Bob Mandell Jr. knew he had to keep his emotions in check.

But he could let them out Sunday afternoon after winning the NHRA Southern Nationals Top Sportsman final round over Vince Hoda, using a nearly perfect .007-second reaction time.

His elapsed time of 6.856 seconds at 191.97 mph in his Chevy were numbers that mattered only to determine whether he would keep his promise. Mandell had decided that a victory on the Atlanta Dragway quarter-mile – a racetrack that about 24 hours previously had produced one of his most heartbreaking moments – would be a tribute to Randy Alexander.

Last night’s $15K winner, Racetech Chassis’ own Kellan Farmer said, “This is so amazing,” a sentiment felt by many of the K&N Spring Fling presented by Optima Batteries entrants who made their way from over 24 states, Puerto Rico and Canada to Galot Motorsports Park in North Carolina.

For the past nine years, the Spring Fling brand has been built on five principles; a fair event; fun for the whole family; outstanding customer service; great facilities; and the best value in bracket racing. It’s those principles which have built the brand into a major event of the bracket racing year, an event win everyone wants on their resume.

The Lucas Oi Drag Racing Series concluded at the NFK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this past weekend at zMax Dragway in in Charlotte, N.C. Holden Laris and Don O’Neil earned National Wally trophies and celebrated with their teams in winner’s circle.

Laris, Raceland La., squared off against Larry Roberts of Laurens S.C., in the Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com final round. Laris took the starting line advantage and successfully held off Roberts for the final round victory, running 6.235 seconds, 208.71 mph. In the Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com final round, O’Neil, Evansville, Ind., gave up the starting line advantage to North Carolina runner, Sandy Wilkins of Mount Ulla. But O’Neal was able to run down Wilkins for the win finishing at 6.903 seconds, 193.29 mph.

The Dodge brand announced title sponsorship of the NHRA Dodge HEMI® Challenge, returning the fan-favorite event to the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals for the 18th consecutive year. The 2018 NHRA Dodge HEMI Challenge, scheduled to take place August 30-31 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mopar-powered 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda Super Stock cars that compete head-to-head in the event. 

The announcement arrives on April 26 — the date (4/26) celebrated by Dodge and Mopar enthusiasts as HEMI Day, in honor of the historic 426 HEMI engine that powers the classic Super Stock cars, as well as all current NHRA Funny Car and Top Fuel machines. A special HEMI Day celebration video can be viewed at Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com).

Perry Comeaux and Brian Hughes made history as the first winners of the new International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Summit Sportsman Spectacular races Saturday at State Capitol Raceway.

Comeaux from Praireville, La., was the winner of Saturday’s Moser $10k race. Hughes from Diana, Texas was the winner of the LaQuinta Inn & Suites $5k race, which was moved up to Saturday night due to a wet weather forecast.

Justin Ashley had a date with destiny on Saturday night. 

The second-generation drag racer captured an impressive victory winning the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Div. 1 Top Alcohol Dragster crown behind the wheel of the Randy Meyer Racing entry at Virginia Motorsports Park, located outside of Richmond, Va, But this simply wasn't just another victory. 

Ashley not only qualified #2 in the quickest-ever NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster field (5.265 bump) but also stopped Jared Dreher in the final round to capture his first-ever divisional title. 

Thanks to our coverage partners at DragStory.com and Mark Walter, we present to you the live video feed from the inaugural Loose Rocker Promotions Bigfoot $40K race. 

Four straight days of high dollar bracket racing and it all comes down to Day Last at the K&N Spring Fling Million presented by Optima Batteries. After a night of no doubt partying, it’s doubtful the newest member of the Spring Fling Million Dollar Club, Randell Reid, might be sleeping in at the luxury suite at the Cosmopolitan Resort, part of his winnings from last night’s event.

Regardless of him not being there, the day began with the ‘Fling’s patented $20,000 Reaction Time Challenge where 20 randomly selected drivers are chosen to take one hit at the ‘tree. Any .00X reaction time earns the driver $100 cash, while a perfect .000 awards $1,000 and the chance to come back and do it again. Do for the second time and the driver gets $10,000. There were no perfect reaction times yet seven drivers recorded .00X with each; Kalim Menzel, Jeff Devey, Jeremy Hancock, Dale Taros, Aaron Marcum, Mark Yeager, and Andy Taylor; getting a $100 bill for their efforts.

David Rampy continued to add to him impressive career total and Michelle Furr and Jeff Strickland remained hot in 2018 taking wins at this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at GALOT Motorsports Park.
 
Rampy ran down Mark Moreland who took the early lead but could not hold off the charging Rampy out of Piedmont, Ala. Rampy went 4.561 seconds at 144.26 for the win in Comp Eliminator.
 
Furr, coming off a win in Super Gas at the Gainesville Raceway NHRA Southeast Divisional took the win in Super Comp in a close race from start to finish with Sherman Adcock. Furr, Galax, Va., clocked in at 7.660, 143.41 to Adcock’s breaking out 7.649 on the 7.650 index.

David Rampy continued to add to him impressive career total and Michelle Furr and Jeff Strickland remained hot in 2018 taking 
 
Furr, coming off a win in Super Gas at the Gainesville Raceway NHRA Southeast Divisional took the win in Super Comp in a close race from start to finish with Sherman Adcock. Furr, Galax, Va., clocked in at 7.660, 143.41 to Adcock’s breaking out 7.649 on the 7.650 index.

In the final results from Texas Motorplex and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series two local racers claimed victories taking home the trophies in Stock Eliminator and Super Street. In Stock, Jeff Lopez, Irving, Texas, made a winning pass against Jerry Emmons in the final round with a time of 9.387 seconds, 136.91 mph, making this Lopez’s second win of the double header weekend. In Supper Street, John Long Jr, Red Oak, Texas, went up against John Leibham with a very tight finish taking the win with a run of 10.873, 121.40.

A pair of NHRA South Central Division hitters went to battle in the Super Stock final and reigning division champion Ross Laris took on Darian Boesch in the SDPC Top Dragster Final. Larris, Raceland, La., took the win running 6.050 seconds at 234.04 mph to Boesch’s 6.114, 222.66.  Slate Cummings out ran Jimmy Hidalgo in Super Stock clocking in at 9.414, 139.18 in his ’03 Cavalier to Hidalgo’s 9.737, 134.08 in his ’99 Firebird.