ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Multiple national records fell on a beautiful day at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the Nitto NHRA Sport Compact Springnationals.
Race fans of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series were treated to national records in Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor this weekend. Jason Hunt set both ends of the records in the Pro FWD class with a time of 7.51 seconds and a speed of 195.19. Modified class saw a time record of 7.49 seconds set by Jorge Lazcano and a speed record of 181.96 mph by Paul Efantis. In Hot Rod, Ron Lummus set a record speed of 181.40 mph. Jeremy Lookofsky set the time record in Honda Tuning All Motor with a time of 9.70 seconds.
The winners on the weekend were some of the same drivers that set records. Brad Personett (Pro FWD), Hunt (Pro FWD), Lazcano (Modified), Lummus (Hot Rod), and Norris Prayoonto (Honda Tuning All Motor) all finished with NHRA Wallys.
Brad Personett Personett (Orlando, Fla.) driving his 2005 Scion went up against his Titan Motorsports teammate Gary White in the final of Pro RWD. He won his eighth Wally with a time of 6.64 seconds at 213.50 mph. This was White’s second final round in his rookie season.
“It feels great to win,” said Personett. “It was a little hard with all the down time (due to oildowns). We just did what we needed to win.”
Hunt (Crofton, Md.), driving his Chevy Cobalt made a clean sweep of the Pro FWD class by being top qualifier, record setter, and winner. Hunt, who won his first Wally last year at Englishtown, won on a holeshot over points leader Ed Bergenholtz. Bergenholtz could never overcome Hunt who finished with a time of 7.52 seconds at 194.63.
Jason Hunt “We weren’t taking it for granted that we’d win,” said Hunt. “We try to have our A game every time. I do it for everyone that puts in the time on the car. I want to thank Matco, Brut, and GM. I’ve been coming to Englishtown since I started racing. It’s special. In fact Englishtown was my first road trip race.”
The winner of Modified was San Juan, Puerto Rico, resident Lazcano. He won his second Wally driving his Mazda RX7 to time of 7.49 seconds at 180.84mph. Lazcano defeated Dee Karagiannis who was in his first final round of the year.
“I feel very happy to win,” said Lazcano. “I am very happy for my team. Actually in Puerto Rico my car ran better.”
Lummus (Anaheim, Calif.) won his ninth career Wally in his Pontiac Sunfire with a time of 8.08 seconds at 178.95 mph in the Hot Rod class. He had a single run since Stephanie Eggum was disqualified in the third round because she never staged before leaving the starting line.
Nelson Prayoonto Prayoonto (Honda Tuning All Motor), from Springfield, Va., won his first ever race by defeating Jeremy Lookofsky. He utilized his holeshot to narrowly defeat Lookofsky who had a quicker speed and time. Prayoonto, driving his Clutchmasters Honda Insight, crossed the finish line with a time of 9.73 seconds at 139.67 mph.
“I’m excited,” said Prayoonto. “We should be number one and two in the point standings. That put us in good running for winner and runner up in the championship.”
The Nitto NHRA Sport Compact Springnationals will be telecast on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 14 at noon and re-telecast on Tuesday, May 23 at 2 a.m. The Sony Xplod Stylefest will be telecast on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 14 at 2 a.m. and re-telecast on Tuesday, May 23 at 2:30 a.m.
The next NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series event will be the Northeast NHRA Sport Compact Nationals in Atco, N.J. on May 20-21 ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — Sunday’s final results from the Sixth Annual Nitto NHRA Sport Compact Springnationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The race is the Third of 11 in the $2.5 million NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Series.
Gallery
