Pontoon Beach, IL – February 18, 2008 – Some of the top NHRA drivers in the country will be trying to figure out how to go in circles instead of just heading straight down the drag strip when they come to Tri-City Speedway and race U.M.P. DIRTcar Pro Late Models around the 3/8 mile dirt oval. Scheduled for Thursday, May 1st, this event already features nine NHRA stars that have agreed to race in this event and Tri-City Speedway is currently working to add additional NHRA drivers.
Gary Scelzi, who won the tightest Funny Car world championship race in NHRA history in 2005 and joined Kenny Bernstein as the only two drivers in NHRA history to win championships in Funny Car and Top Fuel.

Ron Capps, with 24 career NHRA Funny Car victories and 1 NHRA Top Fuel victory. Ron Capps also finished fourth in the 2007 NHRA Funny Car point standings.

Cruz Pedregon, who has 61 career NHRA victories including 56 in NHRA Funny Cars. Cruz Pedregon won the 1992 NHRA Funny Car Championship, the only driver besides John Force to win a NHRA Funny Car Championship in the 1990s.

Scott Kalitta, with 18 career NHRA victories including 17 in Top Fuel and 1 victory in Funny Cars. Scott Kalitta also owns 2 Top Fuel Championships in 1994 and 1995.

Doug Kalitta, with 30 career NHRA Top Fuel victories. Doug Kalitta is also one of the few drag racers with experience in cars going in circles. He was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car Champion.

Larry Nance, at 6' 10" tall, is certainly one of the tallest drivers that will be on hand. Nance, a former NBA star with the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers and named to the NBA All Star Team three times has been racing Pro Stocks since 1996.

Dave Grubnic, born in Australia, he has two career NHRA Top Fuel victories including the Gator Nationals in 2006.

Ken Koretsky, NHRA Pro Stock driver that carries the familiar Nitro Fish sponsorship. Although Koretsky has yet to pick up an NHRA victories, he does have two final round appearances. in 1989, he became first driver to qualify a Top Fuel Dragster and a Pro Stock car at the same NHRA national event in Phoenix.

Hillary Will, has one NHRA victory in a Top Alcohol Dragster. In 2006, she qualified for all 23 of the NHRA Top Fuel Dragster events. At 5'4" and 110lbs, she is definitely the smallest driver that will be on hand.

Tri-City Speedway is located in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. The track is located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, MO. Take exit 4 off of I-270 and then go a 1/2 mile south on SR 203. For tickets or more information, you can call the track office at 636-448-9111, 618-931-7836 or 800-617-9077 or visit their website at www.tricityspeedway.net.