Allstars Stock Eliminator Joliet preview

Grubbs looks to add to list of female champs

JOLIET, Ill. (June 2) -- With groundbreaking Funny Car wins by Ashley Force, Melanie Troxel and Hillary Will in Top Fuel this has already been dubbed the "Year of the Woman" in NHRA competition. Now, Brenda Grubbs will have the chance to add her name to the roster of female drag racing champions as she takes aim at the Stock Eliminator crown during the 24th annual JEGS Allstars competition at Route 66 Raceway, June 7.

In the JEGS Allstars competition, which features the best sportsman drivers from each of NHRA's seven geographic divisions, Grubbs will be representing the team from the Southeast Division with her vintage 1969 Camaro. She will be competing for a first-place prize of $4,500 plus a share of the $20,000 bonus that goes to the eight-member team that scores the most round wins during the competition. In addition, any racer who can win the JEGS Allstars title on Saturday will have a chance to claim the JEGS double-up bonus by winning the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 Nationals the following day.

In 23 previous editions of the JEGS Allstars, only two women, the late Shelly Howard and Lynn Hoosigian, have earned victories. Howard won the Top Alcohol Dragster title in 2004, while Hoosigian claimed a victory in Super Street in 2006. Barbara Harrison drove to a runner-up finish in the Super Comp class in 1998.

Plant City, Fla., based Grubbs, who is currently ranked third in the NHRA Stock Eliminator standings, will be competing against a field that includes defending Russ Linke of Old Bridge, N.J., who is eligible to return as a blocker after winning last year's event, and 2006 Allstars winner Don Pires Jr, of Dighton, Mass., who will represent Division 1 for the third-consecutive year.

Another driver to watch is Tommy Mattingly IV, of Louisville, Ky., who earned a spot on the Division 3 team. With elapsed times in the 13-second range, Mattingly's 1965 Chevy Chevelle station wagon may be one of the slowest cars in Allstars competition, but it is also one of the most competitive, carrying the 19-year old student to several impressive victories.

The remainder of the JEGS Allstars Stock Eliminator field will include Austin Ford (Division 4), Troy Henderson (Division 5), Tommy Gaynor (Division 6), and Errol Farmer (Division 7).

-credit: team jegs