ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Old Bridge Township Raceway Park was the setting for a number of national record runs during the NHRA Sport Compact Springnationals of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series.A total of six national records were set in four of the five categories in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series this weekend.
Brad Personett Winners of the race were Marty Ladwig (Hot Rod), Brent Rau (Modified), Stephanie Eggum (Hot Rod), Norris Prayoonto (Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor), and Brad Personett (Pro RWD).
Ladwig had the biggest weekend of his career. He came out knowing that he would need a huge performance from his Lucas Oil Chevy Cobalt. In order to achieve his successful weekend he had three consecutive runs over 200 mph, set the national record for time at 7.27 seconds and won the event. While winning the event, and his 15th career Wally, Ladwig ran a time of 7.30 mph at 200.77 mph to outrun rival Ed Bergenholtz. His speed of 201.55 mph in the semifinals was enough for the national speed record.
“That’s awesome,” said Ladwig. “We went 200 (mph) two years ago as a factory team, but to do it as our own team is awesome. To get to where we’re at we had a lot of help from Chevrolet, and awesome engine help from GM Racing and Garrett Turbos. I really want to thank Lucas Oil. For them to sponsor me from the beginning of last year was a huge help. And now for them to believe in me and step up for this year was tremendous.”
Rau had the run of his short three race NHRA career in his Mitsubishi Eclipse. He shattered the national record when he ran 7.06 seconds in the semifinals. Earlier in the weekend he ran a speed of 199.17 mph, but was unable to back this up for a national record. In the final he defeated Paul Efantis with a time of 7.09 seconds at 173.14 mph. Efantis ran 7.38 seconds at 189.10 mph.
Even though Efantis had to settle for runner-up, he did come away with the national record for speed at 192.36 mph.
Eggum was able to stop Kenny Tran from winning three events in a row by defeating him in the final. She drove her Blaze Motorsport Honda Civic to her fourth career win with a time of 8.12 seconds at 181.91 mph to Tran’s 8.28 seconds at 174.26. She almost didn’t make it to the final when her car was having trouble doing the burnout and staging in the semifinals when she had a bye run. She eventually was able to stage and take the tree to set up the final with Tran.
“I needed that,” said Eggum. “I really want to thank NRG Tech from Newark. They brought me a clutch Saturday night. I had to drive hard this weekend. The car was all over, even in the final. I want to thank Omni Power, Vibrant, Precision Turbo and Oakley.”
Prayoonto and his Clutchmasters Honda Insight went to the starting line against his teammate Saul Salceda. It turned out to not be very much though, since Salceda merely staged his car and Prayoonto drove away with the victory. His winning numbers were 10.59 seconds at 83.27 mph. This was his fifth career win.
“It was my best weekend ever,” said Prayoonto. “I couldn’t ask for more. I had all four of my cars (Prayoonto, Salceda, Loan Nguyen (BFGoodrich Tires Street Stock) and Jonathan Reynolds (UrbanRacer.Com Sport FWD). Then three of my four cars were in the winner’s circle.”
Jeremy Lookofsky came away with the national record for time in the Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor category at 9.33 seconds.
Personett, in his Titan Motorsport Scion tC, was able to gain the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series record for most national event win with his 16th career win by defeating his teammate Gary White. He ran 6.65 seconds at 201.31 mph to White’s 6.96 seconds at 205.88 mph. Personett also had a national record for time at 6.64 seconds.
“The weather was phenomenal,” said Personett. “It was great having all the people in the stands. We had problems with the black car (White’s) when it dropped a cylinder. The data told us it’s a parts failure. It is too bad for Gary. We were looking to have a good side-by-side race.”
The NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series will next be at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kan., with the Pro RWD cars, June 1-3, for the third annual NHRA Sport Compact Nationals. The next full event will be the Northeast NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at Atco Raceway in Atco, N.J., June 9-10.
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — Sunday’s final results from the seventh annual NHRA Sport Compact Springnationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The race is the third of 11 in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Series.
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