Wednesday, December 02, 2009

NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE CONFERENCE FINALS HEADING BACK TO BRISTOL, DENVER IN 2010

GLENDORA, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2009) – NHRA has announced that the 2010 NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals events will return to Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway and Bandimere Speedway in Denver. The Western Conference Finals will take place July 8-10 and the Eastern Conference Finals are slated for July 29-31.

The dates are a departure from previous years in that the Western Conference Finals will come before the Eastern Conference event and that there will be two weeks between events instead of one.

“We are very glad to have the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals returning to two such great drag racing facilities,” said Eric Lotz, NHRA director of Field Marketing and Contingency Programs. “Both tracks are very family-oriented facilities and know how to make the Junior racers and their families feel welcome and make sure everyone has a great time.”

The Western Conference Finals have been at Bandimere Speedway since NHRA adopted the Eastern/Western format in 2000 and Bristol Dragway first hosted the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004. Nearly 1,000 kids compete for individual and team honors at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals, and nearly $100,000 in savings bonds are given away at each event.

“We are pleased to once again host the Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals in Thunder Valley,” said Bristol Dragway President and General Manager Jeff Byrd. “Several drivers’ professional careers began because of their time in the Junior Dragsters and we are proud to play a role in that development due to this program. And who knows? A future NHRA champion may win the first Wally of his or her career here in Thunder Valley.”

“It is an honor to again host the NHRA Junior Western Conference Finals in 2010,” said Bandimere Speedway Vice President and general manager, John Bandimere III. “Bandimere Speedway was founded with youth and family as the priority and the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League has provided an ideal format to carry on the 52 year tradition. The youth racers competing today are the future of our sport and the future is sure to be bright with the caliber of talent Junior Racing has produced.”

Created in 1992, the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League allows kids between the ages of 8 and 17 to experience the thrill of motorsports competition in a controlled environment at tracks in each of NHRA’s seven geographic divisions. The NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League creates family involvement in drag racing at an affordable level. Many of the league’s former participants have gone on to compete in other NHRA classes. Top Fuel racers Del Cox Jr., Shawn Langdon (a two-time Super Comp national champion), Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey, and J.R. Todd; Pro Stock drivers Erica Enders, Danny Gruninger, Rickie Jones, and Richie Stevens Jr.; Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Katie Sullivan; eight-time national event winner Brad Plourd; and three-time Division 3 Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Mick Snyder are among the league’s graduates.

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