Tue, 24 May 2016, 13:32 PM JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals Returns to Kentucky

Courtesy of NHRA Communications To Showcase NHRA Lucas Oil Series

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The 2016 JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals presented by Quick Fuel will make its triumphant return to Beech Bend Raceway Park, May 27-29, to showcase competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals will comprise one event in 2016, moving back to the historic Kentucky facility owned by Dallas Jones and the Jones family on Memorial Day weekend. Beech Bend Raceway Park was the host of the original NHRA SPORTSnationals from 1974 to 1981.

Competing classes at the 2016 JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals include Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. The premier standalone event in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will continue to be a national event with national points awarded to all classes except Super Street, which will earn divisional championship points. New in 2016, all racers will receive an NHRA national event grade point for attending the race.

The JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals boasts a guaranteed purse of nearly $99,250, an all-time SPORTSnationals record. With contingency awards in excess of $275,000 and special bonus races, the total award posting approaches $380,000 - a dramatic increase over the $50,700 posted at the inaugural SPORTSnationals in 1974.

Some of the specialty events included in the weekend's thrilling drag racing action include the Tim Hebert/Big Joe Hemi Shootout for the Stock and Super Stock classes and the Lucas Oil / K&N Filters Super Shootouts for the Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street classes. Racing action will culminate on Saturday evening with the 200-mph Racing RV's Top Dragster / Top Sportsman Fast Four competition and the C-Tech Manufacturing Comp Fast Four two round shootout.

Eliminations for all classes will be held on Sunday with National points at stake in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Memorial Day Monday is planned as a travel day or, if needed, as a completion day.

To kickoff the event's return to Kentucky with proper Southern hospitality, JEGS, NHRA, and the Dallas Jones-family will be hosting a huge Southern cookout for all racers and crews in the "Shady Grove" pavilion adjacent to the pit area following Friday's racing. In addition, Beech Bend Amusement Park and Splash Lagoon Water Park will be open Friday evening for a special JEGS Family and Friends Night.

In addition to the first eight years at Beech Bend Raceway Park, the NHRA JEGS SPORTSnationals has also been contested at Houston International Dragway in 1982, then at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 1983-'84 and back to Beech Bend for the 1985-'86 seasons. The race went on hiatus until 2005 when JEGS began its sponsorship of the event. Since then the race has been held at several prominent tracks and was featured in multiple races during some seasons. Tracks that have hosted the JEGS SPORTSnationals since 2005 are National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio, No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La., The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif.

SCHEDULE: 
FRIDAY, May 27 - Qualifying and time trials, 8 a.m.
TOP DRAGSTER Qualifying at 4 p.m.
TOP SPORTSMAN Qualifying at 4:30 p.m.
COMP ELIMINATOR Qualifying at 5 p.m.
JEGS RACER APPRECIATION COOKOUT / JEGS FAMILY NIGHT AT BEECH BEND at 6-9 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 28 -- Qualifying and time trials, 8 a.m.
STOCK / SUPER STOCK Class Eliminations at 10 a.m. 
TOP DRAGSTER Qualifying at 12 and 4 p.m.
TOP SPORTSMAN Qualifying at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.
COMP ELIMINATOR Qualifying at 1:30 and 5 p.m.
SUPER ELIMINATOR SHOOTOUTS at 2 p.m.
FAST FOUR TOP DRAGSTER / FAST FOUR TOP SPORTSMAN at 4 p.m.
FAST FOUR COMP at 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 29 
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 8 a.m.
TOP DRAGSTER / TOP SPORTSMAN round 1 begins at 11 a.m.
SPECIAL AWARDS CEREMONIES at 12:30 p.m.
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR round 1 at begins at 1 p.m.
WINNER'S CIRCLE at 7 p.m.

TICKETS: General admission tickets for the JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals presented by Quick Fuel are $20 for adults. Children 12 years old and younger are allowed free entrance with a paid adult ticket and every ticket includes a pit pass. For information, contact Beech Bend Raceway Park at (270) 781-7634 or visit www.NHRA.com or www.BeechBend.com.