2010 SHAKEDOWN AT E'TOWN - EVENT RESULTS
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EVENT FINAL - LYNCH, BERNER, KING, BALOOSHI AMONG SHAKEDOWN WINNERS
Delayed by overnight vandalism and make-up qualifying runs, then forced into hurry-up mode by an approaching storm, Dave Hance's ADRL.us Shakedown at 
E-Town VIII packed plenty of drama into a shrinking window of opportunity Sunday.
Tim Lynch (Outlaw 10.5), Chip King (Blown Pro Modified), Khalid Al Balooshi (Nitrous Pro Modified), and record-setting Pete Berner (Mountain Motor Pro Stock) made the most of it at Englishtown, N.J.'s Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
They joined Mike Stawicki (1/8-Mile Challenge), Sam Gottier (Heavy Street), Mel Nelson (Drag Radial), and Brian Ferrari (8.50 Index) in the winners circle.
Lynch never matched his eye-bulging numbers from qualifying but he beat out "Jersey Joe" Newsham in a showdown between two racers wanting some justice from a track, an event, that showed them no mercy last fall.
In the end, Newsham still is looking for his second Outlaw 10.5 Shakedown triumph, while Petty added another trophy to his shelf. Lynch, of Woodstock, Ga., took the title with a 6.301-second elapsed time at 226.48 against Newsham's 7.510- second ET at 145.70 mph.
Lynch regained his Shakedown supremacy that he yielded last year to Philadelphia flash Tommy Deez Fernick. Although his performance numbers were nowhere near his 6.263 seconds and 232.51 mph from Saturday's third qualifying session, he was impressive nonetheless in his new Corvette.
Newsham, the 2008 winner, spent Shakedown Sunday in the hospital last November, mending from a frightening, fiery qualifying accident that left him with a fractured lower-back vertebra and injured feet. This year, the Sicklerville, N.J., racer kept pace with Lynch throughout the Mickey Thompson Outlaw 10.5 competition. He took out first opponent Anthony DiSommo with a 6.464-second E.T. that was second only to Lynch's 6.282 earlier in the round. He and Lynch advanced to the final with identical 6.47-second E.T.s.
The two Pro Modified classes had some surprises for the fans who braved the cold October temperatures.
The supercharged set saw King use an 8.315-second, 123.81-mph pass in his "Mean Green Machine" '96 Dodge Daytona to defeat Larry Plummer (12.230 / 82.09) in the final. King's rise to the top was no surprise, for he was No. 2 qualifier. The shock was that No. 1 Brad Personett, maybe the hottest-performing Pro Mod driver at the moment with his NHRA U.S. Nationals victory and record run at Charlotte last month, lost to Plummer in the semifinals.
Balooshi and his big-block '68 Al-Anabi Camaro marched to the top of the Speedtech Pro Modified Nitrous field Sunday morning, taking the No. 1 starting position from Fredy Scriba by three-hundredths of a second. And the Dubai driver kept right on going, beating John Bartunek, John Prime, and finally teammate Mike Castellana before blazing to the victory over New Jersey's Todd Fontana.
Balooshi won with a 5.933-second E.T. at 241.80 -- his best effort of the weekend -- while Fontana, the No. 6 qualifier, countered with a 6.587 / 216.97.
Berner carried the banner for the newly formed Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association in its Shakedown debut.
In his '09 Summit Pontiac GXP, Berner capped the opening round of MMMPS eliminations by setting both ends of the organization's record. He lowered his own E.T. record to 6.209 seconds and ran the class' fastest pass at 225.97 mph on a bye run. The Crete, Ill., veteran, a two-time IHRA Pro Stock champion, set the mark at 6.220 seconds in the last run of Saturday qualifying.
His victory over John Pluchino in the final round (6.285/224.92 to 7.110/146.16) completed his weekend sweep.
Berner moved into the final round by rejecting Tony Pontieri's bid for a second Shakedown championship trophy. Pontieri was the 2009 Pro Outlaw Blown winner. Pluchino advanced to the final round by beating the formidable Cary Goforth, the leader in both the MMPSA and the ADRL Extreme Pro Stock class in his '08 Chevy Cobalt.
Pro Torque Drag Radial eliminations took on an air of adventure for the rest of the class with top two qualifiers Paul Major and Dave Hance, the Shakedown founder and promoter, unable to race with damaged cars. No. 3 qualifier Mel Nelson, of Ft. Myers, Fla., capitalized on it and drove his '92 Camaro to the victory.
Nelson did so in theatric fashion, with a top-end fire following his winning 6.854-second, 223.36 single pass. He was unhurt and definitely grateful to have dodged a bullet when John Carter was beset by a mechanical problem and gave him no challenge.
The K&K Advanced Door Car Technology Heavy Street final gave Sam Gottier an extra measure of satisfaction. Gottier, ambushed late Saturday by Tom Tarsia in a coup for the No. 1 qualifying position, was not going to go home to Canterbury, Conn., empty-handed. He denied Mitch George a second straight Shakedown victory with his winning 6.911-second pass at 198.06 in his '71 Chevelle.
