The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series rolled into the National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio last weekend for the annual Buckeye Fuel Wars Division 3 points meet. This event always has some of the heaviest hitters in the NHRA divisional racing universe from all over the United States. This year’s meet had the added bonus of crowning champions from the Burn Down at Sundown Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event that was rained out at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois earlier this year.
At an event like this you’d better be on your game, because with so many strong runners on the property, it makes qualifying extra important. In Top Alcohol Dragster, Jared Dreher went number one with a 5.37 and in Top Alcohol Funny Car, Davenport, Iowa’s Chris Foster took the top spot, running a 5.87.
Greg Kamplain paced the field in Competition Eliminator running .578 under his index. In Super Stock Joseph Welch went number one running just over a second under his index, and in Stock eliminator Victor Cagnazzi also ran a full second under his index. In Top Sportsman Lester Johnson took his 55’ Chevy to the poll with a 6.57 and Richard Edwards led a very tight Top Dragster field with a 6.14 ET in qualifying.
On championship Sunday the cream really did rise to the top as points leaders stepped up and showed how they earned their advantage in their class or division. In the Top Alcohol Dragster final, Californian Chris Demke took the stripe over Mia Tedesco, whom he currently leads in a tight national championship points battle. Paul Noakes got the win in Top Alcohol Funny Car to help stretch his divisional points lead for the season.
David Rampy showed why he is one of the greatest of all time in Comp Eliminator, getting the event win and his 46th overall in the class. Multi -me event winner Todd Frantz added another Wally to the collection as he took the win in Super Stock behind the wheel of his GT/EA class Beretta.
Other class winners included Austin Richardson in Stock Eliminator, Kendra Rienschield in Super Comp, Steve Hoyt in Super Gas, the Super Street title went to Marsha McFall, Jerry Albert won in Top Sportsman, Mike Trauth took the Top Dragster title, and Logan Galbraith was the Jr Dragster champion.