcohol classes not contested

(Bruce Biegler Photos)