News 2009
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Courtesy of John Bisci |
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Serious drag racing fans already have marked their calendars and made arrangements to attend one of the most exciting events of the year: the 10th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For a variety of reasons, the Halloween weekend nitrofest is one no one should miss. The Oct. 29-Nov. 1 national event is the next-to-last race on the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Racing Series calendar and is crucial in the quest for Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike championships. |
Twenty-two Top Fuel Dragster entries have registered so far for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.
Defending Top Fuel Dragster champion Tony Schumacher is locked in a fierce battle with Antron Brown and Larry Dixon for the 2009 title. Schumacher returns to
The Top Fuel category will take on an international flavor at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals as
Grubnic became the first non-North American driver to win an NHRA national event after earning the coveted Wally trophy in 2005 at
Joon, the
"This opportunity is not only a dream-come-true for me but it also is the next step in my career," explained Joon. "There is not a much better place to start your NHRA career then in
Ehrbacher - without a doubt the most colorful of the trio - is the 2007 FIA European Top Fuel champion and no stranger to the bright lights of
The icing on the Top Fuel cake, of course, will be the appearance of Chris "The Golden Greek" Karamesines. Karamesines, who began racing in the 1950s, recently turned 80 and will attempt to qualify for the 16-car Top Fuel field.
Seventeen Funny Car teams have filed entries for the
The reasonably-priced event weekend also appeals to families: many take advantage of the Oct. 30 Nevada Day holiday to spend the entire day at the track and return the following morning for Halloween trick-or-treating in the pits while the biggest names in professional drag racing burn up the drag strip at speeds in excess of
For more information about the Fan Fest at Fremont Street , visit www.vegasexperience.com
Lex Joon realizes his American Dream
Joon, the most successful drag racer in the history of the
“I had the opportunity to race a Top Alcohol Funny Car at the Winter Nationals in 2000 and I knew I wanted to come back some day,” explained Joon. “Then the idea to race in the
In March of this year, the team announced their quest to travel to the
“This opportunity is not only a dream come true for me but it also is the next step in my career,” explained Joon. “There is not a much better place to start your NHRA career then in
“I am looking forward to showing our sponsor, MPM Oil and their guests how exciting and popular racing is in the
| Joon has hired “I’m pleased to have Kevin working with us and I know he will fit in perfectly with my crew,” said Joon. “He is a much appreciated tuner in the |
Poynter is currently living in southern
“Lex and I have been friends for about five years,” said Poynter, “and when he called and asked if I would help him realize his dream, I jumped at the chance. As I’ve sat at home these past months, I just knew that if I were out there I would be doing my best not to struggle knowing that there are some really talented crew chiefs in the wings just chomping at the bit for an opportunity to show what they have to offer. And Lex has given me that opportunity. I am ready to go racing; I just wish he were here and ready to race now. Racing in the states has been Lex’s dream and I am going to help him see it through. Lex, Sebastian and I have been putting together a game plan and are looking to test somewhere before
“I am very excited that Lex has asked me to help him and I plan on taking full advantage of the resources he brings with him. We will be a threat and we are planning to ruin some title hopes. The way Lex runs the car over in the FIA is very similar to the way I ran J.R.’s car and we were able to do some damage with it. So, we’ll just make a few small changes to Lex’s dragster and then let it loose. It’s show time and everyone in this program is hungry and I’m ready for war.”
The race car will be shipped from Joon’s race shop in
According to Joon, “this is a dream come true for me, so we call this trip our American Dream Tour. Drag racing is such a big part of my life and to be able to take my racing to the next level is exciting. I have raced for almost 30 years in a sport that was hardly known in
“Making this trip with my main sponsor, MPM International Oil Company is great, especially now that they are interested in following my dream. Not only are they funding our trip, but they also wish to start selling their products in a land of great opportunities. This trip is a good chance to optimize relationships between the
FIA round 4, NitrOlympix 2009 Germany
This weekend the famous race circuit in Hockenheim will host the 4th round of the FIA European Championship dragracing the Nitrolympics.
In the F1 class of dragracing Lex Joon and his MPM sponsored team will defend his track record (4.77 seconde / 501 kilometer)
The hospitality which is a part of the teams pits pace will have room for more then 400 guests invited by main sponsor MPM Oil Company.
Qualification will start Friday August 14th, with as highlight the Saturday Night Show when Top Fuel dragsters make a pass in the dark. The flames from the headers clearly visible as bunny ears.
Sunday 17 august eliminations start at 10.00
The race is covered on the internet by:
Main Event 2009
Live event coverage at: Eurodragster
MPM International Oil Company offers a wide range of products to meet the needs of the automobile sector and the industrial sector. MPM offers a complete package of lubricants and other specialty products. In 2008 they moved into a new and modern headquarters in Delft in order to meet their growing business in the Netherlands and Europe. MPM is thrilled to again be associated with Lex Joon Racing.
After the Hockenheim race in August, Joon and the team plan to ship the race car to the United States to compete in the last two or three NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events.
Zaandam, The Netherlands, February 19, 2009: Lex Joon, owner and driver of the Lex Joon Racing Top Fuel Dragster has announced that he has reestablished his relationship with long time backer, MPM International Oil Company of Delft, The Netherlands for 2009 and beyond. In a time when the word recession is used every day and most race teams are struggling to manage their budgets, the most successful and well-known Dutch racer will again be able compete in the FIA European Drag Racing Series with the help of MPM.
In October of 2008, Joon, the 2005 FIA European Top Fuel Champion and 2007 and 2008 runner-up announced that he was halting his racing operation, citing time constraints and money issues. But the long time racer couldn’t sit on the sidelines for long, so after reassessing his program and meeting with MPM, Joon decided to continue the long and successful relationship with a renewed determination.
“Our race activities were asking more of my time each year,” explained Joon, “and at the same time my presence was needed more in my other business due to staff issues. A secondary issue is the amount of money that was needed to be invested in the race team in order to stay competitive. So, I made the very difficult decision to put racing aside.
“We work with several teams in all kinds of race disciplines,” said M.van Wilgen, Director of MPM, “but there is no sport that gives the public a closer look at what the teams are doing as in drag racing. Drivers and crew are approachable and our clients can see everything that's happening in the pits during servicing the car. With a Top Fuel Dragster you belong to the top of the sport, the F1 of the quickest and fastest sport on earth. A Top Fuel dragster is so impressive its always drawing the attention wherever you are. The interest of our clients is great, they are eager to attend the races and be part of the Lex Joon MPM Top Fuel team.”
Joon currently plans to participate in two of the five of the FIA races, the Veidec Festival in Mantorp Park, Sweden and the Nitrolympics in Hockenheim, Germany, both important markets for MPM. As in the past, MPM will take advantage of hospitality to entertain their clients in Hockenheim, with the possible addition of Mantorp Park.
“There is the possibility that we will attend the first race of the season at the end of May, the FIA Main Event in Santa Pod, England,” said Joon. “
Lex Joon Racing and MPM form a lasting partnership