Monday, October 03, 2011

MANZO CLINCHES 15TH NHRA LUCAS OIL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

GLENDORA, Calif. – Frank Manzo’s dominance in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series continues to escalate as the Morganville, N.J., racer clinched his 15th NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car National Championship with a win at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals today at Maple Grove Raceway.

The championship marks Manzo’s 6th in a row dating back to 2006 with his first championship coming in 1981. All have been in the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Class. Manzo also clinched his 21st NHRA Northeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car Championship this year.

Along with the championship, Manzo drove his Al Anabi Racing ’10 Monte Carlo to a NHRA national elapsed time record today of 5.411 seconds in his semifinal match up with Todd Veney. His 5.419 second lap in his final round victory against Any Bohl qualified as the national record back up required by NHRA. Manzo also held the old record of 5.432 seconds set back in March of this year in Gainesville, Fla.

Today’s win gives Manzo a perfect season of scored events with five national event wins and five divisional event wins. Combined for the 2011 NHRA season, he has 11 wins in 12 final round appearances.