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JOLIET, Ill. --
Sportsman competitors in five categories earn points leading to 2003 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships. WHERE: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill. The track is located 30 miles southwest of Chicago on Route 53 (historic Route 66), approximately three miles south of the I-80 in Joliet. Take I-80 to exit #132A (Route 53 south) to the track. WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, May 29-June 1. PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.8 million.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 30 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 8
a.m.
SATURDAY, May 31 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Sportsman eliminations, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. SUNDAY, June 1 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION: 2002 EVENT WINNERS: Larry Dixon, Top Fuel; Del Worsham, Funny Car; Bruce Allen, Pro Stock; Angelle Savoie, Pro Stock Bike. WHAT TO EXPECT: Depending on the weather, Route 66 Raceway can produce some of the quickest and fastest passes on the NHRA circuit. Kenny Bernstein's national record for elapsed time in the Top Fuel category (4.477 seconds) may be in jeopardy. In its sixth year of hosting NHRA events, Route 66 Raceway has been the site of some memorable performances: John Force's 86th career victory, hometown favorite Tim Wilkerson's first career win (1999) when he defeated his hero, Force, in the final round, and Gary Scelzi's spectacular explosions and a crash en route to his win in 2000. In Top Fuel, Larry Dixon and Doug Kalitta both figure to contend for the victory. However, Chicago native Tony Schumacher is itching for that first victory in the U.S. Army dragster at his home track. The three Force Racing Ford Mustangs are sure to be around in the later rounds of eliminations, but Whit Bazemore has had past success at Route 66 and Del Worsham has to be considered the favorite in Funny Car after posting two straight victories at the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals. Pro Stock is up for grabs as drivers in the POWERade standings continuously jockey for positions. Any one that can place among the quickest 16 cars is a contender, with the qualifying sessions now being as competitive as eliminations. Defending series champ Angelle Savoie has been struggling and will be challenged by teammate Antron Brown, rival Craig Treble and Chicago native and current points leaderGeno Scali for supremacy in the two-wheel category, as the bikers start a streak of four straight races which they will compete at. FAST FACTS: There have been five different Pro Stock winners at the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals....Del Worsham is going for his third straight Funny car victory at the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals....Angelle Savoie could become the third straight repeat Pro Stock Bike winner at Route 66. Matt Hines ('98-99) and Antron Brown ('00-01) are the other two....Larry Dixon and Kenny Bernstein are the only active Top Fuel drivers to win the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals (Doug Kalitta won the 2002 fall event at Route 66)....John Force's 86th career victory (2000) is the only victory for him at the state-of-the-art facility. ABOUT THE TRACK: Founded by nine local Joliet entrepreneurs, Route 66 Raceway's visionary leadership developed the first true "Stadium of Drag racing". Route 66 Raceway is a multi-purpose, short track facility that includes a state-of-the-art quarter-mile drag strip and a half-mile dirt oval. The drag strip affords stadium style seating for 30,000 fans and 32 luxury suites. The half-mile dirt oval track features seating for between 8,000 and 10,000 spectators.
TRACK RECORDS: Top Fuel- 4.477 seconds BY Kenny Bernstein, June 2001; 330.88 mph by Bernstein, June 2001. Funny Car-- 4.750 seconds by Whit Bazemore, Sept. 2001; 325.45 mph by Bazemore, Sept. 2001. Pro Stock-- 6.801 seconds by Kurt Johnson, Sept. 2001; 202.70 mph by Johnson, Sept. 2001. Pro Stock Bike - 7.103 seconds by Angelle Savoie, June 2001; 191.19 mph by Matt Hines, June 2001. NATIONAL RECORDS: Top Fuel-- 4.477 seconds (June 2001, Joliet, Ill.) by Kenny Bernstein; 332.75 mph (April 2003, Las Vegas) by Larry Dixon Funny Car-- 4.731 seconds (Oct. 2001, Reading, Pa.) by John Force; 326.87 mph (Feb. 2002, Pomona, Calif.) by Gary Densham Pro Stock-- 6.670 seconds (May 2003, Englishtown), 207.18 mph (May 2003, Englishtown) by Greg Anderson Pro Stock Bike - 7.049 seconds (May 2002. Englishtown, N.J.) by Angelle Savoie; 194.10 mph (May 2001, Englishtown, N.J.) by Matt Hines
TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Thursday: $10; Junior (6-17 years), free. Friday: Adult, $25; Junior (6-17 years), $10. Saturday: Adult, $38; Junior (6-17 years), $10. Sunday: Adult, $43; Junior (6-15 years) $10; Child (5 years and under), free with paying adult in general admission and pit areas each day. RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $33-38; Junior (6-15), $18-23; Child (5 years and younger), $8-13. Saturday: Adult, $48-53; Junior (6-15 years), $20-25; Child (5 years and under), $10-15. Sunday: Adult, $53-58; Junior (6-15 years), $20-25; Child (5 years and under), $10-15.
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