O’Bannon looking to stay on a roll in Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. – Hot off a runner-up finish in Mission, B.C. last weekend, NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O’Bannon and the Tequila Patrón/Forest River RV’s team head into this weekend’s O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan., hoping to stay hot. O’Bannon and his father, Jack O'Bannon's Sam Shockley lead team reset both ends of the Mission track record after switching to a new ’08 Monte Caro body last weekend.

O’Bannon, 29, of Ontario, Calif., is pleased with the progress the team has made over the past few events.

“We qualified No. 2 in Las Vegas, and then ran 260 last weekend in Mission,” said O’Bannon. “The performance of the car is certainly going in the right direction. The big speed is nice, but we still have a ways to go before we catch up with Manzo. He really has set the bar for the class. Are we there; no, but the whole team is excited about the direction we’re heading.”

With sunny conditions and forecasted highs in the upper 80’s, O’Bannon admits the dog days of summer have arrived, which will provide warmer track conditions than they have seen this year.

“We’re going to be on a hot race track,” O’Bannon commented. “The track in Topeka usually stays pretty good, but we’ll just have to take it one round at a time and see what happens. We made it to the semi’s here last year; hopefully we can go a little further this time around for Tequila Patrón and Forest River RV’s.”

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two sessions, followed by one final session on Saturday morning. Eliminations begin with round one Saturday afternoon and final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón is the world’s No. 1 selling ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive Weaber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by Las Vegas-based The Patrón Spirits Company, brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón Gran Platinum, Patrón Anejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café (tequila and coffee blend), and Patrón Citrónge (extra fine orange liqueur), Ultimat Vodka (80 proof, Black Cherry and Chocolate Vanilla), as well as Pyrat Pistol, Pyrat Cask, and Pyrat XO Reserve Caribbean rums.

To find out more about the Jack O'Bannon Racing Team, visit their website at www.jackobannonracing.com