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52nd NHRA MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS - SPORTSMAN
MONDAY FINAL -Top Alcohol Dragster
Bill Reichert, 5.244, 271.13 def. Randy Meyer, 5.273, 267.37. “It was a close race. The car felt pretty good. We tuned-it up a little bit hoping we could get a little more out of it. We knew Randy [Meyer] is capable of running really good, and he stepped it up too. He ran a .27 against our .24, and he was there at the end. I could hear him there at the end, he was pretty close.” – Bill Reichert, Owosso, MI Top Alcohol Funny Car
Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.569, 258.57 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 9.165, 97.28. “Indy is the granddaddy of all races which we know. We came here this weekend, we felt we had the race car to win this race, but we had a lot of trouble during qualifying, we kept shaking. We had a couple little things that when I get back at the shop I can do it right. We found after our last qualifying run, and we fixed it up for the first round, we went out and ran very good. We kept picking up the pace second and third round. The final we slowed down a little bit. The air and the track was good, we wanted to win to win the race. Bob Tasca is a tough car. We didn’t know what he was going to serve up to us all weekend; they were having a little trouble. We just wanted to get from point A to point B at the US Nationals. A lot of weird things happen here, but to win it for the eighth time is unbelievable.” – Frank Manzo, Morganville, NJ Competition
Glen Treadwell, Ford Roadster, 9.089, 158.54 def. Lee Zane, Ford Bantam, 9.055, 145.11. “Unbelievable. Three times we’ve won it [in Indianapolis] and that’s two times back-to-back. We just thank God. God is great. It’s beyond our wildest dreams to even win it once, let alone three times. It’s just hard racing. Close racing all weekend. We won three rounds in the thousandths. That just tells you what it was. Unbelievable. Great crew, consistent car, fast car, and just hanging in there. It’s just a long race, hanging in there and doing our best.” - Glenn Treadwell, Sorrento, FL Super Stock
Mark Faul, Pontiac Grand Am, 10.156, 124.67 def. Scott Stillings, Grand Am, 8.799, 155.38. “It was phenomenal. I thought it was going to be a bad weekend when I got here. I run Stock also and I didn’t qualify. I got really lucky first round. My shifter didn’t work, but I got through. Drove okay and managed to keep going. I want to thank Jim Butner Auto Sales, Automotive Specialties, Mickey Thompson Tires, Valvoline, Mr. Gasket, K & N, NitroPlate and Dave Barsells Truck Town.” – Mark Faul, Tacoma, WA
StockDan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.698, 118.87 def. David Edwards, Camaro, 10.860, 119.56. “After 15 years, I’ve finally won Indy. It’s my 42 National Event win, but I had yet to check this one off the list and I finally got it done. It was a great weekend. The car was perfect and I was actually pretty good. That’s what it takes, to be good and lucky and all of that. It’s an endurance test when you come here; it’s a week long deal. It’s different then any other race. I was .000 one round, .002 one round, and those could have easily been red lights. I just got away with it, so good deal. Get the trophy, celebrate and drink a beer.” – Dan Fletcher, Churchville, NY
Super CompHeather Robilotto, Dragster, 8.890, 148.23 def. Jimmy Lewis, Dragster, 8.888, 168.41. “I just can’t believe it. I couldn’t’ have done it without my mother and my father. They got me here; I don’t know what I would have done without them. I want to thank all my friends, Anthony back at home, Kenny Moses, Mickey Thompson Tires – I don’t know what I would have done without them. I had one slow run, but I tried to block it out. The rest of the weekend the car was great. I couldn’t ask for a better car.” – Heather Robilotto, Albany, NY
