Sean O'Bannon Mission wrap up

O’Bannon resets track records en route to runner-up

MISSION, B.C. – NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O’Bannon and the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s team reset both ends of the track record en route to a runner-up finish during this past weekend’s Division 6 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Mission Raceway, just north of the border in Mission, B.C. The event was O’Bannon’s first final since switching to the Funny Car class from Top Alcohol Dragster last year.

O’Bannon, 29, who helps run the family business, Fontana Wood Products in Fontana, Calif., when not racing qualified Jack O'Bannon Racing, Sam Shockley tuned ’08 Monte Carlo second in the field with a 5.653 second elapsed time at 255.97 mph. In round one, he took out Ken Kraus with a track-record 5.589 at 260.41, which was also his first trip into the 260 mph zone. He then defeated John Evanchuk in the semifinals with a 5.685 at 258.02 mph to set up the final with No. 1 qualifier Clint Thompson.

In the final, both cars left nearly identical and stayed locked together going down track, but it was Thompson who edged O’Bannon with a 5.682 at 256.70 to O’Bannon’s right-there 5.691 at 257.06 mph.

“We would have liked to get the win, but we’re happy with the weekend,” said O’Bannon. “We finally ran 260 mph our first weekend out with our new Monte Carlo body, which is a big milestone for us. There’s only a handful of cars that have ran that much mph at 92 over on the blower.”

“This weekend was another step in the right direction for this team,” O’Bannon continued. “We lost lane choice in the final, and the right lane was a little trickier to get down than the left. We gave Clint a good drag race; we didn’t beat ourselves.”

With the final round appearance, O’Bannon remains in second place in Division 6 standings, just a mere ten points out of first place behind Thompson. The strong showing also moved him to seventh in national point standings.

There will be little time for rest for the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s team as they head straight to Topeka, Ks., for this weekend’s O’Reilly Summer Nationals. O’Bannon reached the semifinals of this event last year.

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