All-Star Accolades

It’s been called the most prestigious single event of the season for sportsman drag racers. The jegs Allstars Race, which was held in conjunction with Chicagoland’s Route 66 nhra Nationals, coagulates the very best sportsman level racers from all across North America—and Mopar® brand racers were in the thick of it.

Words: Bruce Biegler

The 2010 edition of the JEGS Allstars race, which was the 26th annual, featured a total of 80 drivers competing in 10 different eliminator categories. The Mopar® line-up featured Dustan Lowell, Jon Irving and Brad Haugaard in Stock Eliminator; Frank Aragona Jr. in Competition Eliminator, Frank Zeffiro in Top Dragster, Josh Vettel in Top Sportsman and Chuck Rose in Super Gas.

Just to qualify for this elite field is a major accomplishment. Participation is determined based on points accumulated over a grueling 1-year period within each of NHRA’s seven geographical divisions.

For each participant the sentiment is similar; this event is about as good as it can get.

Nebraska’s Chuck Rose, who oversees an extremely impressive 3-car Mopar drag racing team that also includes his sons Brad and Matt, was the Super Gas class representative from NHRA Division 5. Driving his very cool ’71 Dodge Challenger—an all-tube chassis, 4-link car—features an extremely reliable 572 cid Mopar Megablock wedge motor—Chuck has in fact raced it for nine seasons. The 2010 Allstars was his first appearance.

“As a racer it’s very rewarding to be at this event,” Chuck reflected. “To get here you need to be good at nearly every divisional race you attend leading up to it. When you finally get that invitation – it’s a happy achievement.”

Nevada’s John Irving was one of three Mopar cars that made the elite eight for Stock Eliminator. Irving’s Allstars appearance was also the first for the driver of a very unique 318 cid 1978 Dodge Aspen.

“To be at this event racing against nothing but champions is a great experience,” John said. 
“We clinched our spot during the very last race and the last round held at Tucson. That should tell 
you something about the competition we face.”

For Irving, it is in fact his first season driving the Aspen which he admits is tuned down to maintain consistency. John reported that the car is fully capable of running 1.2 secs under its national class index (N/SA) when required.

Former NHRA World Champion Frank Aragona Jr. was also a participant. Frank and his father (Frank Sr.) had their much feared F/ED classed car—which won the NHRA Divisional One points title last year at Chicago. That machine features a highly customized 201 cid 4-cylinder Mopar engine equipped with a HEMI® head. Frank qualified number one for Competition Eliminator and went to the final round in the Allstars competition, tying the best finish for all Mopar racers during this year’s race.

“That was our 4th Allstars event appearance,” confirmed Frank Jr., who is from New Jersey. 
“We haven’t won it yet – but we’ve certainly come close! It’s cool that you get to race against nothing but the best here. I like the fact there is no CIC (Competition Index Correction) during the Allstars, 
so you can use everything you brought.”

“Frank & Frank” will continue on in 2010 with their unique 2-car team. Frank Jr. is piloting the dragster this season in pursuit of another NHRA Lucas Oil World Championship title while versatile driver Steve Szupka has been tasked to drive the team’s Mopar-powered G/EA roadster.

The Top Sportsman class was featured for the first time in Jegs Allstars event history. Josh Vettel, driving his Nebraska-based nitrous injected Dodge Stratus, went all the way to the final round but 
lost by mere inches. He ran a near perfect ET at 7.041 secs compared to his 7.04 dial, but could not overcome Keith Raffery’s quicker starting line reaction time.