Super GasIggie Boicesco, Chevy Corvette, 9.941, 157.25 def. Regis Lepage, Chevy S-10, 9.931, 161.90. “It was a very great weekend. I’m dedicating the weekend to my crew member Lumpy, his name is Glenn Schuster, he’s fighting a battle with cancer. This is for him. – Iggie Boicesco
SUNDAY -With all Lucas Oil Sportsman racers in eliminations, it was time to see who can go rounds at the Mac Tools US Nationals at the O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car raced round one of competition, Comp Eliminator raced round two, and Super Stock, Stock, and Super Comp raced round three, and Super Gas raced round four. Taking wins in Top Alcohol Dragster was Randy Meyer, Dave Heitzman, Lee Calloway, Noah Condo, Marty Thacker, Duane Shields, Garrett Bateman, and Bill Reichart. With competition at it’s peak such competitors such as Ashley Force and Morgan Lucas were put on the trailer in round one. Both Reichart and Meyer had a 5.28, however, Reichart went low for the round with a 5.286 to Meyer’s 5.287. Top Alcohol Funny Car competition took the stars of the class another round. Top competitors such as Jay Payne, Mick Snyder, and Frank Manzo won round one. Additionally, Brian Hough, Bob Tasca III, Steve Harker, Steve Gasparrelli, and Steve Thompson went on. Among those cutting their weekend short was seasoned drivers Vern Motes, and Bob Newberry. Steve Gasparrelli with his Plumbing Concepts Monte Carlo was low for round one of competition. Gasparrelli took the win light over Todd Veney with a 5.51, 203. 22 MPH. Drama was high in Comp Eliminator. It was determined after the second round of competition there was oil on the track for part of the session, causing NHRA to impose some of the teams with a re-run late in the evening. The four final pairs that raced in the original session had to face-off again and for one racer the original race decision was changed in the re-run. Those going on are Jason Coan, Dale Spencer, Charlie Greco, Bo Butner, Greg Kamplain, Bill Morse, Glen Treadwell, Jeff Taylor, Bill Riemenapp, Rob Kropfeld, Doug Lambeck, Al Ackerman, Bub Miller, Steve Ambrose, Lee Zane, Vinny Barone, and Jeg Coughlin. David Rampy won the original run, but lost during the re-run to Vinny Barone when Rampy failed to stage his car in time before he was timed-out and disqualified. With Comp Eliminator enduring a dramatic second round, the third round of Super Stock went smooth. With the large field greatly downsized only a hand-full of competitors will race tomorrow. Those going on are, Tim Worner, Michael Iacono, Robbie Harrison, Terry Pearson, Dominic Camera, Steve Smith, Michael Beachy, Jeff Dona, Todd Frantz, Mark Faul, Bobby Rashid, Jeg Coughlin, Michael Mans, Byron Worner, Michael Volkman, Tom Sheehan, and Scott Stillings. Stock raced round three of competition, and some of the best in the country are advancing to the next round. With racers competing from all over the United States, those going on include, Jim Conte, Bruce Witherspoon, Jim Hale, David Edwards, John Shaul, Tom Rhoda, Al Corda, Bill Hawk, Edmond Richardson, Clint Blezien, Randall Campbell, Randy Wilkes, Lyn Smith, Ralph Porpora, Brent Darroch, and Dan Fletcher. One of the largest and toughest sportsman classes is Super Comp. With round three raced today, only a hand-full of the most talented racers were left standing. D. VanderMeer, B. Yates Sr., J. Jensen, S. Scott, B. Koski, J. Mayhew, A. Kenny, J. Stahl, J. Kenny, H. Robilotto, D. Spencer, D. Tatum III, J. Lewis, H. Robison, S. Adcock Jr, E. Richardson Jr., J. Gebhardt, J. Cambria, and B. Plourd will all advance to round four on Monday. Super Gas competitors raced round four on Sunday. After round one of competion there were 79 competitiors, now there are only 11 going on to Monday and round five. Left in the field are Sheldon Gecker, Alan Bush, Kevin Kleineweber, Regis Lepage, Iggie Boicesco, Leo Zynda, John Nance, Alan Kenny, Mark Buehring, Steve Cohen, and Tom Stalba Jr. Racing action will resume at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 04, 2006. Lucas Oil Sportsman will all award class winners during the final rounds of competition. a
