Back in 1967, Ben Wenzel Sr. had a crowning moment as an NHRA competitor.

Wenzel won the B Stock Eliminator class at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

“That was as good as it gets,” Wenzel said of his Indy victory.

Fast-forward 43 years and Wenzel returned to the NHRA national event winner’s circle when he captured the Stock Eliminator crown at the Fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, last Sunday.

Back in 1967, Ben Wenzel Sr. had a crowning moment as an NHRA competitor.

Wenzel won the B Stock Eliminator class at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

“That was as good as it gets,” Wenzel said of his Indy victory.

Fast-forward 43 years and Wenzel returned to the NHRA national event winner’s circle when he captured the Stock Eliminator crown at the Fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, last Sunday.

“All the victories are special because it’s so hard to win,” said the 68-year-old Wenzel. “I had not won an NHRA national event in so long, I was wondering if I would ever be able to do it again.”

Wenzel now has two NHRA national event victories to go with the pair of Stock Eliminator IHRA national event wins, which he collected in the last past 13 years.

Last weekend in Norwalk, Wenzel earned his second NHRA title by winning six rounds of racing, including defeating standout David Rampy in the finals.

Wenzel ran a 10.635-second time on a 10.63-second dial-in, while Rampy broke out.

“I was in the NHRA national event finals in 2001 (at Topeka, Kan.) and 2005 (at Chicago) and was beat both times,” Wenzel said. “Winning at Norwalk was a relief because the car has been fast and competitive ever since 1986 when we came back to racing. We quit racing for a few years at the national level, and ever since ’86 the car has been competitive and I’ve won divisional races and I won the Division 3 championship in 2005. But, I ,just never seemed to be able to finish the job at a national meet. This time I finally did.”

Wenzel says his biggest boost in Norwalk came in the fifth round against Peter Biondo.

“I got one lucky break when Biondo had a red light against me,” Wenzel said. “Peter Biondo and David Rampy are pros and they are going to be good almost every time they are out there. They don’t win every race, but they win a lot of them.”

Rampy, who has 73 NHRA national event wins to his credit, praised Wenzel.

“I think it was great that he was able to win,” Rampy said. “For him to be able to race that long and not give up, that’s pretty awesome.”

Ironically, Wenzel won in Norwalk in his 1967 Z28 Camaro, the same Camaro he bought brand new in ’67.

“I do not treat racing any different than I ever have as far as I know,” Wenzel said. “I just go to race and I go to win and do the best that I can.”

Wenzel is based in Freeland, Mich., which is about 15 miles west of Saginaw. He started racing in 1960 and he isn’t slowing down yet.

“I usually go to around six national events a year; sometimes more,” Wenzel said. “I also run around eight points meets every year, mainly in Division 3. I also go to Iowa and I’ve been to Vegas, Oklahoma and Texas. It just depends on the schedule and how I’m doing and what I feel like doing. I have no clue how long I will be doing this.”

Wenzel says his next national event will likely be the 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indy.

“I just raced four weekends in a row, and I’m tired,” Wenzel said. “I just want to take a day off. I will run a Division 3 points race at Mid-Michigan Motorplex next weekend (in Stanton, Mich.). That’s the closest race I have to my home and I’m excited to go to that event.”