NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

When it comes to choosing an NHRA National Dragster Sportsman Race of the Month, some months are more difficult than others, and this is one of them. In August, several of NHRA’s best Sportsman racers put on a performance that is noteworthy, with multiple final rounds and, in some cases, multiple wins.

In the end, Jim Prevo won out, thanks to a performance that included a win on NHRA’s biggest stage, the Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, and a second victory at the Division 5 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series doubleheader in Brainerd. To top it off, Prevo, who competes in Right Trailers Top Dragster, threw in a semifinal performance at the Division 3 event in Bowling Green, Ky.

Prevo kicked off his memorable run with a win in Brainerd, and he was particularly impressive in the final, where he used a .006 light and a 6.124 on his 6.12 dial to beat Jordan Ward in the final. Prevo carried that momentum to Indy, a race that featured arguably the best Top Dragster racers in the country. In Indy, Prevo was equally as effective, especially in the final, where he used another great (.008) light to help hold off Holden Laris.

After kicking off September with a semifinal in Earlville, Iowa, Prevo is set up nicely for a late-season run at the Right Trailers Top Dragster title as he currently sits third behind Darian Boesch and Jessica Eastburn, with races left to claim points.

Honorable Mentions

One racer who nearly equaled Prevo’s great result is Top Sportsman driver Michael Chitty, who doubled up in Brainerd with a win in the Division 5 event and the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Chitty also went to the final in Earlville to move to within 20 points of the lead.

Joe Santangelo remains a threat to win titles in Super Stock and Stock after a win at the Brainerd divisional and a pair of runner-up finishes at the Brainerd and Indy national events.

Jason Kenny did a lot of racing in August with a lot of positive results, including a win in Super Gas at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals and three finals in Super Comp at divisional events. As a result, he’s No. 2 in Super Comp.

In Comp, three drivers, Joe Carnasquale, Matt Harris, and Bob Bailey, scored multiple wins. Bailey was especially noteworthy as he won the U.S. Nationals.

Racing in Right Trailers Top Dragster, Jessica Eastburn kicked off the month with a win at the Division 1 event at Numidia Dragway and then scored again in Brainerd at the double divisional.

Darian Boesch didn’t just win Right Trailers Top Sportsman at the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals; he also won the Division 3 Lucas Oil Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.