Four drivers scored their first ever NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national event win this past weekend for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Brenda Grubbs, Jeremy Demers, Branden Rhodes and Ryan Julius all celebrated in the winner’s circle as they took home their first national event Wally trophies.

Four drivers scored their first ever NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national event win this past weekend for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Brenda Grubbs, Jeremy Demers, Branden Rhodes and Ryan Julius all celebrated in the winner’s circle as they took home their first national event Wally trophies.
 
Grubbs, Magnolia, Texas, advanced to her second national event final round and closed the deal on local racer Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., for the Stock title as did Demers, Carroll, Iowa, to Mitch Mustard, Arvada, Colo., in the Super Comp final.  Burton left early with a red-light foul start as Grubbs ran it out to an 11.113 second pass at 119.57 mph while Demers took the starting line advantage and held on with a lap of 9.524, 160.29 to Mustard’s quicker 9.515, 166.60.
 
18 year old Branden Rhodes, Sterling, Colo., had to run down George Slatten, Santa Fe., N.M., who took the early lead in the Top Dragster final round and Ryan Julius, Brighton, Colo., posted a .022 package against George’s brother Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, Colo., in Top Sportsman for his first win.  Rhodes covered the quarter mile in 6.747 seconds at 204.60 mph to run down George’s 7.055, 193.05.  Julius, in his first national event final round, got the holeshot and forced Dave to breakout by .001 seconds as Julius clocked in at 7.885, 173.96.
 
2011 NHRA Lucas Oil Super Stock National Champion and 2011 Denver event champion Jackie Alley joined in on the fun beating Tyler Wudarczyk, Wakarusa, Kan., in a double break out Super Stock Final round.  Alley, out of Eagle, Idaho, went 10.175 on her 10.18 dial to Wudarczyk’s 11.186, 11.20.
 
Rounding out the event winners were James Kunkel, Wichita, Kan., and Brian Percival, Lakewood, Colo., in Super Gas and Super Street respectively.  Kunkel bagged his sixth win beating Bradley Johnson, Morrison, Colo., in a close final round, 10.487 to 10.482.  Percival used a .010 second package to end Chris Bombard’s day as both were near identical off the line with Percival running 11.504 in his Dodge Dart.
 
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway:
 
Super Stock -- Jackie Alley, Chevy Camaro, 10.175, 132.40  def. Tyler Wudarczyk, Camaro, 11.186, 112.90.
 
Stock Eliminator -- Brenda Grubbs, Chevy Camaro, 11.113, 119.57  def. Scott Burton, Pontiac Firebird, foul.
 
Super Comp -- Jeremy Demers, Dragster, 9.524, 160.29  def. Mitch Mustard, Dragster, 9.515, 166.60.
 
Super Gas -- James Kunkel, Chevy Camaro, 10.487, 145.17  def. Bradley Johnson, Camaro, 10.482, 153.11.
 
Super Street -- Brian Percival, Dodge Dart, 11.504, 129.14  def. Chris Bombard, Ford Mustang, 11.495, 138.17.
 
Top Dragster -- Branden Rhodes, Dragster, 6.747, 204.60  def. George Slatten, Dragster, 7.055, 193.05.
 
Top Sportsman -- Ryan Julius, Pontiac GTO, 7.885, 173.96  def. Dave Slatten, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.229, 191.95.