NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

‘The Good Guys” from the NHRA South Central Division turned in a dominating performance to win the 34th annual JEGS Allstars overall team title during the JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago. The Division 4 crew built a sizable lead after five of their eight members advanced to the final round, and the knockout blow came early in the final rounds when third-generation star Aaron Stanfield claimed the Super Stock title over defending event winner James Antonette Jr. from Division 1.

The final tally had the Division 4 team with 1,300 points to 1,000 for the defending overall champions from the host Division 3 team. It was also the seventh time that the Division 4 team has won the title at the special event that brings together 80 of best NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman racers from across the country.

The other champions from the special event were Joey Severance (Top Alcohol Dragster), Shane Westerfield (Top Alcohol Funny Car), Frank Aragona Jr. (Comp), Ryan Mangus (Stock), Mike Robilotto (Super Comp), Ken Mostowich (Super Gas), Philip Smida II (Super Street), Jeff Strickland (Top Dragster), and Lester Johnson (Top Sportsman).

For the second year in a row, the alcohol portion of the show was decided early with the West Region running the table. Severance, the winner of the last three world championships, defeated James Stevens in the Top Alcohol Dragster [video] final round, 5.24 to 5.32. In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Westerfield used a slight starting-line holeshot to take out Doug Gordon in the final, 5.52 to 5.51. [video]

In the overall team competition, Division 4 came out swinging with seven of its eight members advancing to the second round. Five Division 4 racers made it to the final, which put a hammerlock on the title, even though Stanfield was the only driver to seal the deal [video]. Division 4 racers Craig Bourgeois, Austin Williams, Jack Collier, and Bob Gulitti weren’t able to win in their respective classes but did their part to contribute valuable points with runner-up finishes in Comp [video], Super Comp [video], Super Gas [video], and Top Sportsman [video], respectively.

The Division 3 squad made a strong push with a pair of wins by Smida [video] and Johnson [video] but ultimately fell short of their rivals to the south. The final score had the Division 4 team with 1,300 points, followed by Division 3 at 1,000 points, and a two-way tie for third between Divisions 1 and 7 at 900 points.

In addition to their event winnings, each of the Division 4 team members shared a $20,000 bonus provided by JEGS Mail Order.

JEGS ALLSTARS FINAL POINTS STANDINGS

REGIONAL
West    800
Central    300
North Central    200
East    100

DIVISIONAL
Division 4 (South Central)    1,300
Division 3 (North Central)    1,000
Division 1 (Northeast)    900
Division 7 (Pacific)    900
Division 2 (Southeast)    600
Division 6 (Northwest)    600
Division 5 (West Central)    100