LINCOLN, Neb. (August 31, 2011) Lots of drivers have described the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships as a life changing experience. If anyone has the right to describe it that way, its two drivers at the Lincoln Airport this weekend. PJ and Jenna Corrales (nee DAmico) truly changed their lives this week, coming to Lincoln for the Solo National Championships and getting married at the Lincoln Court House the day before the event, celebrating the event with their Solo friends. There was a lot of pressure and it kind of got away from us a little bit, Jenna explained. We wanted to make sure we were doing it for ourselves. This is what we do, all the time. It was a lot of fun, Im glad we did it this way. It was a fun way to celebrate one of those rare lifetime milestones with the people the young couple spends most of their time with. Part of why we did it was because a lot of people that we care about are fellow racers, PJ said. This is one of the places they come to. Its a nice place to go, knowing that youre going there for more than just the racing its the people you race with as well. Our region is very tight, and were very proud to be part of the New England Region. On top of it, this is one of those places we look forward to coming to every year. Its a big deal. Since its already special, we can commemorate it with our anniversary now. Getting married around an event brought the relationship full circle. The newlyweds met through the 240SX Owners of New England car club that PJ helped start though the details of their meeting have been blurred slightly. According to PJ, randomly one day we started talking and hit it off. Eventually we met up and started hanging out. Jenna implied that it may have been more than random. I had a 240, and I needed some help, she said. He said he had to go there anyway and would help, and then take me out to dinner. They both agree from there. The two clicked, she attended a Solo event of his, took a ride in his car, and decided she wanted to participate herself. She did, and its become a major part of her life as well. This weekend, Jenna is driving her Street Touring G-Fab Racing/240SX Motoring Nissan 240SX that she got last November as part of the engagement. I got the car as part of an engagement deal, Jenna said. I could have a big ring, or a smaller ring and a new car, and I opted for the car. I had to sell my 240 a couple of years ago, and I cried the whole way home. Ive wanted one bad for the last couple of years, and he said if I did ST, I would learn a lot and have my car back. So thats what I opted for. Weve been developing it for the last six months, and here it is. In truth, though, both are happy with their wedding day decisions as with every successful marriage, the two have gotten help and support from their closest friends, many who they share the paddock with. Those factors made this decision the right one for the new Corrales family. Some of the most influential people in our relationship are people that Ive autocrossed with for a long time Chris Franson, who used to drive Mike Shields DSP National Championship car, Kathy Barnes, who is here and a multi-time National Champion, PJ said. It all comes down to, a lot of people who were most influential in our relationship were here. Our families were a big part of it, of course, but your friends are the people that you spend most of your time with, so we thought wed do this for them. So how do you top getting married? Well, you probably dont. But PJ did manage his best career finish at the Solo National Championships, finishing third in his Street Modified G-Fab Racing/240SX Motoring Nissan 240SX, topping last years fourth place finish. His co-driver, David White, won the National Championship in the class. It could have been better we could have won! PJ said. This was the fourth year in a row that weve been to Nationals, and were climbing up the trophies every year. It was great running with G-Pax Racing, our little autocross fraternity, and 240SX Motoring was a huge help. Jeff Ricca is the owner of that and he helps us out a lot. Just another memory to add to an unforgettable week.
