Drag Racing Online - Agent 1320 Vol. IV No. 12 December 2002

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DARLINGTON ANNOUNCES WINTERNATIONALS NHRA NATIONAL OPEN EVENT

Darlington Dragway had a 30-year reign as the host of the season opening IHRA WinterNationals until the track was dropped from the IHRA circuit and moved to an NHRA sanction. February 13-16, 2003 the track will host a race to be known as The Darlington Winternationals.

Highlighting this year's race will be the "5-Second Challenge" for the popular Pro Mod class. This Challenge will be for legal AMS and IHRA Pro Mods, with the concessions that the blown cars can weigh a minimum of 2500 lbs., with no blower overdrive restrictions. All other AMS/IHRA Pro Mod rules will be in affect.

Blown cars will qualify for an 8-car field on Saturday, while the popular nitrous oxide-injected Pro Mods will qualify for their own separate 8-car field with each class running for their respective eliminator on Sunday. Whether the two winners will meet each other for the overall title has not yet been determined.

Carlton Phillips, former national event winning Pro Stock competitor and NHRA Super Stock competitor Bob Bagley, owners of Prince William Marine and co-owners of Darlington International Dragway, along with Pro Mod veteran Johnny Rocca, stated that with the successful completion of a verified 5-second run, the first five people to do so will receive a commemorative jacket and $500 each.

"The run does have to be made at Darlington. We will honor any verified 5-second run by an event-legal alcohol burning or nitrous powered car," Phillips stated.

For more information on the 5-Second Challenge, contact Darlington International Dragway at 843-332-0123 or Carlton Phillips at 703-550-9810 or PrinceWilliamMarine.com or DarlingtonDragway.com.

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Also during the Darlington Winternationals, Pro Stocks will compete in the "Sunoco Race Fuels First in The Forty's Challenge." This competition will be open to IHRA-legal Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars, with major sponsors posting contingency money for the first Pro Stock car to run in the 6.40 range. The current Darlington record belongs to Rick Jones at 6.531.

The Darlington Winternationals will, for the first time, be an NHRA National Open. Competitors in Super Stock, Stock and Comp Eliminator will be able to set records, and the race will carry a full grade point towards the total needed to qualify for National Events.

Nowling Motorsports Management has been signed to handle promotion and administrate the Darlington race. NMM president, Kenny Nowling, will also work to secure additional sponsorship and ensure that the premier Pro Mod race teams are in attendance. Jeff Burk's Autographix Motorsports Communication will handle PR for the event.[12-23-2002]

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