The eight recent winners of the fifth annual JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals are
now in the enviable position to compete for one of the rarest and most desirable
trophies in drag racing; the JEGS Crown. The eight champions – Kevin Self
(Comp), Kevin Helms (Super Stock), Jeff Strickland (Stock), Charles Roth (Super
Comp), Craig Anderson (Super Gas), Trevor Land (Super Street), Stan Leerkamp
(Top Dragster) and Keith Raferty (Top Sportsman) – can win the prestigious award
by winning either one of the two remaining JEGS SPORTSnationals events, the JEGS
NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Sept. 19-21
or the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana,
Calif., Oct. 3-5.
The JEGS Crown is a beautifully handcrafted trophy, which was designed
and created by Dan Dreisbach, the head fabricator at Rahal/Letterman Racing. The
JEGS Crown is not only striking in its appearance, it is also one of the most
difficult awards to earn in all of motorsports as it requires two victories in
the same class in a calendar year. Since its unveiling four years ago, the JEGS
Crown has been claimed just once; by current Pro Mod and nitro Funny Car racer
Mike Ashley, who claimed back-to-back wins in Belle Rose and Columbus while
racing in what is now the JEGS ProMod Series.