Tue, 14 Feb 2012, 19:32 PM NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Rolls into Gainesville Raceway

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The second of six NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events in NHRA's Southeast division and the season kick off for the new Lucas Oil Regional events showcasing the 260 mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars takes to Gainesville Raceway this weekend February 17-19. The event is one of 43 scheduled across the country where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.

Gates at Gainesville Raceway open at 8 a.m. each day. Qualifying and time trials start Friday at 10 a.m. and continue Saturday at 9 a.m. Racers in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will qualify Friday at 2:30 and 5 p.m. and run all three rounds of eliminations on Saturday beginning at 12 noon. Comp Eliminator, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman will have one qualifying session on Friday, beginning at 3:30 p.m., and two on Saturday at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Eliminations continue on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with round 1 for Comp, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman at 9:30 a.m.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Gainesville Raceway are $20 Friday, $20 Saturday and $20 Sunday. A three-day pass is $ 50. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

Gainesville Raceway is located on State Road 225, 3.5 miles north of the Gainesville Municipal Airport. For more information call the track, (352) 377-0046, or visit www.GainesvilleRaceway.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES FACT SHEET

WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series the second of six events in Southeast Division competition where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division's Davis Golf Carts Top Sportsman Series and Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales Top Dragster Series will also be run in conjunction with the event.

WHERE: Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla. Track is located on State Road 225, 3.5 miles north of the Gainesville Municipal airport.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, February 17-19, 2012

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Feb. 17 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 10 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars qualify at 2:30 and 5 p.m. Top Dragster, Comp Eliminator and Top Sportsman qualify at 3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, Feb. 18 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car elimination rounds at 12, 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Top Dragster, Comp Eliminator and Top Sportsman have two qualifying sessions starting at 1 and 4:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, Feb. 19 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations continue at 9 a.m.

TICKETS:
GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS - Friday $20, Saturday $20, Sunday $20. A three-day pass is $50. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information please call Gainesville Raceway, (352) 377-0046 or visit www.GainesvilleRaceway.com.

2011 EVENT WINNERS: Al Moeser, Top Alcohol Dragster; Wayne Morris, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Jim Kimbrough, Comp Eliminator; Peter Biondo, Super Stock; Dick Kincaid, Stock Eliminator; Steve Mikus, Super Comp; Peter Biondo, Super Gas; Dave Connolly, Super Street; Gilmer Hinshaw, Top Sportsman; Jason Hoff, Top Dragster.

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND: a $519000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2011 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional, regional and national champions. Regional awards include $10,00 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions with Divisional awards of $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

JEGS ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $119,000 point fund from Jegs High Performance. The 2011 Jegs Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes as well as Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2011 Jegs Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, $5,000 to Top Sportsman and Top Dragster champions, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $25,000 towing fund to get to the event.

Event sponsor, Jegs High Performance, is offering a "double up" bonus to Jegs Allstars participants. Any 2011 Jegs Allstars champion who also wins the national event will have his/her Allstars prize doubled.

DAVIS GOLF CARTS TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Top Sportsman class are vying for division championships and a share in the year-end purse.

HICKORY ENCLOSED TRAILER SALES TOP DRAGSTER SERIES: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Top Dragster class are vying for division championships and a share in the year-end purse