Nhra denies top alcohol discontinuation rumors

[ronmcc]

NHRA DENIES TOP ALCOHOL DISCONTINUATION RUMORS
Written by Tracy Renck Saturday, 19 December 2009 09:25
There was a rumor circulating around that Top Alcohol Funny Cars and dragsters were not going to compete at NHRA national events in 2010.

That rumor is false.

An NHRA official told Competition Plus the rumor is untrue. The official said the Top Alcohol Funny Cars and dragsters are competing at 16 national events in 2010 which is the same number they competed at this past season.

The 16 races in the upcoming season will aired on ESPN2 as part of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The Top Alcohol Funny Cars and dragsters will compete at Pomona 1 (Feb. 11-14), Gainesville (March 11-14), Las Vegas 1 (April 9-11), Houston (April 16-18), Topeka (May 21-23), Chicago (June 3-6), Englistown (June 10-13), Norwalk (June 24-27), Seattle (July 9-11), Brainerd (Aug. 12-15), Indianapolis (Sept. 1-6), Concord 2 (Sept. 16-19), Dallas (Sept. 23-26), Reading (Oct. 7-10), Las Vegas 2 (Oct. 28-31), Pomona 2 (Nov. 11-14).

The confirmation of Top Alcohol Funny Car and dragsters competing in an NHRA national schedule was welcomed news to Rob Atchison.

Atchison, a three-time IHRA Alcohol Funny Car world champion from 2003-2005, moved to the NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series last season after the IHRA completely dropped Alcohol Funny Cars and dragsters from its series in 2009.

Atchison is going to campaign two Top Alcohol Funny Cars in the NHRA ranks in 2010.

"I’ve only ever run Alcohol Funny Cars, so my heart in soul is in the class and I love the class," Atchison said. “There’s also enough of us (Alcohol Funny Cars drivers) out there, it’s not like it’s not well supported. There are over 50 or 60 competitors out there. I’m not as familiar with Alcohol dragsters as far as the numbers, but I know that there are a lot of those guys out there as well. Division races are great and I understand that you have to support the grass roots of drag racing, but I mean there has be some carrot dangled in front of the donkey at one point or another. The national events give us the opportunity to run with the big show more or else and be able to enhance the show.”