Let me give you a summary from the past two years.  Because of rainouts and changes in schedule, the number of events for each year has varied.  A second variation is the class in which racers earned their points.  Statistics show that it is more difficult in some classes than others.  Let me put the pressure on.  If you do not want to feel the pressure, you can stop reading right here.   Otherwise, keep reading and see if this is the year that you are a member (and for some of you, it will be “again a member”) of what is without a doubt, the best ET Finals Team in the nation.

This is now my third year working in the office at Woodburn Dragstrip.  I can give you statistics for the two previous years.  That will be the basis for what it is that you will read.

SUPER PRO

  In 2006, Bill Taylor was the champ.  He averaged 55 points per race, which means he went an average more than two rounds per race.  In 2007, Tim Schillereff was champ, also earning more that 55 points per race.  Conclusion: if you want to be Super Pro Champion, you better average 55 or more points per race. Currently, Mark Dawson is the points leader in Super Pro.  He is averaging 52 points per race.  That may be enough to do it.  However, I would venture that the next two races will be critical.

Fourteen racers in Super Pro will make the team in 2008.  Now, if you just want to make the team, think about this.  In 2006 all 14 members of the team earned an average of 36 or more points per race.  In 2007, all team members earned nearly 39 points per race.  This year, the 14^th spot in the points’ standings currently is averaging 39 points per event.  Conclusion:  An average of 40 points per event may be required in 2008.

PRO

In 2006, Ken Stevens was the champ.  He averaged 60 points per race.  In 2007, Steve Kelly earned the championship averaging 63 points per event.  In 2008, there is a 2-way battle between Kory Alby and Steve Kelly for the top spot with Steve Kelly leading by 30 points and averaging 63 points per event.  One thing is for sure, if you are going to become the 2008 Pro Champion, you are going to need to average more than 3 round wins per event.  This will truly be a shootout over the final two events.  There are 5 or 6 racers who could vault their way into the third or fourth spot and contend in the Race  of Champions.

Eighteen Pro bracket drivers will make the team in 2008.  In 2006, the number 18 position averaged 38 points per event, which is nearly one round win per race.  In 2007, the number 18 position averaged 39 points per event.  Needles to say, the competition in this bracket is very close among all of the top drivers.  Currently the number 18 position is averaging nearly 43 points per event.   You can see how tough it is in Pro bracket.  All I can say is “good luck”.  I predict a total of 700 points earned this year may not be enough to earn a spot on the team in Pro bracket in 2008.

SPORTSMAN

In 2006, Derrick Jackson was Champion, earning an average of nearly 67 points per event.  In 2007, Kathy Figini earned top honors with an average of 51 points per event.  Derrick is currently ahead of the pack in 2008 with an “out-of-this-world” 75 point-per-race average.  I wouldn’t say that Derrick has cinched the title, but the battle for spots 2,3, and 4 for Race of Champions honors, will be much tighter than the battle for top spot in this class.

We will take twelve racers as team members in this class.  In 2006,  the number 12 position earned 42 points per event.  In 2007,  the number 12 position averaged 43 points per event.  Currently, after 11 events in 2008, the number 12 spot is averaging 40 points per race.  I predict it will take more than 500 points to earn a spot in Sportsman this year.  And the current bottom 8 can get there just by showing up at the final two events.  The racers who goes the most rounds in the final two events will be the ones who earn their spot on the team in 2008.

BIKE/SLED

In 2006, Eric Johns earned the championship by averaging 59 points per event.  The following year, Brian Carr claimed that spot, also with an average of 59 points per event.  In the 2008 season, as of this time, Eric Johns again leads the tight contingent, averaging 52 points per event.  This might indicate that the points leaders are falling victim to other racers in the early rounds more often this year.  Eric Johns and Roger Wolff are within 10 points of each other for the championship.  This will be the battle to watch in the next two events.

We will take four team members from this class again this year.  In 2006, 42 points per event were required to earn a spot on the team.  In 2007, nearly 47 points per event were required to make it into the top four.  As of this writing, the top three positions are fairly secure.  However, two riders will be going head-to-head to secure that fourth position.  Only 6 points separate them at this time.  This will not be decided until the final event.  Either one could earn this final spot.

SUMMARY

The team also consists of the points leaders in Import Pro, Import Sportsman, JDRL Fast, JDRL Lightning, JDRL Thunder, JDRL 8 & 9 Year Old, plus the top two in High School and four team captains.  We certainly thank all of you who are making an effort to represent Woodburn Dragstrip and secure Divisional win # 14.  The history and tradition of success for the Woodburn Warriors has been prominent.  We continue to build on the success we experience in each previous year.  Many of you have made multiple trips, and continue to experience the thrill of each year’s final competition.  You have raced against the best every week in our VP Racing Fuels Series.  Now you have earned the right to face the best from the other tracks in Division 6.  The staff and management wishes success to each driver and team, and look forward to August 29, 30, and 31 when all of these efforts again pay the dividends of a successful season.