ST. THOMAS DRAGWAY RETURNS TO NHRA SANCTION

Courtesy Dave Mathers

Sparta, Ont. - January 30, 2006 - St. Thomas Dragway, Canada’s first purpose built drag strip, is returning to National Hot Rod Association sanctioning for the 2006 season. The track was NHRA sanctioned from it’s opening in 1962 until 2002. However, the events of September 11, 2001 changed the insurance situation with the result that K&K Insurance was derated by NHRA. The track went with Bill Bader’s IHRA sanction but with the retirement of Bader it elected to return to NHRA, the number one sanctioning body for drag racing in the world.

St. Thomas Dragway operates from the first weekend in April until the last weekend in October. It features bracket racing on the one quarter mile track, Street Legal Racing on Friday nights, Run What Ya Brung racing on Saturday nights, Test and Tune days, club racing and special events featuring such popular classes as Pro Mods (PMRA), Nostalgia cars (ONDR), Pro Comp, Street Machines (OSCA) and Sports Compacts (CSCS). As well, the National Dragster Challenge and NHRA King of the Track races will return to the track.

The switch will allow bracket racers to attend the Summit Racing Series Division Three Bracket Finals in Indianapolis. Winners qualify to run in November at the World Finals in Pomona, California to become world Champion, a race won by Les Belle of Springfield in 2002.

For further information, contact the track at 519-775-2263 or visit the website at www.stthomasdragway.com.