Wed, 1 Nov 2006, 09:49 AM Pro FWD and Modified to be Stand-Alone Categories in 2007

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2006 urbanracer.com

GLENDORA, Calif. --

Ed Bergenholtz

NHRA has announced Pro FWD and Modified will continue to run in separate categories for the 2007 season of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series. After reviewing the 2006 season it was decided not to merge the two categories for the 2007 season as had been previously announced.

In 2005 NHRA had announced that Pro FWD and Modified would be unified in 2007 to enhance the level of competition in the championship ranks. The Pro FWD and Modified categories experienced high levels of competition and participation throughout the 2006 season.

"We have taken a close look at these two categories and have decided to keep them separate for the 2007 season," said Josh Peterson, general manager of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series. "The competitors in Pro FWD and Modified have demonstrated through competition and participation that this is the right decision for the 2007 season."

While NHRA is making a decision for the 2007 season to keep the two separate categories, this does not mean that in future years Pro FWD and Modified will not be unified or that other changes will not be made. All aspects of the competition structure for these categories and the Series as a whole will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Paul Efantis

Category purses will remain the same as 2006 during the 2007 season.

NHRA is the premier sanctioning body for sport compact drag racing. It is presenting the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series at nine tracks across the country from April through October. The series features the largest guaranteed sport compact event purse of more than $27,000 paid out per event. In addition, the series offers a year-end championship fund of $144,000, bonus program payouts near $20,000, along with the most lucrative contingency payout program in the sport at more than $2.5 million.

The series is highlighted by its five championship classes (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor). In addition, and at all nine of the stand-alone NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series events, the NHRA Xplod Stylefest showcases a compliment of the lifestyle and entertainment elements synonymous with today's sport compact scene. More information is available at nhrasportcompact.com.