ST. THOMAS ADDED TO NHRA MEMBER TRACK ROSTER
The NHRA has announced that three tracks have joined the North Central Division member track roster including St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta, ON.
Illinois-based facilities, Byron Dragway and Central Illinois Dragway are also signed.
St. Thomas Raceway Park becomes the second track in the Ontario province to join NHRA since last season. Toronto Motorsports Park, which operates out of the Northeast Division, returned to NHRA in January. John Fletcher will be overseeing racing at St. Thomas which he originally purchased at the end of the 1989 season. The track has a number of Street Legal, bracket racing and special events planned. Complete information may be found on their website www.sthomasracewaypark.com
Having virtually grown up at Byron, B.J. Vangsness has recently taken controlling interest of the Northern Illinois facility from long time promoter Ron Leek. Dubbed the “Playground of Power” Byron has more than 60 events scheduled with its first special coming up Sunday, May 1 with Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars and a number of other groups as part of their short track bracket nationals. For additional schedule information see their website www.byrondragway.com.
Bob Gibson is new owner of Central Illinois Dragway, formerly Midstate Dragway, near Havana, Ill. Gibson and his staff have been moving quickly since the purchase of the track to get ready for the 2011 racing season. Following a couple of test and tune weekends the track will begin its point series May 15 to qualify racers for the NHRA Summit Racing Series North Central Division Finals in September. An NHRA chassis inspection seminar has been scheduled on Saturday, May 21 at the track for racers in the area. For more track info log onto their website www.centralillinoisdragway.com.
“We are pleased to welcome each of the tracks and look forward to working with them in offering racers in their area with the opportunity to participate in the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA 60th Anniversary King of the Track, and NHRA Jr. Dragster Challenge special events,” said NHRA North Central Division Director Jay Hullinger. “Racers from Byron Dragway and Central Illinois Dragway will qualify for the North Central Division NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals and we’re excited about working with John (Fletcher) in creating new programs in Ontario.”
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2011. As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 22 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Two NHRA-sanctioned bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels: the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
