LUTZ GRABS FIRST OVERALL VICTORY AT DRAG WEEK

After coming up just short of five-time winner Larry Larson on a number of occasions, Jeff Lutz finally notched his first Unlimited class and overall victory at Drag Week, capping things in style in Tulsa by edging out his closest challenger, Doug Cline, with a 6.84 average.

Drag Week

At long last, Jeff Lutz finally ended his streak of runner-up finishes at Drag Week on Saturday, finishing off a stellar week behind the wheel of his “Evil Twin” Chevrolet for an average elapsed time of 6.84-seconds over the five days, just edging out Doug Cline. Mike Roy took his wheelstanding Monte Carlo to victory in the Pro Street Power Adder category with a 7.84 average, while Eddie Miller notched the Pro Street Naturally Aspirated crown with his Plymouth Duster.

Event Winners:

Unlimited: Jeff Lutz
Pro Street Power Adder: Mike Roy
Pro Street N/A: Eddie Miller
Modified Power Adder: Kevin Clocker
Modified N/A: Brad Dyer
SS Big Block N/A: Vincent Rasch
SS Small Block N/A: Mitch Horn
Super Street Power Adder: Eric Yost
Street Race Big Block Power Adder: Robert Williams
Street Race Big Block N/A: Curt Johnson
Street Race Small Block Power Adder: Jarrett Faggart
Street Race Small Block N/A: Paul Cornman
Gasser & A/FX: Dennis Taylor
Hot Rod: Timothy Hall
Daily Driver: Waco Davis

New England Hot Rod Reunion

Journeyman driver Tony Bartone, who has absolutely dominated the Nostalgia Top Fuel category this season, added to his impressive season resume at the second New England Hot Rod Reunion at the New England Dragway over the weekend, not only defeating Jim Young in the final, but also storming to the fastest speed in class history at 271.19 miles per hour. Ronald Childs took the win in Modified Eliminator when his opponent, Kirk Duprie, went red in the final, while Don Nave notched the victory in Comp Eliminator with a spectacular .001 light in the final to oust Glenn Lever in a double breakout contest.

Event Winners:

Nostalgia Top Fuel: Tony Bartone
Comp Eliminator: Don Nave
Modified Eliminator: Ronald Childs
Factory Experimental: Bill Atwood
7.0 Pro: Bob Schneider
7.50 Pro: William Masiello
Flat Head Inline: Mark Keenan
East Coast Gassers: Pete Boyer
Hot Rod Eliminator: Richard Dispirito
Gas Eliminator: Jared Kinson

NHRA Carolina Nationals

The Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals at the zMax Dragway in Charlotte, the opening event of the six-race Countdown to the Championship, was postponed to next weekend’s FallNationals in Dallas after rain showers made track conditions unsuitable for racing action. The first round of Top Fuel and Funny Car were both completed in full, while Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will start anew at Dallas. J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the top qualifiers in the professional categories.

NHRA Division 4

Joey Tanksley defeated class kingpin David Rampy in the Competition Eliminator finale at the NHRA South Central division event at Thunder Road Raceway Park over the weekend, with a better light and a quicker run on the race track. In Super Stock, Mike Cotten overcame a holeshot advantage by opponent Dale Hulquist in the final, pushing Hulquist under the dial for the win, while Slate Cummings garnered Stock honors with a better run than opponent Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. on both ends of the track.

Competition Eliminator: Joey Tanksley
Super Stock: Mike Cotten
Stock: Slate Cummings
Super Comp: Jackson Collier
Super Gas: Ross Laris
Super Street: Val Harmon
Top Dragster: Mike Weaver
Top Sportsman: Daniel Leibham
Sportsman Motorcycle: Fredrick Quiett