Sat, 21 Oct 2006, 01:35 PM Season-Ending World Finals to Decide NHRA Xplod Sport Compact World Champions

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

POMONA, Calif. --

Brad Personett

The NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series is getting set for the season-ending, world champion deciding sixth annual Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Oct. 21-22.

For five years competitors of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series have competed at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Fans attending the Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals will see champions crowned at the final event of the year.

The Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals is the final race in the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series. There is more than $27,000 at stake for the drivers in each of the five championship categories (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor), and it is the third and final race for the Western Regional NHRA Sportsman Championship. Defending race winners include Brad Personett (Pro RWD), Marty Ladwig (Pro FWD), Dee Karagiannis (Modified), Ron Lummus (Hot Rod), and Tony Shagday (Honda Tuning All Motor).

The five drivers who are sitting atop the standings coming into Pomona all have one thought on their minds and that is to just make it through the weekend. Those five drivers are: Personett (Pro RWD); Ed Bergenholtz (Pro FWD); Paul Efantis (Modified); Lummus (Hot Rod); and Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda Tuning All Motor).

Personett (Elkhart, Ind.) has been the season-long leader in the Pro RWD category, and he is looking to capture his second consecutive NHRA world championship. He also has been the No. 1 qualifier in nine of the 10 events held this season. Personett leads his nearest competitor, Matt Scranton, by 129 points.

"It's just what we've been working towards all year," Personett said. "It makes me feel good (to be in the lead)."

After 10 events this year, Brad Personett has dominated the Pro RWD class with seven event wins (Jupiter, Fla. (April); Englishtown, N.J (May); Atco, N.J.; Topeka, Kan.; Denver; Indianapolis; and Englishtown, N.J. (Oct.)). Scranton has won races at Dinwiddie, Va. and Las Vegas, and White won his first NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Series race in Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.).

Ed Bergenholtz

Bergenholtz (Santa Ana, Calif.) is also looking to capture his second consecutive NHRA Xplod world championship. He has an 83-point lead over Marty Ladwig going into Pomona and feels good about his chance for another championship.

"I'm excited about the possibility of back-to-back championships," Bergenholtz said. "It would be incredible. I am still cautious even though I have an 83-point lead. I will treat it like any other race."

The Pro FWD class has become competitive as several teams have been challenging Bergenholtz's domination. Bergenholtz started out the year by winning the first two events (Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Dinwiddie, Va.), and then winning the next to last event in Englishtown, N.J. Jason Hunt came along and challenged Bergenholtz by winning in Englishtown, N.J. (May) and Las Vegas, and Bryan Jimenez (Atco, N.J.) and Ladwig (Morrison, Colo.) have each won single events.

In the Modified class there have been four different winners: Justin Humphreys (Jupiter, Fla. (April)); Paul Efantis (Dinwiddie, Va., Las Vegas, and Englishtown, N.J (Oct.)); Jorge Lazcano (Englishtown, N.J. (May) and Atco, N.J.); and Dee Karagiannis (Denver). This has made the points race extremely tight. There are 25 points separating the top four drivers.

Paul Efantis

Efantis (Ijamsville, Md.) holds a slim one-point lead over Justin Humphreys, a 14-point lead over Lazcano, and a 25-point lead over Karagiannis. Karagiannis was the leader going into the last race and dropped to fourth after failing to qualify.

"It feels more comfortable (having the points lead) going into the final race as the leader," Efantis said. "Considering we missed two races it feels good going into Pomona with the lead. We won our other championship going into Pomona (2004) so this is familiar territory. We need to qualify well. Whoever makes it the farthest will be the winner."

In Hot Rod, Lummus has won five races this year (Dinwiddie, Va.; Englishtown, N.J (May); Atco, N.J.; Las Vegas; and Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.)). Stephanie Eggum has won two races this year at Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Englishtown, N.J. (Oct.), and Chuck Seitsinger won in Morrison, Colo.

Ron Lummus

Lummus (Anaheim, Calif.) is excited about wrapping up the championship in Pomona, which is his home track, but also has some concerns. He holds a 70-point lead over his nearest competitor, Eggum.

"It is awesome to be coming to my home track with the lead, but it is also bittersweet," Lummus said. "The rule changes and revision about turbos have allowed the other teams to come around and battle. But, we have had to run with a smaller turbo and it has caused a performance disadvantage. As hard as we work it is still not enough. I will just need to drive my way to the final."

Jeremy Lookofsky

The Honda Tuning All Motor class has seen teammates win a total of six races this season. Saul Salceda started out with wins at Jupiter, Fla. (April) and Dinwiddie, Va. His teammate Prayoonto has won four races at Englishtown, N.J. (May), Atco, N.J., Jupiter, Fla. (Aug.), and Englishtown, N.J. Points leader Lookofsky has won two events in Morrison, Colo. and Las Vegas.

Lookofsky maintains a comfortable 106-point lead over Prayoonto. He is looking to win his first NHRA Xplod world championship.

"We come into Pomona just like any other race," Lookofsky said. "I can't wait for the season to be over and take a vacation. I am more nervous about the vacation (He will be traveling with his daughter Victoria for the first time on a plane) than Pomona."

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