Wed, 1 Nov 2006, 09:35 AM Bristol Dragway and Bandimere Speedway Tapped to Host 2007 Jr. Conference Finals

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing

GLENDORA, Calif. -- NHRA has announced the dates and locations for the 2007 NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference Finals is slated for July 12-14 at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway and the Western Conference Finals will be July 26-28 at Denver's Bandimere Speedway.

Bristol Dragway has hosted the Eastern Conference Finals since 2004 and Bandimere Speedway has held the Western Conference Finals since 2000 when the program was split into the East/West format.

"This has grown into such a tremendous event," said Bristol Dragway president Jeff Byrd. "Over the last decade interest in youth drag racing has soared and it continues to grow each year. That's obvious by the number of kids who travel to Bristol for the Eastern Conference Finals. It's really something to see so many kids taking part in this great experience. We're thrilled to be hosting the Eastern Conference Finals again and we're very proud that the National Hot Rod Association continues to allow us that honor. We love the atmosphere of the event and really hope the kids enjoy coming to Thunder Valley and competing here."

John Bandimere III, executive vice president and general manager of Bandimere Speedway, added, "We're excited to host the Western Conference Finals again. It's like homecoming for us because we've really gotten a kick out of watching these kids grow up over the last seven years. And then seeing them move through the junior ranks into other NHRA classes makes us realize that this is exactly what my grandfather wanted from our facility; a place where kids could learn about drag racing, get excited about it and hone their skills."

More than 1,000 kids compete for individual and team honors at the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals, and nearly $100,000 in savings bonds are given away at each event.

Created in 1992, the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League allows kids between the ages of 8 and 17 to experience the thrill of motor sports competition in a controlled environment at tracks in each of NHRA's seven geographic divisions. The NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League creates family involvement in drag racing at an affordable level. Many of the league's graduates have gone on to compete in other NHRA classes and some, like Pro Stock Car driver Richie Stevens and Top Fuel racer J.R. Todd, have even gone on to win NHRA national and divisional events. In 2005, six racers who got their start in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League earned divisional championships in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Drag News: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 11- March Meet and Famoso Dragstrip Etched in American Hot Rod History
Feb 05- Famed March Meet Set for Historic 68th Installment March 5-8
Feb 05- Red Line Oil Named Presenting Sponsor of World Series of Pro Mod
Feb 05- $25,000 Wild Card Shootout Added to World Series of Pro Mod
Jan 26- Stevie ‘Fast’ Jackson Wheels ‘Shadow 3.0’ to $75,000 U.S. Street Nationals Pro Mod Victory
Jan 25- Side-By-Side 3.50-Second Races Highlight First Round of Pro Mod Eliminations at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 24- Jimmy Taylor Stays No. 1 as U.S. Street Nationals Records First All-3.50-Second 32-Car Pro Mod Field
Jan 23- Jimmy Taylor Edges Out Jason Harris for Thursday Provisional No. 1 Spot at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 22- U.S. Street Nationals Set to Ignite Bradenton as Winter Series, Radial Outlaws Seasons Collide
Jan 20- Richard Freeman Weighs In On Elite Motorsports Million Ahead of U.S. Street Nationals