George ran a 7.578 at 141.31. Although he didn't win, the New Jersey native had an easier time than he did in winning the 2009 Shakedown. Last year George won against John Carinci in a so-called "first is worse" default ruling as both crashed. George's car had gotten out of shape near the finish line because of fluid on his tires, and the car barrel-rolled into the left lane, frighteningly close to Carinci's car.
The Pro Extreme 1/8-Mile Challenge final pitted two veteran racers. "It's really tough competition," Stawicki said after besting John Stanley, son of outlaw racing pioneer and this year's Shakedown Grand Marshal Camp Stanley.
Stawicki, of Medina, N.Y., drove a '68 Firebird that's painted red on the left side and black on the right side. But the No. 1 qualifier's emotions weren't divided at all after winning easily with a 3.890-second blast at 197.31 mph, as Stanley -- the No. 2 qualifier -- struck his tires.
The Western Beef 8.50 Index victory turned out to be easier than Ferrari imagined. The Raceway Park neighbor from nearby New Brunswick -- and like George one of the six drivers who competed in the first Shakedown in 2003 -- ended up with a solo pass. Final-round opponent John Langer, of Philadelphia, and his '69 Trans Am never left the starting line when the tree dropped.
As for Langer's misfortune, Ferrari, who campaigns the family's '68 Chevelle, said, 'I didn't even know it!"
Said his dad, "He has won quite a few races with that baby." And his move through the event's only 32-car field was just the latest.
Raceway Park workers had to scramble Sunday morning to repair the Christmas Tree following an overnight incident of vandalism. Someone stole the LED light bulbs from the electronic starting device and dumped them behind the retaining wall at the finish line. The thief/thieves caused further damage to the track by driving over and destroying all the foam timing blocks.
NOTES:
ALFONSO RECOVERING -- The Raceway Park crowd received positive news about injured Blown Pro Modified driver Benny Alfonso. The Bohemia, N.Y., veteran reportedly had feeling in his legs following back surgery to repair a damaged disc Sunday at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at New Brunswick. Hospital personnel refused to release any information about Alfonso or his condition, but the family provided the update to the track public-address announcers Brian Olson and Al Tucci.
ONE OF THOSE DAYS - Elliott Thompson might have taken the prize Sunday for this Shakedown's unluckiest driver. The '53 Corvette driver from Horsham, Pa., had an easy ticket to final round in the nine-car Pro Extreme 1/8-Mile Challenge. Higher-qualified Bruce Conley broke and couldn't answer the bell for the opening round. After that single pass, had another one waiting for him. But Thomson had trouble getting his car to fire, ending his day early.
FINAL RESULTS
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
FINAL ELIMINATION LADDERS
SUNDAY FINAL QUALIFYING -
SUNDAY - QUALIFYING RESUMES ON SUNDAY MORNING
The incomplete portion of qualifying for the Shakedown at E’town event will be completed this morning despite apparent overnight vandalism.
Qualifying was halted for safety reasons [too cold] and a 10 PM curfew last evening following Benny Alfonso’s severe crash which required an extensive clean up.
According to a source at the track, severe damage was done to the tree’s LED lights and foam blocks were destroyed as well. We’ll have more details later today.
The unfinished portion, Blown Pro Mod, Nitrous Pro Mod and Eighth Mile Challenge, will run under optimal conditions with below sea level air.
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SATURDAY - LYNCH ROCKS SATURDAY SHAKEDOWN AT E'TOWN QUALIFYING
Outlaw drag-racing dominator Tim Lynch had some unfinished business at Englishtown, N.J.'s Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
ALFONSO CRITICAL FOLLOWING SHAKEDOWN WRECK
Benny Alfonso, a Blown Pro Modified racer from Bohemia, N.Y., was in critical condition overnight Sunday following a top-end crash during the ARDL.us 
Shakedown at E-Town VIII at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at Englishtown, N.J.
Alfonso reportedly was conscious, alert, and talking with emergency medical personnel while the rescue team was extracting him from his '68 Firebird with the help of the Jaws of Life equipment. He was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in nearby New Brunswick.
Alfonso was admitted to the hospital, and according to nursing supervisor Karen Spooner, he is listed in critical condition. She was not permitted by law to say whether Alfonso is scheduled or had undergone surgery or to disclose the kind or extent of his injuries.
The accident occurred just past the finish line during the class' third and final qualifying session . His car had hugged the center line, then made a sharp right into the guard wall. He began his day in fourth place, then dropped to seventh place in the second session.
His crash forced race officials to halt Saturday's activity for the Northeast doorslammer classic around 9:25 p.m. Dangerously cool temperatures were beginning to set in and the extensive cleanup would have pushed racing past the 10 p.m. curfew.
Blown Pro Mod was unable to finish its time trials, and the Nitrous Pro Mod and 1/8-Mile Challenge classes did not have a third session. Race officials had not decided immediately whether to resume qualifying Sunday morning or begin the day with eliminations.
