Sean O'Bannon Seattle wrap up

O’Bannon runs career numbers en route to semifinal

KENT, Wash. – NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O’Bannon and the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s team recorded career-best numbers en route to a semifinal finish during this past weekend’s Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals at Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle. The event marked O’Bannon’s first national event pole in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class.

O’Bannon, 29, of Ontario, Calif., qualified the Sam Shockley tuned ’08 Monte Carlo No. 1 with a 5.562 second elapsed time at 261.72 mph, both numbers career-bests. In round one, he won a close matchup with Clint Thompson with a 5.686 at 256.80, and then took out Keeter Ray with a 5.628 at 259.61. In the semifinal, O’Bannon squared off with Division 6 rival Brian Hough. Both drivers left with nearly identical reaction times, but it was Hough who pulled off the win with a 5.654 at 253.71 mph to O’Bannon’s right-there 5.664 at 258.02 mph.

“One of these days we’re going to quit losing close races,” said O’Bannon. “We just need to improve to make them go our way. It was just a weird deal in the semifinals. The track was getting warmer, so we made some small adjustments. The track actually got better for the semifinal even though it was getting warmer. It stuck the tire in low gear and drove through the clutch.

“We thought maybe we were crazy, then we talked to [Top Alcohol Dragster racer] Shawn Cowie’s crew chief, and said the same thing, the track got warmer, it got better and they stuck the tire.”

Despite not getting the win, O’Bannon is pleased to see the team’s performance keeps improving.

“We come out here to win, and we didn’t do that,” commented O’Bannon. “But the car is getting better each time out. We’re happy to get our first No. 1 qualifier and to run our best numbers this weekend. We just need to improve our consistency on race day.”

The Jack O’Bannon Racing Team will head south down the Pacific coast for the next stop on the western swing, this weekend’s Fram-Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

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