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Mike Strasburg and Steve Harker took wins this past weekend in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals as both drivers won on holeshots.
Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, had the early lead in the final then gave it up to Mark Taliaferro, Odessa, Texas, before taking it back and crossing the finish line for the win in 5.450 seconds at 269.40 mph. The win was the first national event win for Strasburg who took out Robin Samsel, Bill Reichert and Rich McPhillips on his way to the final.
Harker, Gainesville, Ga., was out first in his ’13 Monte Carlo funny car with a .026 second reaction time in his final round match up with Chris Foster, Davenport, Iowa. The holeshot proved to be the difference as he held off the hard charging Foster who clocked in at 5.616, 257.73. Harker, the No. 1 qualifier, posted a 5.627 second lap at 240.77 mph for his fifth national event win.
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., showed his driving skills in taking home his 85th NHRA national event win with a pair of perfect .000 second reaction times in the semifinal and final rounds of Comp Eliminator. Rampy’s ’32 roadster covered the quarter-mile in 7.307 at 181 mph to defeat Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., running 6.640, 204.76 mph.
In Super Comp it was Scotty Richardson picking up his 39th win as Rusty Cook left early with a red-light foul start as did Craig Marshall in Stock Eliminator to give Sal Biondo his 18th national event win. Richardson, Barbourville, Ky., ran it out to 8.847, 171.34 while Biondo, Middle Village, N.Y., drove his Mustang to a pass of 9.472, 141.82 mph with a perfect .000 reaction time.
Brothers Mike and Troy Coughlin of Delaware, Ohio, shared the winner’s circle as Mike grabbed his fourth win in Top Sportsman and his 13thoverall and Troy took the honors in Pro Mod with a holeshot win over Von Smith. Mike led start to finish to knock out John Hochstedler in 6.816 seconds at 206.86 mph to Hochstedler’s 7.040, 197.31.
Tyson Fabish joined Strasburg as a first time national event winner as he was out first on Troy Stone and never looked back taking the Top Dragster title in 6.502 seconds at 207.91 mph.
Rounding out the winners list this weekend were Brad Zaskowski, Belding, Mich., in Super Stock defeating Ricky Decker, Charlestown, Ind., for his sixth win; Philip Smida II, Canfield, Ohio, won over Lauren Freer, Mooresville, N.C., for his fourth in Super Gas; and Bob Cook beat Steve Crook in a close one for the AA Gas win.
Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster
The following are the final results from the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park:
Top Alcohol Dragster — Mike Strasburg, 5.450, 269.40 def. Mark Taliaferro, 5.682, 189.12.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Steve Harker, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.627, 240.77 def. Chris Foster, Ford Mustang, 5.616, 257.73.
Comp Eliminator — David Rampy, Bantam, 7.307, 181.01 def. Robert Bailey, Dragster, 6.640, 204.76.
Super Stock — Brad Zaskowski, Camaro, 10.235, 123.11 def. Ricky Decker, Camaro, 10.013, 122.02.
Stock Eliminator — Sal Biondo, Mustang, 9.472, 141.82 def. Craig Marshall, Dart, foul.
Super Comp — Scotty Richardson, Dragster, 8.847, 171.34 def. Rusty Cook, Dragster, foul.
Super Gas — Philip Smida II, Cavalier, 9.901, 143.35 def. Lauren Freer, Corvette, 9.928, 166.39.
Top Dragster — Tyson Fabish, Dragster, 6.502, 207.91 def. Troy Stone, Dragster, 6.097, 236.46.
Top Sportsman — Mike Coughlin, Camaro, 6.816, 206.86 def. John Hochstedler, Stratus, 7.040, 197.31.
AA Gassers — Bob Cook, Corvette, 5.687, 121.26 def. Steve Crook, Chevy, 5.663, 123.37.
