:::::: News ::::::

BOLAND WINS THIRD PMRA RACE OF 2009

Bruce Boland, the reigning, and two-time Pro Modified Racing Association Champion continues to dominate the PMRA series, as the boland.8.15.09.jpgHamilton,
Ontario-based racer won the PMRA event during the Stratford Spectacular
Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts
Sunday in Grand Bend, Ontario.
 
Driving the B&B Racing 1967 Chevy Nova, Boland eliminated Ike Maier
of Schomberg, Ontario in the final with a 4.10-second, 177.90-mph
winning pass over Maier’s 4.203-second, 165.65-mph run.
 
Boland paced the field in the fourth event of the 2009 PMRA tour,
qualifying number one with a 4.092-second, 181.15-mph pass. Boland took
out number five qualifier Jason Kalso of Clarkston, Michigan, in his
1970 Barracuda in the semi-final, and defeated Jack Grainy of North
Tonawanda, New York in the opening round.

BRAINERD FINAL RESULTS

Tony Pedregon raced to his third Funny Car victory of the season Sunday
at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International 0933-06202.jpgRaceway.

Morgan Lucas, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also were winners in their
respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
event. Only two races remain in the NHRA regular season before the
six-race playoffs – the Countdown to 1 – begins Sept. 18 at zMAX
Dragway near Charlotte, N.C.

MORE PLAYOFF SPOTS CLINCHED

The number of available Countdown to 1 playoff berths decreased by nine
following Sunday’s final eliminations at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals
in Brainerd, Minn. Four Top Fuel, one Funny Car and four Pro Stock
Motorcycle riders qualified for the right to battle for their
respective championships beginning at next month’s NHRA Carolinas
Nationals in Concord, N.C.

Teammates Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon, along with Spencer Massey and
Cory McClenathan secured their positions in Top Fuel leaving two
available positions with two qualifying races left.

FORCE, HIGHT SWAP SEATS

John Force’s announcement after the 28th annual Lucas Oil Nationals
created a far bigger stir than did his advance to the semifinals at
Brainerd International Raceway.

Faced with the possibility that son-in-law and teammate Robert Hight
might not make the 10-driver lineup for the NHRA’s Countdown to One
playoffs, Force dropped a bombshell Sunday night.

“I said I wouldn’t shuffle my crew chiefs for three races,” said the
14-time series champion, “but I am moving a driver. Today, (I think) I
earned enough to get my Castrol Mustang into the Countdown. It’s not
secure, but it’s close enough. To be safe, I should have gone one more
round, but I didn’t (so) I’m going with what we’ve got.

TASCA'S STICKY SITUATION

There was no fire, the burst panel was still in place and yet Bob
Tasca, III was covered in something as he sped down the track in his
first round run against Jim Head in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at
Brainerd Int'l Raceway.

“It was the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me,” admitted Tasca
as he awaited his second round run. “I hit the gas, it shook, I caught
it and as I was rolling back in it broke the fire bottle bracket off,
the bottle dropped and it activated itself. I remember seeing all this
fluid rush at me and its amazing how your brain processes it. In my
head, first I thought it was oil and then I thought it was fuel. Then
for whatever reason I saw the foam coming down on my visor and I wasn’t
hot so I knew I wasn’t on fire so I rolled back into it and I remember
saying going through the finish like 'man if this is oil it'll be a bad
day if it lights up' because I was soaked and really couldn’t see. It’s
amazing how you can drive one of these cars almost blindfolded. I saw
the cone go by at the finish line, I knew Head had to be in trouble and
(we) got the win light.

ARANA CLINCHES BERTH IN PLAYOFFS EN ROUTE TO WINNER'S CIRCLE

“That win felt awesome,” said Hector Arana, after capturing his second Pro Stock Motorcycle race hector_arana.jpgof
the season. “It couldn't get any better. To win over here at the home
track of Lucas Oil, sponsored by Lucas Oil, having Forrest and
Charlotte and my family, friends and the fans who treat us very well
here. From the moment I got here I felt relaxed.”

With the victory, Arana clinched a spot in the Countdown to One, an
accomplishment he failed to achieve last year. Guaranteed a spot in the
run to the title, Arana says this gives the team the opportunity to try
some things they might not have otherwise felt comfortable trying.

“The pressure is off,” he said.

POINT STANDINGS FOLLOWING BRAINERD

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the
28th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway,
the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

ROUND-BY-ROUND PRO RESULTS FROM BRAINERD

Final round-by-round results from the 28th annual Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 16th of 24 events in
the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

FINAL ROUND PHOTOS FROM BRAINERD

Sunday's final results from the 28th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at
Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the 16th of 24 in the NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

BRAINERD UNDER RAIN DEALY

Rain has made a mess of the race day schedule at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.

Sportsman eliminations were tenatively scheduled for 8:30 a.m., but
all-night rain threw a monkey-wrench into those plans. The rain stopped
about 30 minutes before racing was to begin but those hopes of racing
on a slight delay were drenched in another band of rainstorms.

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