SKUNK2 RACING UPDATE

In a head-to-head bout between former record-holder versus current record-holder at the 5th annual Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Pomona Raceway CA, the Skunk2 Racing Project Beta A-Spec Acura Integra driven by Tony Shagday stunned fans and competitors alike by saving his best performance of the weekend for his final round match-up with Norris Prayoonto during the Honda Tuning Al Motor class showdown. Prayoonto established the national record for time and speed at Atco, N.J., in his Honda Insight earlier in the season, but it was Skunk2 and Shagday who closed out the 2005 season as the event champion and world record holder. Shagday pushed the Skunk2 Racing Acura down the track in 9.63 seconds (video) at 141.80 mph to hold off Prayoonto's Honda, which ran a respectable final round pass of 9.89 at 136.08.

An ecstatic Shagday with the hard-earned Wally in hand attributes their outstanding performance to the entire Skunk2 Racing Team for their dedication, sponsor and partner support, and a combination of Skunk2's evolutionary engine and chassis program with the excellent BFGoodrich g-Force Drag Radial tire program. Shagday stated that the BFGoodrich g-Force Drag Radials performed beyond his expectations and were key to the historic run.

Shagday's 9.63 (video) time stands as the quickest All Motor pass in NHRA history, however, it was too quick for the record books. Shagday's 9.74 E.T which he recorded earlier in the day during his second round win over reigning champion Padilla stands as the All Motor E.T. national record. The 9.63 time was not within the required one percent (either quicker or slower) of the potential record mandated by NHRA. Technically, and what is considered a rare occurrence among drag racing insiders, Shagday's final round time was too quick considering he had to record a time between 9.64 (9.6426) and 9.84 (9.8374), leaving his 9.74 pass as the record, which was backed up with his semifinal time of 9.83.

Skunk2 Racing's Shawn Hillier, Project Delta A-Spec Acura RSX driver, was awarded the rookie of the year trophy at the NHRA Sport Compact banquet held that evening following the finals.

Only a few weeks ago it was the Skunk2 Racing Project Delta A-Spec Acura RSX driven by Shawn Hillier that made a quickest ever All Motor pass of 9.705 at Englishtown on BFGoodrich g-Force Drag Radials.

It was Déjà vu for Skunk2 Racing ( stats ) just as they reset the NHRA All Motor World Record multiple times a year ago during the 2004 NHRA World Finals in Pomona, the repeat this year once again pushed the performance bar up a notch for the upcoming 2006 season.

Skunk2 Racing extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to all their sponsors and partners for contributing to their continued success during the 2005 season.

Read what NHRA had to say about the race.

View the race Team Statistics