JUPITER, FL – March 14, 2011 – Palm Beach International Raceway was the place to be this weekend as some of the best of the best took to the drag strip and road course for Midnight Madness and the opening round of the National Sports Compact Racing Association (NSCRA) event.

Nearly 200 drag racers tore down the strip in Friday’s Midnight Madness. Racers battled head-to-head in the weekly quarter-mile competition.  In an added element to Midnight Madness, dozens of drifters took the twists and turns of the PBIR road course to the extreme with a high-energy drifting competition.

On Sunday, PBIR hosted Round 1 of the National Sport Compact Racing Association.  Thousands of spectators packed the PBIR stands to watch some of the fastest sport compact drag racing cars.

West Palm Beach resident Eddie Bello Jr. earned his second career win at Palm Beach International Raceway during NSCRA.  He also set low ET of the True Street class with a round one pass of 9.295 seconds at 164.41 miles per hour.

“I love racing at Palm Beach International Raceway,” said Eddie Bello Jr.  “Since they re-paved the track in 2008, it has the best traction and racing surface that I’ve been on, and I’ve been on a lot of tracks in the country.  I love testing at PBIR and look forward to racing here again this season.”

Palm Beach International Raceway track officials were pleased with the racer and fan turnout for Midnight Madness and NSCRA.

“We had an unbelievable weekend with Midnight Madness and the NSCRA event at Palm Beach International Raceway,” said Chris McMahan, Director of Race Operations, PBIR.  “Both events are on the PBIR schedule in the coming months and we’re looking to make a few changes that will benefit the events and improve the spectator and racer experience at PBIR.”

Midnight Madness returns to Palm Beach International Raceway on Friday, April 22, while NSCRA is slated to return later this season.

NSCRA Results:

True Street – Eddie Bello Jr. (West Palm Beach, FL, Porsche) 22.826s at 47.51mph def. Shasky Tavoras (Dominican Republic, Honda) foul

Pro Stock – Jesus Padilla Jr (Kissimmee, FL., Mazda) 9.041s at 148.33mph def. Miguel Forty (Orlando, FL., Datsun) 9.161s at 143.73mph

Outlaw Street – Benjamin Rodriguez (Tampa, FL., Honda) 9.248s at 164.27mph def. Victor Alvarez (Tampa, FL., Supra) 11.587s at 158.19mph

Hot Rod – Vijay Ramkissoon (North Miami, FL., Supra) 8.081s at 172.25mph def. Juan Rodriguez (Lantana, FL., Toyota) 8.768s at 150.88mph

Extreme/Mod Compact – Heriberto Santiago (Lake Hamilton, FL., Mazda RX7) 7.038s at 194.07mph def. Jaime Rodriguez (West Palm Beach, FL., Toyota) foul

13.50 Index – Mark Cassasco (Port St. Lucie, FL., Honda Civic) 13.541s at 102.32mph def. David Carrion (Naples, FL., Nissan 350Z) 13.880s at 101.27mph

12.50 Index – Tony Cline (Cocoa, FL., Honda) 12.700s at 102.77mph def. Anthony Dowd (Ruskin, FL., VW R32) 13.014s at 109.55mph

11.50 Index – James Innes (Sanford, FL., Civic) 11.677s at 117.83 def Enauel Bonazi (Sanford, FL., Honda Civic) foul

10.50 Index – Shane Phillips (Dania Beach, FL., Eclipse) 12.144s at 91.40mph def. Marc Podkowik (Naples, FL., Honda Civic foul

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