DELAWARE, Ohio -- Competitors in the JEGS ProMod Challenge will be making a record 12 stops in 2009 as they battle for the most prestigious trophy in Pro Modified drag racing. JEGS officials, working with NHRA, released the schedule earlier than ever before to allow top-tier racers enough time to make plans for the upcoming season.

"We wanted to make a statement about our commitment to the series, while also showing our appreciation to NHRA for allowing us to race at their premier events," series organizer and racer Troy Coughlin said. "By all accounts, 2008 was the best year in the history of the series. We plan to build on the solid platform we created this year."

The expanded 2009 schedule includes first-time visits to Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas and zMax Dragway at Concord in North Carolina. The popular cars and drivers also will headline JEGS SPORTSnationals events in Belle Rose, La., and Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, Pro Mod action will take place during NHRA national events in Gainesville, Fla., Houston, St. Louis, Bristol, Tenn., Englishtown, N.J., Indianapolis, Richmond, Va., and Las Vegas.

Each race will feature 24 entrants attempting to qualify for a 16-car field. Drivers may compete in supercharged, nitrous-assisted, or turbo-charged racecars, with events taking place over the quarter mile.

"The group we've assembled to run the series -- Scott Woodruff, Rob Geiger, and Paul LeSage -- have worked tirelessly to make sure we have the best racers and best teams in attendance at each race so that we can put on the best possible show for the fans," Coughlin said. "I think we've accomplished that goal throughout the season with the most impressive head-to-head action anywhere.

"The NHRA also has been a great support system for the series and I know our racers really enjoy and appreciate running at national events in front of the huge crowds we have at every stop. It's also vitally important to have NHRA's technical staff, competition department, and Safety Safari watching out for us."

The 10-race 2008 JEGS ProMod Challenge culminates this weekend in Las Vegas with the eighth annual ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. After the race, the series will hold its Crowning of the King party at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

In the first nine races, the JEGS ProMod Challenge has crowned three first-time winners, featured three different points leaders, set the quickest field in history, posted five of the top six elapsed times of all-time including a national record 5.905-second pass, a national speed record of 247.34 mph, 16 tracks records, and has featured more than 50 different competitors from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

"It's important as we move forward to build on what we've started," Coughlin said. "To that end, we continue to look for series partners and hope to announce some major additions in the days and weeks ahead. Now that everyone knows our plans we can take the next several steps with the JEGS ProMod Challenge. It's a very exciting time."

2009 JEGS ProMod Challenge Schedule
ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals - Gainesville,Fla. (March 12-15)
JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals - Belle Rose, La. (March 20-22)
O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals - Houston (March 27-29)
O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals - St. Louis (May 1-3)
O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals - Bristol, Tenn. (May 15-17)
O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals - Topeka, Kan. (May 29-31)
NHRA SuperNationals - Englishtown,N.J. (June 11-14)
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals - Indianapolis (Sept. 2-7)
NHRA Carolina Nationals - Charlotte (Sept. 17-20)
JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals - Columbus, Ohio (Sept. 24-27)
Virginia NHRA Nationals - Richmond, Va. (Oct. 9-11)
ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals - Las Vegas (Oct. 29-Nov.1)

Information regarding JEGS ProMod Challenge can be found at www.jegspromod.com.