Sean O'Bannon Acton preview

O’Bannon ready for battle in Montana

ACTON, Mont. – Second-year NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O’Bannon and the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s backed team are ready to continue the battle for the Division 6 Championship at this weekend’s Division 6 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Yellowstone Drag Strip just outside of Billings, Mont. O’Bannon enters the event 42 points out of first and hopes erase that lead this weekend.

O’Bannon, 29, of Ontario, Calif., and his team lead by veteran Crew Chief Sam Shockley have made great strides in their second year of the Top Alcohol Funny Car class. After his father and team owner, Jack, won five World Championships in the Top Alcohol Dragster category with Rick Santos driving and a No. 2 national finish with Sean driving in 2006, the team made the move to the Funny Car class last season. The team has reached three finals this year, one on the national level and two on the divisional level, but has yet to gain that first win.

“We’re all ready to get to Montana,” said O’Bannon. “We had a bunch of races in a row, now we’ve had a few weeks off to rest up and go over everything. We’ve been doing great in qualifying, but we haven’t closed the deal and got a win. We have a real good team here, so I’m confident it’s not far off. We’d love to get our first Funny Car win this weekend.

“We need to win for the points as well,” O’Bannon continued. “As much as we need the points, we need to keep guys like Brian Hough and Clint Thompson from winning as well. It’s a tight battle right now. We’re chasing Brian, but we can’t forget about Clint. He’s right behind us and has a good car. There’s a lot of racing left to do, and it’s probably going to go down to the wire. This weekend we just have to focus on the task at hand and try to put this Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s Monte Carlo in the winner’s circle.”

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with one session, followed by two more sessions on Saturday. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón is the world’s No. 1 selling ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive Weaber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by Las Vegas-based The Patrón Spirits Company, brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón Gran Platinum, Patrón Anejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café (tequila and coffee blend), and Patrón Citrónge (extra fine orange liqueur), Ultimat Vodka (80 proof, Black Cherry and Chocolate Vanilla), as well as Pyrat Pistol, Pyrat Cask, and Pyrat XO Reserve Caribbean rums.

To find out more about the Jack O'Bannon Racing Team, visit their website at www.JackOBannonRacing.com

To find out more about Jack O'Bannon Racing's quality partners, visit these websites:

www.PatronSpirits.com - Find out more about the world's number one tequila - Tequila Patrón.

www.ForestRiverInc.com - Find out more about America's largest producer of towable RV's and Cargo Trailers

www.HoosierTire.com - "Tires Designed for Champions"

www.LE-Inc.com - Lubrication Engineers - "Leaders in Lubrication"

Contact: Will Hanna/Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com