Cavalcade Explained

May 15, 2008

The National Hot Rod Association is the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world, with more than 80,000 members and 35,000 licensed competitors. The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (LODRS) gives NHRA sportsman competitors an opportunity to compete at a national and divisional level within the NHRA. The LODRS consists of 44 events held across the country. There are at least six races within each of the seven NHRA divisions, and racers compete in eight categories: Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), the two headlining classes, as well as Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, is in NHRA Division 3, also known as the North Central Division. “We’re excited to be back at Summit Motorsports Park,” said Jay Hullinger, NHRA Division 3 director. “This is the second race in our 2008 Division 3 series and many of our LODRS stars have had this marked on their calendars as a race not to miss. It’s growing into a ‘must attend’ race in our series.”

Competitors in the LODRS compete for points to win national and divisional championships, as well as their share of a total series purse of more than $560,000. The LODRS is a big part of the 2nd Annual B’laster Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, but the race is so much more than that. “Not only will fans see the best of NHRA sportsman racing,” said Summit Motorsports Park president Bill Bader, Jr., “but Saturday night they’ll see jet cars competing side-by-side, wheelstanders, and of course our trademark fireworks.” “We invested in resurfacing the track with a new, high-tech polymer surface that greatly increases traction. We had several records set at last year’s Cavalcade of Stars and we’re hoping for some new records to be set this year.” Bill Reichert, the Top Alcohol Dragster winner last year, set a TAD track ET record of 5.256 seconds, and top speed record 275.73 mph. Last year’s Top Alcohol Funny Car winner, Frank Manzo, also set a TAFC track ET record of 5.540 seconds, and top speed record of 260.61 mph.