Sean O'Bannon Fontana preview

O'Bannon looking forward to first TAFC start at home track

FONTANA, Calif. - Former NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster standout Sean O'Bannon will be making his first career start behind the wheel of the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV's Dodge Charger Top Alcohol Funny Car at his home track, Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. O'Bannon, who finished second nationally last season in the team's dragster, recently completed his cross-grade licensing in Las Vegas and is eager to compete in his new class.

O'Bannon, 28, of Fontana, hopes to use the weekend as a learning experience and a stepping stone to being a competitive player in the class.

"We hope to use this weekend to learn the car," said O'Bannon. "We've done some testing, and we're just taking it one step at a time. If everything lines up and we qualify for the field, that will be great. Bottom line is we just need laps to get this Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV's team to where we need to be. I need laps as a driver to adjust to these Funny Cars. My father Jack has put together an excellent team, and with Sam Shockley and Randy Anderson in our corner, it's exciting every time we go to the track."

The race also marks the first time that both Jack O'Bannon Racing Funny Cars will be in competition. Former Super Comp national event winner Alexis De Joria is the driver of the team's other Top Alcohol Funny Car.

"It's a good thing for the team to have two cars going into competition," stated O'Bannon. "We can gather twice the data. It will also be good for Alexis and myself to get feedback from each other driving one of these cars. This is a learning experience for both of us, and it will be good to learn as a team."

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol categories and will conclude on Saturday with two sessions. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

About The Patrón Spirits Company:
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company's eight distinctive products now share the Patrón label; Gran Patrón Platinum, Patrón Añejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café, Patrón Citrónge, Pyrat Cask 23, Pyrat XO Reserve. Each brand is the finest in their category. The newest, Gran Patrón Platinum, is an extraordinary triple distilled pure tequila. Patrón Tequila is today, the world’s number one ultra premium tequila. In 2004 & 2005, Patrón Tequila was recognized with the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Five Star Diamond Award. Patrón is the first spirits brand ever to receive this prestigious honor. Patrón Tequila continues to set new sales records every year.

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.

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