Tiu-Santos duel up in drag racing

MANILA, Philippines - Drag racing heads back down south as the country’s finest speedsters try to fortify their bids in the fifth and penultimate leg of the 2009 San Mig Coffee National Drag Racing Championship-National Trophy Series on June 6 at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Pepi Santos of H3 Autoworks guns for a crucial Quick 8 win that could forge an exciting showdown against defending champion Jonathan Tiu of JCT-Blanche Racing.

Following his feat that snapped Tiu’s winning streak in the last leg, Santos moved up second with 20 points in a tie with Ed Christian Go.   A back-to-back victory will trim the gap against the frontrunning Tiu who holds 45 points.

But Tiu, who lost the last race due to a snapped fan belt, is raring to stage a comeback to pursue his quest for an unprecedented sixth crown in a row.

The event’s return to Batangas entails a different car set-up and Santos hopes the adjustments on his car fit well for the win and possibly, eclipse Tiu’s BRC fastest quarter-mile record of 9.903 seconds.

Ed Christian Go, likewise, seeks another big win to preserve his solo leadership in the Pro class. He has 30 points so far, enjoying a 10-point advantage over his father, San Mariano Isabela Mayor Edgar Go and Vannitec’s Why Why Dagondon.

But focus will be on the Sportsman class where four drivers – Akim Cleofe of Alps Racing, Lennell Diaz of Mohspeed, Mods Mojden of The Source and Vic Mallare of Team Ready-GR Canon Development Group – are tied for the lead with 15 points apiece.

The event is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Pilipinas Shell, San Mig Coffee, Yokohama, PagCor and Aeromed.