Sat, 25 Nov 2006, 04:45 PM The 2006 25th annual Murray's Speed & Custom Mountain Dew Citrus Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. -- Next to the turkey and stuffing, Thanksgiving weekend also passes out a side of speed. The 25th Anniversary Murray's Speed & Custom Mountain Dew Citrus Nationals is scheduled to invade the holiday weekend on November 25-26th. This NHRA national event, presented by the Gater 98.7fm and Edelbrock, will make the ground shake for 36,000 power-hungry fans with the same amount of horsepower. Topping the list will be two Nitro Funny Cars along with a full lineup of exhibition vehicles including: the triple engine Jet Truck "Shockwave", two jet funny cars, two jet dragsters and two wheelstanders. Race classes feature 5-second Top Alcohol Dragsters and a plethora of bracket classes like the JW Performance Super Street and Super Comp.

Nitro methane is an unmistakable smell that hasn't been sprayed into Moroso's Citrus air in over fifteen years. Ground-pounding Nitro Funny Cars will return to Moroso's quarter-mile for the anticipated 25th Anniversary event with Mike Smith, of Boynton Beach and Jeff Arend, from Toronto Ontario, Canada, piloting two beasts of speed at 300 mph in less than five seconds.

Last year the Top Alcohol Dragsters, or TAD's, were a favorite class among the fans in the stands. For two years in a row Bill Evans, Jr, of Miramar and Bruce Horner, from Bergenfield, NJ, have faced off in the finals. It was Horner each time that took the win. Both ran consistent throughout the event. Evans Jr, ran an ET of 6.129 at 233.64mph (.089) against Horner's 5.817 at 244.23mph (.086).

Another class returning this year will be the NHRA Stock/Super Stock competitors. They will be joining JW Performance Super Street, Super Gas, Super Comp, Super Pro, Pro, Pro Bike, Street Bike, The Seminole Tribe of Florida Quick 16 series finale and Jr. Dragsters. The Murray's Speed & Custom Mountain Dew Citrus Nationals will also feature NHRA's National Dragster Challenge. The following defending champions from last year: Bruce Horner/Bergenfield, NJ (TAD), Wayne Bogle/Cocoa, FL (Super Street), Frank Altilio/Ocoee, FL (Super Gas) and Claude DeBonis/Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Super Comp), hope to return for a repeat performance and wins in their respective classes.

Moroso's Kart Track will be open for Arrive & Drive introductory classes all weekend. Kart Racers sit approximately three inches off the ground and have their hand at tight racing maneuvers.

Gates open for the Murray's Mountain Dew Citrus Nationals at 8:30am both Saturday and Sunday (November 25-26th). Saturday, Time Trials begin promptly at 9am with Quick 16 Qualifying at 10:30am & 12:30pm. The ET Eliminations will proceed at 3:30pm with Quick 16 Eliminations at 5:30pm. Top Alcohol Dragsters will qualify at 6pm and again at 9pm. Exhibition vehicles, including the Nitro Funny Cars and the Jets will light up the track at 6:30pm and at 9:30pm. Sunday, November 26th, racers will receive one Time Trial starting at 9am. NHRA Eliminations kick off at 12:30pm followed by the ET Classes. Jets and Exhibition, including the Nitro Funny Cars, are scheduled to make passes at 2:30pm and then their final run at 4:30pm.

Spectator tickets are $25 for 1-Day or $40 for 2-Days while kids 11 and under are FREE. Advanced discount 1-day ($3 off) spectator passes are available at Kentucky Fried Chicken locations throughout Palm Beach County, where each ticket purchase will give you a free 2-liter bottle of Pepsi or Mountain Dew. Discount tickets are also available at any of the six Murray's Speed & Custom locations in North Miami, Kendall, Pompano, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach and Stuart. For more information, please call the track office at (561) 622-1400 or visit the website at http://www.MorosoMotorsportsPark.com