Beech Bend Raceway Park (Bowling Green, Ky.) May 25-27
The JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals presented by Quick Fuel Technologies will return to scenic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky. this weekend, May 25-27, 2018.
In 2016, the SPORTSnationals returned to Bowling Green after a 30-year absence and the event continued last year. The defending event champions are Jason Coan(Comp), Michael Bryant (Super Stock), Ricky Pennington (Stock), Jonathan Anderson (Super Comp), Joe Harper (Super Gas), Gary Horstman (Super Street), Lynn Ellison (Top Dragster presented by Racing RVs.com), and Jason Lynch (Top Sportsman presented by Racing RVs.com).
Each of the defending event winners will be eligible to claim the coveted JEGS Crown trophy should they successfully defend their 2016 titles. The JEGS Crown is a unique handcrafted trophy created by Dan Dreisbach of Naked Sculpture. Since 2005, the trophy has been claimed just once, by Pro Mod racer Mike Ashley.
In addition to Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., JEGS SPORTSnationals races have previously been held in Indianapolis, Houston, Belle Rose, La., Fontana, Calif. Las Vegas, and Hebron, Ohio.
Individual winners of this event will take home special edition copper-plated NHRA Wally trophies that are available only to JEGS SPORTSnationals winners.
New for the 2018 event will be the addition of the Sportsman Motorcycle category to the slate of racing action. Also, both the Top Sportsman and Top Dragster categories will compete in a 32-car field to optimize the competition for racers and fans alike.
The JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals boasts a guaranteed purse of more than $108,000 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.
There will also be traditional class eliminations for Super Stock and Stock racers as well as 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 Comp Fast Four two round shootout.
To kick off 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.
JEGS SPORTSnationals: By the Numbers
4 – JEGS SPORTSnationals wins for Mike Coughlin
7 – Facilities to host a JEGS SPORTSnationals event
8 – Defending champions who will have a chance to win the coveted JEGS Crown trophy if they can win again in 2017
44 – years since inaugural SPORTSnationals was held at Beech Bend Raceway Park in 1974