BRAINERD, Minn. – Thunder at the Lakes rolls in to Brainerd International Raceway this weekend, bringing with it national-level drag racing and BWM club racing.Thunder at the Lakes features the NHRA West Central division’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which starts Friday with testing. Qualifying and time trials are Saturday, and elimination rounds are Sunday. Some of the top Sportsman drag racers in the country will be racing for series points that lead to a shot at a national championship next fall and a piece of the $519,000 prize purse.
For fans, Thunder at the Lakes is an annual preview to what they can expect to see during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in August.
“This is really intense drag racing by guys who have their sights set on a national championship this fall,” BIR Owner Jed Copham said. “Fans will see some really fast times by a lot of drivers who will be back in August to compete during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.”
The event is the second of six in the division and one of 43 scheduled across the country. Categories include Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s Jerry Haas Race Cars Top Sportsman, Fineline Madcap Top Dragster and Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson are also in competition.
On BIR’s 2.5-mile Competition Road Course, the BMW Club will be racing. Fans can watch both races for the price of a single ticket. Daily admission is $25 for adults and $15 for kids aged 6-12. Kids 5 and younger are free. Every ticket includes a pit pass. Camping is free with a multi-day ticket.
Gates at BIR open at 7 a.m. every day. Friday is for open testing. Qualifying and time trials on the drag strip start Saturday at 9 a.m. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will qualify on Saturday at 11 a.m., 2:30 and 6 p.m. Comp Eliminator qualify Saturday at 11:45 a.m., 3:15 and 6:45 p.m. Eliminations start Sunday at 9 a.m.
Now in its 44th season, Brainerd International Raceway is one of North America’s largest race tracks, featuring a world-class quarter-mile drag strip, the 3.1-mile, 10-turn Donnybrooke Road Course, the 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course, 300 acres for rustic camping, 164 full-service RV sites and 12 on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities. For more information, visit www.BrainerdRaceway.com, or call 1-866-444-4455.
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Thunder At The Lakes: Fact Sheet
WHAT:
Thunder at the Lakes, the second of six events in West Central Division competition where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. This is the second of six events in the West Central Division. Categories include Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s Jerry Haas Race Cars Top Sportsman Series, Fineline Madcap Top Dragster Series and the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson will also run in conjunction with the event.
WHERE:
Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn. Track is located a few miles north of the Brainerd area off Highway 371. The track is located on the east side of the highway.
WHEN:
Friday through Sunday, June 1-3
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY – Gates open at 5 p.m
FRIDAY – Gates open at 7 a.m. Testing all day on the drag strip. BMW Club racing on the Competition Road Course.
SATURDAY - Gates open at 7 a.m. Qualifying and time trials at 9 a.m. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster qualify at 11 a.m., 2:30 and 6 p.m. Comp Eliminator qualifying is at 11:45 a.m., 3:15 and 6:45 p.m. BMW Club racing all day.
SUNDAY - Gates open at 7 a.m. Eliminations on the drag strip begin at 9 a.m. BMW Club racing all day.
TICKETS:
Daily admission is $25 for adults and $15 for kids aged 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Tickets are available at the gate. For more information please call BIR, (866) 444-4455 or visit www.BrainerdRaceway.com.
2011 EVENT
WINNERS: Richard Putz, Top Alcohol Dragster; Scott McVey, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Pat Nahan, Comp Eliminator; Justin Jenkins, Super Stock; Glen De Menge, Stock Eliminator; Gary Stinnett, Super Comp; Mark Hovorka, Super Gas; Greg Grundman, Super Street; Monte Green, Top Sportsman, JR Lobner, Top Dragster; Jason Clampitt, Sportsman Motorcycle.
BONUS PROGRAMS: NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND: a $519,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2012 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional, regional and national champions. Regional awards include $10,000 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 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Jegs Allstars champion who also wins the national event will have his/her Allstars prize doubled.
AEROMOTIVE LOW QUALIFIER BONUS: A $3,000 bonus fund paid to the low qualifiers in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock and Stock Eliminator at each of the division’s six races. The best qualifying driver in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock will each get $200 per event, while the best qualifier in Stock Eliminator will get $100 per race.
JERRY HAAS RACE CARS TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES: The Jerry Haas Race Cars Top Sportsman Series, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in the West Central division’s Top Sportsman class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $2,750 champions’ purse posted by Jerry Haas Race Cars will be paid to first-, second- and third-place points finishers.
FINLINE MADCAP TOP DRAGSTER SERIES: The West Central Division Top Dragster Series, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in the West Central division’s Top Dragster class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $2,750 champions’ purse will be paid to first-, second- and third-place points finishers.
NHRA SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE SERIES presented by HARLEY DAVIDSON: The NHRA Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA’s Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $14,000 champions’ purse posted by Harley Davidson will be paid to first-, second- and third-place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles.
