During the 2009 European Finals, Jimmy Ålund set a new European ET records with 6.649 sec. The speed record also belonging to Ålund but not set at the same occasion reads 333.24 km/207.07 mph

Ålund, who is six times European Pro Stock Champion, will likely not be on the championship podium this year. Ålund  started the season in the US which lost him valuable points. Knowing "Jimma" some I know he likes to be fastest and I believe he finds comfort if he gets to be just that (and I gather he would mind winning the event this time in addition)

Veteran Michael Malmgren has a really good chance of becoming the new 2010 Pro Stock champion, now holding 298 points, 76 points ahead of Michael Callin and 78 points ahead of Jan Palmqvist. Not a done deal yet, but Malmgren´s hope is to have secured the title early during the event. For the event he hopes to join Ålund by running in the 6.60-sec range.

So the trio including Malmgren, Callin and Plamqvist looks like the championship trophies winners at this time although the final ranking still remains to be decided.

However there is still a theoretical possibility for Richard "Nixxon" Sundblom to advance into a championship trophies position should things go his way at Santa Pod. In 2009 "Nixxon" ended 2nd in the championship.

At the 2009 European Finals we had Ålund as low qualifier with 6.649, followed by Richard Sundblom at 6.719 sec and Malmgren 6.739 sec. That is the level of performance we can expect to look at next weekend at Santa Pod. The bump spot in 2009 (no 8th qualifier) was Jonas Dantanus at 6.893 sec.. and 10 cars out of 11 on site that time qualified under 7 seconds.

Last year´s European Finals winner was Richard Sundblom (6.73 sec) defeating Jimmy Ålund (11.17 sec) who ran into problems.

Pro Stock is traditionally a class where many battles are of the mental kind, between the drivers on the startline and before entering the staged position. Clearly among the tightest class performance wise with most cars running at a consistent and reliable level round after round, there is a lot is at stake at the startline and my guess is that is where any suprises may happen at the European Finals.

Don´t miss to check what Malmgren and some of the other UEM riders and FIA drivers have to say about the last event of the season in the articles "Talking with racers"

Also prepare for the European Finals at Santa Pod by checking the championship points standings for the current ranking and the entry list (see separate links)


New in the class - Sampsa Palos from Finland

If not on site you can always follow the event coverage at Eurodragster.com Live reporting of what goes on at the track, webcam on site,  (changing view every minute), read the pit notes and check the extensive  photo gallery as the event is on its way. Excitement guaranteed!