WILKERSON, BROWN, LINE, ARANA WIN AT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
Tim Wilkerson made his long-awaited return to the winners circle in Funny Car to headline the winners at the NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta on Sunday. Other winners included Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock), Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Kenny Lang (Pro Modified).
NHRA Southern Nationals
Tim Wilkerson won for the first time since Seattle in 2011 on Sunday at the NHRA Southern Nationals at the Atlanta Dragway, defeating points leader Ron Capps in the finale, an off-pace 4.31 besting a tire-smoking 5.78. In Top Fuel, Antron Brown won for the second time this season, and in doing so, denied Leah Pritchett of her first career win, using a 3.88 to defeat Pritchetts’ up-in-smoke 4.20. In Pro Stock, Jason Line defeated Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson at his sponsors’ own race, while Hector Arana notched his first win of the season when Eddie Kraweic encountered mechanical troubles in the Pro Stock Motorcycle final. Kenny Lang also won for the first time this season, using a 6.06 to defeat Troy Coughlin the Pro Modified final.
Top Fuel: Antron Brown
Funny Car: Tim Wilkerson
Pro Stock: Jason Line
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Hector Arana
Pro Modified: Kenny Lang
Super Stock: Greg Rowe
Stock: Slate Cummings
Super Comp: Ryan Richardson
Super Gas: Tim Powell
Super Street: Matt Weston
Top Sportsman: Sandy Wilkins
Top Dragster: Lindsey Barker
NMCA Bowling Green
The fabled Beech Bend Raceway Park in Kentucky hosted the third stop on the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals tour over the weekend, and despite plenty of early promise during the first two days of the event, the wet weather forecast throughout the week came to fruition, washing out Saturday’s qualifying rounds and ultimately bringing the event to a close on Sunday afternoon after one round of heads-up eliminations. Series officials made the decision to complete the remainder of eliminations in all NMCA heads-up and index classes at the next event in Indianapolis in late June.
NHRA Division 3
The Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park once again drew a spectacular crowd for its Cavalcade of Stars event, featuring the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and a host of exhibition machines over the weekend. The event was highlighted on Saturday evening by the Top Alcohol categories, which saw Marty Thacker defeat Brandon Booher by a 5.43 to 5.52 count in Top Alcohol Dragster, while Doug Gordon used a 5.60 to down a slowing Todd Robertson in the Top Alcohol Funny Car finale. After showers early in the day, eliminations were completed late Sunday evening, with David Billingsley taking Competition Eliminator honors, and Nick Morris and Mike Delahanty taking Super Stock and Stock, respectively.
Top Alcohol Dragster: Marty Thacker
Top Alcohol Funny Car: Doug Gordon
Competition Eliminator: David Billingsley
Super Stock: Nick Morris
Stock: Mike Delahanty
Super Comp: Barry Ryan
Super Gas: Jon Pellicane
Super Street: Philip Smida
Top Sportsman: Tony Fagnilli
Pro Stock Snowmobile: Glenn Hall
Top Fuel Harley: Len Darnell
Pro Fuel Harley: David Larson
Draggin Bagger Harley: David Cartwright
Street Pro Harley: Charley Douglass
Hot Street Harley: John Toth
Screamin’ Eagle Performance Harley: David Dennick
Pro Gas Harley: William Rowe Jr.
NHRA Division 5
Todd Patterson was second out of the gate in the Competition Eliminator finale at the NHRA West Central Division Thunder on the Plains event at the SRCA Dragstrip in Kansas on Sunday, but a further-under-the-index 7.97 helped him drive around Don Thomas for the victory. In Super Stock, Tyler Wudarczyk forced Justin Jenkins further under the dial in a double-breakout final, as his 10.55 on the 10.56 dial was enough for win, while Larry Henderson benefited from a foul start by Jim Grande in the Stock final to collect the Wally.
Competition Eliminator: Todd Patterson
Super Stock: Tyler Wudarczyk
Stock: Larry Henderson
Super Comp: Chris Burrell
Super Gas: Bradley Johnson
Super Street: Jim Burrell
Top Dragster: Matt Driskell
Top Sportsman: J.R. Lobner
Sportsman Motorcycle: Rudy Fife
NHRA Division 6
Jeff Lane was better on both ends of the race track to claim Competition Eliminator honors at the annual NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor at the Firebird Raceway in Idaho. In Top Dragster, Dan Provost was a stellar .001 on the tree and won a double-breakout finale opposite of John Chitwood, with a 6.71 on his 6.72 dial. Jack Neibauer claimed the Top Sportsman Wally after a defeat of Ed Olpin, and Steven Densham won the headliner Nostalgia Funny Car category, running 5.81 in the money round after opponent Roger Garten left before the tree was activated.
Nostalgia Funny Car: Steven Densham
Competition Eliminator: Jeff Lane
Super Stock: Mark Faul
Stock: Scott Burton
Super Comp: Mike Shannon
Super Gas: Mike Coltrin
Super Street: Becky Lindsey
Top Dragster: Dan Provost
Top Sportsman: Becky Lindsey
Sportsman Motorcycle: Rick Newport