Barnes and Jablonski win TNT Super Series main events

Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park hosted the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series final Canadian event on Labor Day weekend. With perfect weather and great track conditions for the Bieda's Powersports event, it was Ted Barnes on Saturday and Jon Jablonski on Sunday coming out victors. In the Performance Improvements Race of Champions, Jamie Stoneman came out of retirement and marched through the field to win the prestigious event.

After a season filled with bizarre challenges, Caistorville, Ontario’s Ted Barnes returned to the winner's circle in his 1972 Datsun 510, catapulting him into sixth place in TNTSS points chase. In the money round, Ted met up with Cheektowaga, New York's Gary Kerl. Off the line, Ted had the advantage with his .019 over Gary's .066 and he never looked back, taking the stripe and the win with a 10.923 to Gary's 10.901.

Coming into the weekend in a tie for first place, Jon (JJ) Jablonski from West Seneca, NY, was determined not to let it end that way. And that's exactly what he did by winning Sunday's race and taking a commanding lead in the points chase. In the final, JJ faced Marc Vezina of Straffordville, Ontario who was driving a borrowed car for the weekend. The race was over when the tree came down as Marc went red, handing JJ his fourth win in TNTSS regular competition.  (photos courtesy TNT Super Series) [9/11/2012]

NHRA awards banquet returns to Hollywood & Highland Center

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony is returning to the Grand Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland Center in the heart of Hollywood, Calif., the  NHRA announced.

The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday, Nov. 12, and will be broadcast on the Web at NHRA.com and via NHRA’s You Tube home page beginning Wednesday, Nov. 16. 

The Hard Rock Cafe, also located at the Hollywood & Highland Center, will play host to the after party. The Hard Rock Cafe sits beside the world-famous Dolby Theater home of the Academy Awards, and just steps away from Grauman’s Chinese Theater and Hollywood’s starry Walk of Fame. The property also will play host to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony, scheduled earlier in the day.

The invitation-only black-tie event will feature a pre-event cocktail reception, a formal sit-down banquet, and the after party.

This year’s NHRA Full Throttle Awards Ceremony will be hosted by Dave Rieff, a veteran member of the NHRA broadcast team on ESPN. The Agent wonders if this means an announcement for the 2013 replacement for Paul Page will be made. [9/11/2012]