By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

TEN NMI riders will be going to Guam this weekend to compete in the 2006 Guam Smokin’ Wheels Extravaganza at the Calvo Memorial Raceway Park in Yigo.
Leading the NMI delegations is Drag Racing Club of Saipan president Kazu Ikeda, who will be bringing his 1972 Chevy El Camino. Joining him are Ellery Cruz (125-250f), Jay Jones (1993 Masza RX7 Turbo), Sang Kim/Luis Guerrero/Gus Camacho (1970 Datsun 510 Turbo), Steven Llagas/AJ Llagas (1989 Nissan Hardbody) Gerard Benavente (1990 Toyota Hilux) and Paul Deleon Guerrero (1991 Acura Integra).
The support crew includes Frances Dela Cruz, Gregory Hurst, James Santos and Fermin Dela Cruz,
The number of NMI delegates could have been larger had the Marianas Racing Association decided to join the race.
But last week, MRA announced that it would skip the annual event, as it will be holding races this Sunday and on April 29 at the Cowtown Raceway Park in Marpi.
Cruz is the lone MRA rider to compete in the race, but the association clarified that he is joining the Guam tournament at his own expense.
The Guam Smokin’ Wheels will run from April 13 to 15.
Aside from NMI and Guam bets, the races will feature riders from Japan, the US, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Korea.
The 25th edition of the biggest racing event in the Pacific will have competitions in motocross, ATV, offroad fast track rails and trucks, offroad obstacle/rock crawling, mud drag, road track, drag racing, and RC racing.
DRCS riders will be joining only the drag racing competition, while Ellery Cruz is entered in the 125 cc expert class (motocross).
The drag racing contests will be held at the Circle K Drag Strip.
According to Ikeda, six modified cars were shipped to Guam yesterday for the race. The cars will stay on Guam until next month, as Saipan riders will be competing in other tournaments there.
Ikeda thanked Saipan Shipping Co, Saipan Stevedore Co, Shell Marianas, Fiesta Resort Hotel, Ambros/Marpac, TCR, Hertz Rent a Car, Outrigger Hotel, the Guam Racing Federation, the Drag Racing Association of Guam, Sea Bridge, CRF and MASA for their support of the club.