BAKERSFIELD TO PLAY HOST TO THE FLOWMASTER/NMCA WEST COAST SEASON OPENER JUNE 22-24, 2012
Courtesy of Pro Media
SANTA ANA, CA – In a joint announcement made today by executive staff members of the NMCA and Auto Club Famoso Raceway, the highly anticipated season opener for the Flowmaster NMCA WEST Street Car Series will be contested, June
22-24, 2012 in Bakersfield, CA, at the fabled Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
“There is no doubt that history has been made many times over here in Bakersfield. We are looking forward to once again make history when we have the privilege of hosting the kick-off event for the Flowmaster/NMCA WEST Coast Street Car Series,” said Blake Bowser, Vice President & General Manager of Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
The NMCA recently expanded its racing series to include a West Coast division sponsored by Flowmaster Performance Exhaust Systems. The series was originally scheduled to begin in Fontana, CA, at Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, April 20-22, 2012, however, a recent court ruling put the brakes on the season-opener Fontana date.
“With the temporary hiatus imposed on any drag racing activity at the Fontana facility, we have been left with no choice but to postpone our originally scheduled kick-off event in Fontana and launch the season-opener in Bakersfield June 22-24, 2012,” said Charlie Harmon of NMCA WEST. “Our primary focus now will be supporting ISC and the Auto Club Dragway Fontana staff in expediting a positive resolution to the noise issues that have plagued the facility for the last several years.
We are optimistic that terms can be reached and are eagerly waiting for the opportunity to reschedule our Lucas Oil/NMCA West Coast Shootout, presented by JE Pistons, for some time during the 2012 season,” Harmon added. “It is our hope that ISC and Auto Club Dragway, Fontana will continue to work hard to develop an amicable plan through the County that will allow us to meet the demands for organized drag racing as well as provide an acceptable solution to the community concerns addressed in the hearings,” Harmon said.
Auto Club Dragway, Fontana has been engaged in a legal battle between community residents and the facility concerning excessive noise since its relocation to the east side of the facility. Harmon continued in stating that he is confident that if the ISC truly desires to maintain an active, vibrant drag racing facility in Southern California a compromise can be worked between the facility, county and community that will allow the opportunity to proceed with racing activities culminating with the NMCA WEST finals at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA, on October 19-21, 2012.
The Flowmaster NMCA West Coast Street Car Series will consist of four events in 2012 as a part of the Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed program, featuring a complete championship drag racing series that offers the opportunity to compete for a points championship, the coveted NHRA Wally at each event, along with the potential to garner a special edition Flowmaster Top Ten Jacket, a Nitto Tire Diamond Tree Ring and a double tiered NHRA Championship Wally for each of the series champions. At this time the NMCA WEST series is very close to announcing an August 17-19 date for the rescheduled Fontana opener at either Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, CA, or Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA.
With the final event scheduled for Fontana still pending due to the ongoing litigation, the NMCA is investigating options such as Bakersfield and Pomona to conclude the 2012 Flowmaster/NMCA WEST championship season. The 2012 Flowmaster/NMCA West Coast Street Car Series Championship Awards Ceremony will take place at the NHRA/Wally Parks Motorsports Museum in late fall of 2012 where the top-ten points finishers, in ten different categories, will be recognized for their accomplishment in the inaugural NMCA WEST season.
