In spite of the National Weather Service putting the area under a winter weather warning 7 hours before the gates opened, nearly 140 participants turned out for the 9th Annual Hangover Nationals at Dragway 42.

At times the wind driven snow became so heavy that it was difficult to see past the finish line but the racers did their best to keep the diverse assortment of vehicles under control and the event was run with only one single "no harm, no foul" spinout slowing the action.

Three hours of time trials led to eight rounds of eliminations, with the past three Hangover Nationals champions going deep into the program. In spite of the National Weather Service putting the area under a winter weather warning 7 hours before the gates opened, nearly 140 participants turned out for the 9th Annual Hangover Nationals at Dragway 42.

At times the wind driven snow became so heavy that it was difficult to see past the finish line but the racers did their best to keep the diverse assortment of vehicles under control and the event was run with only one single "no harm, no foul" spinout slowing the action.

Three hours of time trials led to eight rounds of eliminations, with the past three Hangover Nationals champions going deep into the program.

2006 Champion Aaron Herbert ran a dead-on 20.08 elapsed time to put out 2007 Champion A.J. Buchanan who broke out. A round later 2005 Champion Brian Chillik put Herbert out of the event.

Along the way, multiple .00 and a .000 reaction time as well as a fair share of .01 finish line margins showed how seriously the racers took this fun race.

The eighth and final round of this year's Hangover Nationals paired Barberton's Brian Chillik in his GMC 2500 truck representing the 4-wheel drive eliminator against North Olmstead's Doug Richards in his Chevy Baretta representing the 2-wheel drive eliminator.

At the starting line Richards' lighter Baretta took a nearly tenth and a half reaction time advantage but the worsening conditions kept either driver from challenging the 20.08 index. Both drivers were running over 60 mph in the traps but it was Chillik who got to the stripe first with his 23.59 ET bettering the 24.81 of Richards.

Brian Chillik (with help from his navigator and brother Tim) became the first 2-time winner in the nine year history of this event.

By all accounts, everyone had a great time racing in "real" January conditions and getting a chance to catch up with their friends and fellow competitors concerning their off season projects.

Mark your calendar now for Thursday, January 1, 2009 when Dragway 42 hosts the longest running New Year's Day drag racing event in the United States with its 10th Annual Hangover Nationals.

9th Annual Hangover Nationals - Final Round Results - January 1, 2008

WINNER: Brian Chillik - Barberton, OH • 23.5941 @ 60.97 MPH • 20.08 Dial-In • .3539 RT
RUNNER-UP: Doug Richards - North Olmstead, OH • 23.8191 @ 67.87 MPH • 20.08 Dial-In • .2139 RT

Semi-Finalists:
John Rydarowicz - Strothers, OH (2-Wheel Drive)
John Tollivar - Newark, OH (4-Wheel Drive)