Race Updates

2006 Drag Racing Season Recap

In a repeat of last season's NHRA championship lineup, Garrett technology was under the hood of every boosted class champion.

The Hot Rod class featured a Garrett turbo under the hood of every winner this season and would be driven to their limits by drivers like Chuck Seitsinger, Mike Crawford and Kenny Tran. It would be the Turbo By Garrett Pontiac Sunfire, however, that would edge out the class' steep competition once again, thanks in large part to the driving of Ron Lummus and the Bothwell Motorsports team who were able to overcome weight penalties and turbo size reduction to claim the title of champion for a second season in a row. "It is a big fat relief," Lummus said. "Not making the first race of the year I had to work my tail off. I am very happy. Coming into this race (Pomona) I didn't presume or assume anything. I am glad it turned out the way it did. Garrett has been really good to us. It is always sweeter when you earn a championship. Last year I came into the final event having already won the championship. This year it was decided here in Pomona."

Fighting for the championship until the very end was greatly improved driver Stephanie Eggum. She took home three Wally's on the season and currently holds both the ET and MPH records in the class. On top of a great season, she piloted her Civic to the first ever FWD Honda 7-second pass!

Modified brought back familiar faces and introduced new ones in the tightest points chase of the series. Going into the world finals, the top four contenders were separated by only 25 points as rotary engines driven by veterans such as Ken Sheepers did battle with Toyota 6 cylinders. Garrett driver Justin Humphries was looking to repeat his rookie season's success but it would be a recent Garrett convert, Paul Effantis who would be left standing after the smoke cleared as he took home not only the win and the season championship, but also his 15th win to tie him with Matt Scranton as the winningest driver in NHRA Sport Compact history!

A rejuvenated Pro FWD class saw its ranks swell with drivers eager to take on last season's champion, Ed Bergenholtz. The Garrett-powered Cobalts, Scion tC's and Cavaliers from respected drivers Marty Ladwig, Gary Gardella, Ron Townsend and Christian Rado battled it out at each race of the season, pushing FWD cars to incredibly low ET's all season. Even with all of the new high-pressure competition, the Bergenholtz brothers, Ed and Ron, found ways to push their Garrett-powered Mazda 6 out of their two car garage and into the winner's circle 4 times as well as to the championship banquet.

The Pro RWD class saw a familiar trio of Garrett-powered Toyotas driven by Gary White, Matt Scranton and reigning champion Brad Personett. Day in and day out, these three pushed their cars to the extreme with staggering horsepower, higher boost pressures, faster ETs and consistent 210+ MPH times! As the season wore on, it was Brad Personett's Scion tC that would begin to edge out the competition and ultimately pull away with the season championship trophy.

The Nopi Drag Race Association (NDRA) changed their rules this year to allow domestic V8 engines to compete against the traditional sport compacts. While some struggled with the new rules and the new competition, Carl Stevens, Jr. pushed forward with his Garrett-powered Nissan 350Z and took top honors in the Outlaw Pro RWD class. "The turbos took our program to a whole new level," said Stevens. His consistent improvement throughout the season is a testament to his team's hard work and dedication.

Chuck Seitsinger was showing up everywhere in his flame-painted Civic. He was terrorizing the Hot Rod class as well as the NDRA's Pro Four Cylinder and found his way on to the top of the NDRA standings by dominating his opponents and running consistent ETs day in and day out.

Congratulations go out to the sportsmen drivers who are the backbone of the sport. Drivers like Matt Keller, John Ferguson, Courtney Green, Tony Palo and Anthony Niemczyk that travel nation-wide to compete against each other without the huge support teams and budgets of the pros. Drivers like Matthew Miller and Dan Dixon that have a passion for the sport that is more important than any drive train component or any amount of tire tread.

We are proud that so many racers and champions have chosen to use Garrett turbos this year. As this season comes to a close, we would like to congratulate and thank all the racers (even all-motor) who put in countless hours in garages, pits and shops all across the county to keep the sport they love alive and kicking.