Sean O'Bannon Acton wrap up

O’Bannon regains points lead with Montana runner-up

ACTON, Mont. – Second-year NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O’Bannon and the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s backed team regained a share of the Division 6 points lead with a runner-up finish during this past weekend’s Division 6 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Yellowstone Drag Strip just outside of Billings, Mont. O’Bannon is now tied with Brian Hough for the Division 6 lead and is ranked sixth in national points standings.

O’Bannon, 29, of Ontario, Calif., qualified the Jack O’Bannon Racing ’08 Monte Carlo fifth in the field with a 5.825 second elapsed time at 249.35 mph. In a monster round one matchup, O’Bannon would square off with Hough. O’Bannon wheeled his Sam Shockley tuned machine to take the crucial win with a 5.776 at 249.72 mph. In another key matchup, O’Bannon would face Clint Thompson, currently third in points, in the semifinals. O’Bannon was again victorious with a 5.837 at 249.49 mph to move to his fourth final round this year.

O’Bannon’s final round opponent would be rookie driver Terry Ruckman. Ruckman gained a slight starting line advantage and was able to hold on for a holeshot win with a 5.812 at 246.62 mph to O’Bannon’s 5.799 at 249.44 mph.

“You hate to lose on a holeshot,” said O’Bannon. “He staged pretty quick. I looked up from the tach and he was staged. Instead of just taking my time, I let myself get rushed and basically lit the bottom bulb not being ready. That’s a mistake on my part. I really hate to let the team down like that, but all we can do is move on. One of these days we’re going to put this Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s Monte Carlo in a winner’s circle.”

“We didn’t get the win, but we took out Hough and Thompson on the way to the final,” added O’Bannon. “The only way it could have gotten any better would be to win it. Those were some big rounds to win. This points race is so tight; it just might come down to head to head matchups. You never know. Regardless, we had control of our own destiny in getting to run those guys, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. I just wish we could have closed the deal and picked up another 21 points.”

The next outing for the Jack O’Bannon Racing Team will be the Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Bakersfield, Calif., Sept. 12-13.

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