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SATURDAY -(9-3-2006) - With a dramatic change in weather and the sun shining, Saturday produced very close competition amongst the Lucas oil Sportsman racers. With Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, and Super Gas running, racing action was great. The fastest of the sportsman classes is Top Alcohol Dragster. Racing one round of qualifying today, the lowest was Bill Reichert in his Rislone A-Fuel Dragster with a 5.28, 267.27 MPH. Reichert, who was not previously qualified in the 16 car field was also able to take the provisional No. 1 spot. Not far behind him for that round Spencer Massey running a 5.307, 269.24 MPH. That was good enough for Massey to stay in the No. 2 spot. Hanging on to the No. 1 spot and improving was Mick Snyder in his Torco Racing Fuels Firebird. Running low for the session he ran a quick 5.642, 256.26 MPH. Just on his heels was Frank Manzo in his Lucas Oil Monte Carlo. Manzo posted the second quickest time and grasped the No. 2 spot with a 5.643, 258.17 MPH. Comp Eliminator race round one of eliminations. The full double field produced some heavy hitter winners. Richard Freeman raced on a 7.73 index with a 7.138, allowing him to get the win over John Caliendo Jr; David Rampy who got the win over Mauri Rose who went red; and Don Winget, who despite spinning the tires got a lucky win over Vinny Barone, who went red. Super Stock had a third qualifying session. Of those hoping to do well during the US Nationals is Charlie Westcott with an index of 10.80, raced a 9.624; John Coughlin with an index of 9.95, raced an 8.796; Hemi Challenge winner Charlie Westcott Jr. with an index of 9.80, raced an 8.669; Gary Stinnett with an index of 10.40, raced a 9.369; and Jeg Coughlin Jr. with an index of 9.80, raced an 8.808. Saturday brought two rounds of eliminations for Stock. At the end of the day the field was substantially reduced. Left standing was D. Edwards, J. Perrone, B. Wenzel Sr., J. Hale, C. Beach, J. Shaul, B. Darroch, K. Helms, B. Hawk, F. Suiter, T. Rhoda, R. Gresens, B. Wood, R. Porpora, C. Blezien, D. Morgan, S. Brack, D. Fletcher, S. Biondo, J. Conte, E. Richardson, R. Linke, B. Witherspoon, B. Koski, A. Corda, B. Long, J. Bennett, R. Campbell, L. Smith, J. Waldo, R. Wilkes, and D. Duke. Round two of eliminations was on for Super Comp. Reaching to race as close to 8.90 as possible, the field was thinned out to the best of the weekend. Those going on in competition is F. Cervelli, D. VanderMeer, B. Yates Sr., R. Haas, J. Dorsett, J. Jensen, R. Erks, S. Scott, B. Koski, T. McCann, J. Hughes, J. Mayhew, K. Rizzoli, A. Kenny, R. Bernier, J. Stahl, J. Kenny, B. Maddox, R. Simonton, H. Robilotto, D. Spencer, T. Stillwell, D. Tatum III, R. Finney, J. Lewis, J. Makowski, L. Zynda III, H. Robison, J. Swan, S. Adcock Jr, E. Richardson Jr., T. Hutcherson, S. Whitefoot, J. Gebhardt, J. Cambria, J. Strickland, B. Plourd, and K. Wright. Super Gas competition, which was already underway, reached round two of eliminations today. Let in competition after round two is R. Nicodemus, R. Lepage, M. Fuqua, R. Connolly, G. Linkhorn, J. Nance, L. Zynda, B. Forrester, S. Eckard, S. Hunt, M. Buehring, M. Tafoya Jr, J. Berberich, S. Cohen, S. Scott, D. McRobie, W. Bogle, J. DeLuco, K. Kleineweber, J. Lynch, J. Kenny, J. Gerber, S. Gecker, M. Ruff, A. Castillo, A. Bush, D. Tatum III, T. Millwood, W. Neely, D. Klomps, J. Womack, .T Stalba Jr, I. Boicesco, J. Cappiello, M. Cook, S. Deffenbaugh, R. Laris, S. Witherwax, A. Kenny, and N. Vrooman. a
