DEMKE, PAYNE HEADLINE NHRA US NATIONALS SPORTSMAN WINNERS

 

Chris Demke transferred his red-hot Top Alcohol Dragster win streak from the NHRA Lucas Oil Regional Series over to the largest stage in drag racing as he defeated Rich McPhillips to win the 60th anniversary NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Monday's victory is Demke's first Indianapolis victory as a driver. Demke won in 1998 as a crew member for Darren Nicholson. He has reached the semifinals twice and recorded a runner-up finish prior to the weekend.

 

 

 

Chris Demke transferred his red-hot Top Alcohol Dragster win streak from the NHRA Lucas Oil Regional Series over to the largest stage in drag racing as he defeated Rich McPhillips to win the 60th anniversary NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Monday's victory is Demke's first Indianapolis victory as a driver. Demke won in 1998 as a crew member for Darren Nicholson. He has reached the semifinals twice and recorded a runner-up finish prior to the weekend.

Top Alcohol Funny Car veteran Jay Payne ran a 5.705, 241 to beat the upset-minded Todd Robertson. Payne established a strong 5.6-second pace to reach the final round by defeating Annie Whiteley, Mike Doushgouni and No. 1 qualifier Jonnie Lindberg. For his part, Robertson beat John Lombardo, Jr., and Fred Tigges to reach the finals.

In a throwback to the old Modified eliminator days, Joe Santangelo drove his B/Street Roadster to the Comp eliminator win with a 7.835 elapsed time in beating Rick Brown's B/Truck Automatic. Santangelo was -.515 under his index for seventh career NHRA national event victory.

Nick Morris scored his second career NHRA event as he claimed the Super Stock title when Gary Richard fouled by -.011. Morris worked his way through the field from the No. 53 qualifying position.

If you are a Chevrolet fan, then Stock eliminator left you with a proud feeling by seeing a pair of COPO Camaros in the final. Bruno Massel, past NHRA Comp eliminator champion, made his weekend a successful one. Massel reached the finals of the Factory Stock/A class eliminations on Friday, and four days later secured the overall Stock title by stopping Joe Wilkes' B/Stock Automatic.

Super Comp racer Ty Davis made his first NHRA  final round one to remember. Davis worked his way through seven eliminations rounds behind the wheel of his '32 Bantam and sealed the deal by running an 8.932 to beat Jimmy Lewis.

Rounding out the Indy winners was third-generation drag racer Troy Coughlin Jr. Coughlin added to the family heritage with his second career NHRA U.S. Nationals victory.

Coughlin was dead-on the 9.900 Super Gas index over a too-quick Jeffrey Weets.

tad finalTop Alcohol Dragster -- Chris Demke, 5.801, 261.42 def. Rich McPhillips, foul.

 tafc finalTop Alcohol Funny Car -- Jay Payne, Chevy Camaro, 5.705, 241.45 def. Todd Robertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.171, 164.03.

 comp eliminator finalCompetition Eliminator -- Joe Santangelo, Chevy Roadster, 7.835, 168.20 def. Rick Brown, Chevy S-10, 8.294, 161.67.

super stock finalSuper Stock -- Nick Morris, Ford Mustang, 10.121, 114.62 def. Gary Richard, Mustang, foul. 

stock finalStock Eliminator -- Bruno Massel, Chevy Camaro, 8.825, 143.34 def. Joey Wilkes, Camaro, 9.978, 128.77. 

super comp finalSuper Comp -- Ty Davis, Bantam Roadster, 8.932, 163.69 def. Jimmy Lewis, Dragster, 8.927, 167.22. 

super gas finalSuper Gas -- Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Corvette, 9.900, 166.01 def. Jeffrey Weets, Plymouth Barracuda, 9.867, 141.15.

 

 

 

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