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SATURDAY FINAL SESSION
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SATURDAY SESSION NO. 2
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NOBILE CRASHES IN QUALIFYING
Longtime mountain motor Pro Stock driver John Nobile, driving a car he formerly ran in IHRA competition, crashed during Saturday's qualifying.
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - FIRST SESSION
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MORE HISTORY, HYSTERIA EXPECTED AT SHAKEDOWN AT E-TOWN
A feisty hurricane named Nicole flirted with New Jersey earlier this week, callously leaving her calling card marked by record rains, flooding, and high winds.
But she brought down the temperatures, giving outlaw-style drag racers at Englishtown's Old Bridge Township Raceway Park perfect conditions once again this weekend as the sun peeks out on the ADRL.us Shakedown at E-Town.
This eighth edition of Dave Hance's Northeast doorslammer showcase, as always, promises to blend history and hysteria Saturday and Sunday. Performance records surely will fall, as racers in all eight classes -- including the newest addition, the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association beasts -- will race against the 7:30 p.m. noise curfew as much as each other.
Hance, owner of New York Motorsports and founder of this always-wild event, often says, "What more can you ask for?" No telling what this year's eliminations will give the fans, but last year's action fed off cool temperatures that produced outstanding elapsed times but also contributed to more than a couple of spectacular accidents. The final rounds were no exception, with a crash or car breakage in all but one category.
Overall, Hance had another winner with the 2009 Shakedown at E-Town, even though he barely missed capping it with a trip to the winners circle himself. Ever an optimist, he called it "a dream weekend," despite his own personal misfortune. He looked like the man to beat as the top qualifier in the Pro Torque Converters Drag Radial class.
However, his '93 Mustang broke just before his final-round appearance against Dwayne "Big Daddy" Gutridge, and he forfeited his chance to win this event he created and shaped. It had been his best chance in awhile, too, after wrecking at The Shakedown twice before. Still, Hance stood on the starting line and cheered Gutridge, one of the "Magnificent Seven" drivers who joined him for the first Shakedown in 2003.
Jim Halsey repeated his Pro Mod Nitrous championship and Tommy Deez Fernick and Rob Golobo broke up the Tim Lynch-Chuck Ulsch domination of the Outlaw 10.5 class, as the Shakedown crowned four other first-time winners: Tony Pontieri (Pro Outlaw Blown), Mike Janis (Outlaw 1/8-Mile Challenge), Gary Romonoyske (Outlaw 8.5 Index), and Gutridge (Drag Radial).
Both Mitch George and John Carinci were safe in the final of the K&K / Advanced Door Technology Heavy Street class. George was declared the winner after he and opponent Carinci both crashed.
Carinci, in the left lane, wrestled with his '70 'Cuda by midtrack. However, it drifted too far to the left and touched or crossed a white boundary line just inside the guardwall for an automatic disqualification.
George's Monte Carlo then got out of shape near the top end because of fluid on his tires, and the car barrel-rolled into the left lane, frighteningly close to Carinci's car. But officials determined that George crossed the center line after traveling past the finish line. He was declared the winner, because Carinci committed his infraction first (triggering the so-called "first is worse" rule).
"I feel bad what happened. I want to thank the Lord for letting me walk away from it," George said.
Pontieri, in his '69 Camaro, won the Pro Mod Blown trophy as final-round opponent Kevin McCurdy's beautiful purple and silver entry broke and was pushed to the side before staging.
Janis and his Firebird cruised to the 1/8-Mile Challenge triumph when Dwayne Wolfe couldn't overcome transmission troubles left over from the semifinals. Wolfe tried desperately to get his car to fire on the back-up from the burnout. He was able to back up but knew it was not in shape to give Janis a challenge. As if that weren't aggravating enough for Wolfe, Janis' '68 Firebird lost traction and Janis simply coasted across the finish line.
Halsey stormed back from qualifying last among the 15 Pro Mod Nitrous entrants to handily beat Gary Courtier for the title.
In his first-round appearance, No. 3 qualifier Alex Vrettos became the first Drag Radial driver to dip into the 6.8-second range at 6.894 seconds in his Ford Cobra. After all, an unwritten rule at The Shakedown is that no performance record is safe.
Paul Major (Drag Radial), John Bartunek (Pro Mod Nitrous), and Rodney Bitgood and Brad Brand (Mickey Thompson Outlaw 10.5) were among those whose crashes got the fans' attention. Jeff Rogers' Executioner Mustang detonated on the starting line as he prepared to race Pro Mod Nitrous rival Robert Nicola. They were unhurt. But "Jersey Joe" Newsham ended up at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital with a compression fracture of a lower-back vertebra and injured feet from his Saturday qualifying accident as he sought a repeat victory in the Outlaw 10.5 class with his Cobra.
This year, Hance hopes to top last year's car count of just a little more than 200. This year's classes include Speedtech Nitrous Pro Nitrous, Modzilla Cannonball Racing Pro Modified Blown, Adrenaline ADRL Pro Extreme 1/8-Mile Challenge, Mickey Thompson Outlaw 10.5, Pro Torque Drag Radial, Western Beef 8.50 Index, and K&K Advanced Door Car Technology Heavy Street.
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