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FRIDAY - QUALIFYING/ELIMINATIONS CONTINUE(9-1-2006) - Despite weather delays on Thursday, the rain held off for the Lucas Oil Sportsman to race some rounds on Friday during the Mac Tools US Nationals at the O’Reilly Raceway Park. With the cool and cloudy conditions all day, the Top Alcohol Dragsters were able to run some bit numbers. Racing round one of qualifying, Spencer Massey and his A-Fuel Dragster was able to take the No. 1 spot. Running a 5.285, 268.49 MPH Massey was considerably quicker then the No. 2 qualifier. Other notable qualifiers were Ashley Force, Marty Thacker, Randy Meyer, Lee Calloway and Morgan Lucas. Surprisingly, heavy some heavy hitters such as Bill Reichert and Jeff Bohr were unable to make the field so far. Top Alcohol Funny Car was equally exciting. In a very tight field, Mick Snyder and his Torco Race Fuel Firebird secured take the No. 1 position during the first qualifying session. Although Snyder is currently No. 1, Bob Newberry is only .004 behind him. Also making the field today were Jay Payne, Steve Gasparrelli, and Frank Manzo. Among those not yet qualified are Vern Motes, and former Olympic medalist Marty Nothstein. During the third qualifying session for Comp Eliminator Bo Butner was able to hang-on to the No. 1 qualifying spot. Racing his AA/SM, 2005 Cavalier, the Jeffersonville, Indiana resident qualified with a 7.134, on a 7.80 index. Other heavy hitters making the field are David Rampy, Todd Patterson, James Sharp, Mike Smith, Jacklyn Gebhardt, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. Super Stock had to plow through 172 cars, with 128 making the show. After three qualifying session, Ray Vierheller was the top runner. Racing against his 11.40 index, Vierheller, who is from Barberton, Ohio, ran his 1992 Camero -1.464 off his dial-in with a 9.936. Additionally qualified is John Coughlin, Gary Stinnett, and Dan Fletcher. Stock Eliminator raced round one of eliminations today. 128 cars out of 169 registered cars began to eliminate each other. Among those still going rounds is Ben Wenzel Sr., of Freeland MI, in his '67 Camaro, Steve Brack, of Lawrence, KS, in his '87 Camaro; and David Walther, from Lanesville, IN, in his '69 Camaro. Also racing round one of eliminations was Super Comp. With everyone running on an 8.90 index the competition is tough. Out of 172 cars entered, those still in competition include 2005 World Champ Gary Stinnett, of Emporia, KS; father of Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly, Ray Connolly, of Elyria, OH; local racer, Jack Dorsett, of Indianapolis, IN; and David Tatum III, of Palmetto, GA. After round one of eliminations, Super Gas was left with 79 competitors still hoping to take home a Wally from the US Nationals. Among those still in competition is, Ray Connolly, of Elyria, OH; Sherman Adcock Jr., of Fortson, GA; and David Tatum III, Palmetto, GA. a
d v e r t i s e m e n t THURSDAY - RAIN INTERRUPTS SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING(8-31-2006) - Rain brought Thursday's sportsman qualifying to a screeching halt halfway through the first session of Competition eliminator qualifying. The MOPAR Hemi Challenge qualifying was paced by the '68 Barracuda of Charlie Westcott. His 8.721 put him over .07 ahead of second ranked Bucky Hess. Randy Hopkins was third. Rounding out the top eight was Jim Pancake, Jerry Jenkins, Joey Wilkes, Joe Teuton Jr., and Steve Wann. A total of 27 entries are competing for the MOPAR cash. There were 169 Stockers that made it to the lanes for the first qualifying sessions. Gregory Greening of Columbia, Mo., drove his I/FIA 1996 S-10 to the top spot with a 12.491 (-1.259). Just .007 off was the F/FI 1987 Camaro of Steve Brack. Bill Hawk's B/SA was third with a -1.246. There were 78 entries that logged a full second under their respective class standards. Qualifying resumes at 7:30 AM with Stock eliminator class eliminations. Competition eliminator lost today's first qualifying session.
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