Callaway to team with Thompson & Stidham in assault for Division 4 title
BELLE ROSE, La. - Former NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Division 4 Champion Lee Callaway will kick off his sophomore campaign behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol Funny Car during this weekend's Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener at No Problem Raceway Park just outside of New Orleans. Callaway will receive assistance from James & Carla Thompson of Pepper Express Racing and Division 4 Hall of Famer Jackie Stidham will return as the team's tuner.
Callaway, from Baytown, Texas, solidified himself as a legitimate contender in the Funny Car ranks late last year with a solid semifinal appearance at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas. After fighting through ignition problems at the season closer in Noble, Okla., Callaway hopes to return to the 5.60 (elapsed time) form he displayed in Dallas, or better.
"We're really excited to get the year started," said Callaway. "My good friends James and Carla Thompson will be helping us out this year. James sold his A/Fuel car to spend more time racing with his sons, so we'll be carrying the Pepper Express colors into battle. Jackie will be back to keep teaching us the ropes of Funny Car racing and handling the tuning chores."
"We had the car running pretty good in Dallas at the end of the year, so hopefully we can get back to those numbers," Callaway continued. "The air should be pretty good, so it will be fast this weekend. Me and Jackie have a pretty good track record at No Problem. I've only lost one round here, and Jackie has won the race all three times he raced here. It's a fun race to run, and we're looking forward to it. We'd like to get the year off to a good start and make a run for the Division 4 title this year.
If Callaway can win the Division 4 title, he will be the first driver in Division 4 history to win a Championship in both Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car.
Qualifying will begin on Friday, with two more sessions on Saturday. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.
