JOLIET, Ill. (June 6) – With perennial frontrunner Frank Manzo leading the way, the team from the NHRA Northeast Division rallied to claim its fourth JEGS Allstars overall team title in the last five years. Manzo won the Top Alcohol Funny Car title for the eighth time in his career and was joined in the winner’s circle by fellow Northeast Division racers Joe Santangelo and Jason Kenny, who claimed wins in Super Stock and Super Gas, respectively. The wins enabled the Division 1 team to come from behind and win the overall title, and the $20,000 team bonus that goes with it, via a tie breaker over the Division 5 team. The JEGS Allstars is a special invitation only competition that is open to the best drivers in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series based on a year-long points competition within NHRA’s seven geographic regions.
Manzo, the driver of the Al-Anabi Monte Carlo defeated Division 2 racer Mickey Ferro in a close final round, 5.56 to 5.59 to seal the victory. Santangelo also chipped in with the big win over Division 5’s Justin Jenkins and Kenny got the best of Division 6 driver Mark Resen in the final of Super Gas.
The Division 5 team came close to capturing their first overall win, thanks to the efforts of members Michael Miller, who won in Super Comp, and Steve Domingues, who earned the title in Super Street. Heading into the final rounds, the Division 5 team had five members remaining while the Division 1 team had four.
Jim Whiteley claimed a win for the Division 7 team when he stopped Shawn Cowie in the Top Alcohol Dragster final. Defending champ Bruno Massel, who was eligible to return to the event as a blocker, scored a second-straight win in Comp when he defeated Frank Aragona Jr. of the Division 1 team in the final round. Other winners were Mark Faul of Division 6 (Stock Eliminator), Division 4’s Keith Raftery (Top Sportsman), and Ray Miller III of Division 2 (Top Dragster). All told, the champions received a share of the more than $120,000 posted by JEGS Mail Order for the event.
Division 3 racer Ricky Adkins, who was driving Mike Coughlin’s JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt, reached the second round of eliminations in the Top Sportsman class.
The members of the winning team will share in a $20,000 bonus courtesy of Jegs Mail Order. Additionally, Jegs will double the winnings of any driver who can back up an Allstars victory with a win in Sunday’s United Association Route 66 Nationals.
Division 3 racer Ricky Adkins, who was driving Mike Coughlin’s JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt, reached the second round of eliminations in the Top Sportsman class.
The members of the winning team will share in a $20,000 bonus courtesy of Jegs Mail Order. Additionally, Jegs will double the winnings of any driver who can back up an Allstars victory with a win in Sunday’s United Association Route 66 Nationals.
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Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at www.jegs.com and for media/fan resources checkout www.teamjegs.com .
Media Contact:
Scott “Woody” Woodruff
JEGS, Director of Media & Motorsports
Office: 800.345.4545 (#3, ext 412)
Mobile: 614.595.1820
Fax: 740.362.5507
Email: jegspr@aol.com -or- scott.woodruff@jegs.com
Scott “Woody” Woodruff
JEGS, Director of Media & Motorsports
Office: 800.345.4545 (#3, ext 412)
Mobile: 614.595.1820
Fax: 740.362.5507
Email: jegspr@aol.com -or- scott.woodruff@jegs.com