FORCE, SCHUMACHER, ANDERSON CLAIM NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS TITLES

The winningest active drivers in their respective categories — John Force in Funny Car, Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel, and Greg Anderson in Pro Stock — all added another trophy to their mantles on Sunday at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire.

NHRA New England Nationals

The most prolific active drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series reigned supreme at the New England Nationals near Boston on Sunday, with a winners circle headlined by John Force and his second victory on the season in Funny Car, after he edged Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final, 4.16 to 4.19. In a battle of highly-decorated Top Fuel pilots, Tony Schumacher ousted Larry Dixon by a 3.80 to 3.88 count, while Greg Anderson won in Pro Stock for the second straight race with a 6.51-second defeat of Allen Johnson.

Event Winners:

Top Fuel: Tony Schumacher
Funny Car: John Force
Pro Stock: Greg Anderson
Competition Eliminator: Peter Luciano
Super Stock: Joe Santangelo
Stock: Donald Pires
Super Comp: Alan Kenny
Super Gas: Ray Sawyer
Super Street: Keith Mayers
Top Dragster: Zac Biron
Summit Sportsman: Tiina Duncanson

RTRA Radial Rebellion

The new Radial Tire Racing Association held it’s second scheduled event, Radial Rebellion, at the Northstar Dragway in Texas over the weekend, and despite the mid-summer heat, conditions proved to be near record-setting for the racers on hand. In Pro Drag Radial, DeWayne Mills capped off his return from a crash earlier in the year with his first victory of the season, using a string of 4.0-second laps to eventually down Rick Thornton in the final. In X275, Jared Johnston powered from the No. 1 qualifying spot to victory, while in Limited 275, Steve Barnett grabbed a holeshot win over Eric Tubar, 4.96 to a quicker 4.93.

Pro Drag Radial: DeWayne Mills
X275: Jared Johnston
Limited 275: Steve Barnett

NMRA Norwalk

Competitors at the NMRA Super Nationals at the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio successfully dodged rain showers and storms all weekend long, but the weather finally won out on Sunday afternoon, cutting short the finale of several heads-up and index eliminators. Rather than wait out the weather or hang around for another day, series officials made the decision to complete the event at the next event in Chicago. There were some winners crowned, however, led by Phil Hines’ victory in Street Outlaw — the first event under the new eighth-mile format — as he defeated John Urist with a 4.61 in the final. In Coyote Modified, Haley James ousted Johnny “Lightning” Wiker, while Jimmy Wilson collected his third straight win Pure Street, besting Teddy Weaver, 9.77 to 9.84.

NHRA Division 4

James Thompson won out in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Series South Central divisional/regional meet at the Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park on Monday morning, running a 5.40 to defeat a slowing Michael Manners in the final. In Top Alcohol Funny Car, John Lombardo Jr. downed Bryan Brown, 5.62 to a 5.90. The event, which was plagued by rain all weekend long, is still underway in Tulsa, with the remainder of the Lucas Oil Series classes still in competition.