NEW HOME FOR JEGS U.S. OPEN
Fri, 2007-10-26 17:11
Race officials announced today that the 4th annual Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket
Championships will change venues for 2008, moving to the most prestigious and
historic drag racing facility in the world: O’Reilly Raceway Park at
Indianapolis. O’Reilly Raceway Park will host the annual bracket shootout,
quickly becoming one of the premier big dollar bracket events in the country,
next summer: June 12-15.
“We’re really excited about this announcement,” stressed Dave Szerlag, who
co-promotes the event with brother-in-law Mike Fuqua. “Mike and I have been
working for four years to put on the most racer-friendly big dollar bracket
event in the country, and taking the event to O’Reilly Raceway Park is our
opportunity to take the Jeg’s U.S. Open to the next level.”
The first three Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships have been held at
Tri-State Raceway near Cincinnati, OH. “The management and staff at Tri-State
have been great to us over the last three years,” said Szerlag. “But this event
has grown to the point that we were really confined by the facility; in terms of
parking, curfew, and flexibility.”
With the move to O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, just 90 miles West
of the event’s original home, the Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships will
enjoy the premier facility in all of drag racing. “What more could you ask for
in a facility?” asked Szerlag. “O’Reilly Raceway Park is the ’grandaddy’ of
racing venues: big dollar bracket competitors will be treated with the latest
Compulink timing system, digital scoreboards, state-of-the-art lighting and P.A.
system, and unlimited parking. As promoters, we’ll have more flexibility and
state-of-the-art equipment to put on a better event: No curfew, a jet dryer, a
full medical facility on the premises, and all of the best track prep and
cleanup equipment available. All in all, the move to ORP gives the Jeg’s U.S.
Open a chance to grow and prosper into ‘the big go’ of bracket racing, just as
the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is to the NHRA Powerade tour.”
Race officials announced today that the 4th annual Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket
Championships will change venues for 2008, moving to the most prestigious and
historic drag racing facility in the world: O’Reilly Raceway Park at
Indianapolis. O’Reilly Raceway Park will host the annual bracket shootout,
quickly becoming one of the premier big dollar bracket events in the country,
next summer: June 12-15.
“We’re really excited about this announcement,” stressed Dave Szerlag, who
co-promotes the event with brother-in-law Mike Fuqua. “Mike and I have been
working for four years to put on the most racer-friendly big dollar bracket
event in the country, and taking the event to O’Reilly Raceway Park is our
opportunity to take the Jeg’s U.S. Open to the next level.”
The first three Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships have been held at
Tri-State Raceway near Cincinnati, OH. “The management and staff at Tri-State
have been great to us over the last three years,” said Szerlag. “But this event
has grown to the point that we were really confined by the facility; in terms of
parking, curfew, and flexibility.”
With the move to O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, just 90 miles West
of the event’s original home, the Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships will
enjoy the premier facility in all of drag racing. “What more could you ask for
in a facility?” asked Szerlag. “O’Reilly Raceway Park is the ’grandaddy’ of
racing venues: big dollar bracket competitors will be treated with the latest
Compulink timing system, digital scoreboards, state-of-the-art lighting and P.A.
system, and unlimited parking. As promoters, we’ll have more flexibility and
state-of-the-art equipment to put on a better event: No curfew, a jet dryer, a
full medical facility on the premises, and all of the best track prep and
cleanup equipment available. All in all, the move to ORP gives the Jeg’s U.S.
Open a chance to grow and prosper into ‘the big go’ of bracket racing, just as
the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is to the NHRA Powerade tour.”
Mike Myslinski, the Director of Racing and Operations at O’Reilly Raceway
Park, echoed Szerlag’s excitement. “Here at O’Reilly Raceway Park, we’re
obviously very proud to host the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals every season--the
premier event in drag racing. We also host one of NHRA’s largest Lucas Oil
Division events, in terms of participants, each season. Our Super Chevy and
Goodguys events are among the biggest events in each of those series’ annually.
Now our affiliation with the Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships will bring
yet another premier event to storied O’Reilly Raceway Park facility, and we
couldn’t be more excited that they’ve chosen ORP as the venue.”
The event itself, which will take place June 12-15 will hold a similar
format to previous events. The Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships will
feature the same purse structure as last season on the Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday events, which will pay a winners purse of $20,000, $20,000, and $10,000
respectively. The weekend entry remains at just $500. The Jeg’s U.S. Open has
set a precedent for outstanding payback, and the 4th edition will be no
different. Third round winners will earn prize money, and the best losing
package of each round in eliminations will also take home great prizes (In 2007,
each of the best losing package awards were valued at $1,000 or more).
New for 2008, the River Parrish RV Warm-Up event held on Thursday, June 12,
will pay $10,000-to-win as well, an increase from last season’s $5,000 winners
purse. Danny Nelson’s Racecraft Chassis and Steve Schmidt Racing Engines will
present a special 32 car gamblers event ($1,000 entry fee), with the two
finalists taking home a Racecraft Chassis and Steve Schmidt powerplant,
respectively (the winner gets his or her choice of the car or the engine).
Country Motor Trailer Sales will once again present the No Box Shootout, an
event that was a big hit in it’s debut last season. This year, defending
champion Doug Caplinger and 31 other talented No Box competitors will square off
in two separate events: Saturday features a $32,000 winner-take-all format just
like last seasons event. A second event, to be held on Sunday, will have a
$15,000 winner-take-all purse. Entry into the CMTS No Box Shootout is $1500
(entry fee covers both events).
As has become tradition, the event will once again host the world famous
and death defying Golf Cart Race Saturday night for fans and competitors of all
ages. J.W. Performance will once again sponsor the Saturday happy hour, with
refreshments for all participants.
“We’re going to have a great time, like we do every year,” stressed
Szerlag. “We want this event to be the one race that competitors look forward
to and plan for all season long. The move to Indianapolis will do nothing but
improve the event, as we look forward to the most successful and enjoyable Jeg’s
U.S. Open yet!”
The Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships is presented by LB Trailer Sales,
Racecraft Chassis, and Steve Schmidt Racing Engines. For more information on
the 4th Annual Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships, contact race promoters
Dave Szerlag (517-376-0361) or Mike Fuqua (615-207-4125).
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