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Massel takes Comp title to lead Sportsman winners at NHRA Arizona Nationals

In addition to the Camping World Drag Racing Series action taking place at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, seven champions were also crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, led by Bruso Massel, who scored for the 16th time in Comp.
29 Mar 2023
NHRA National Dragster staff
News
Bruno Massel

In addition to the Camping World Drag Racing Series action taking place at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, seven champions were also crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Three-time world Bruno Massel Jr. collected career win No. 16, heeling his venerable turbocharged CC/AT '10 Cobalt to a final-round victory over longtime Comp racer Ralph Van Paepeghem. Massel got a better reaction time ran a (-.53) 7.04 to chase down Van Paepeghem’s (-.53) 7.30 in his A/EA Bantam.  Phoenix was the 10th different national event venue at which Massel has won. [video]

Brad Burton was nearly perfect in his win over Kyle Rizzoli in the Phoenix Super Stock final. Burton, a two-time Stock world champ, cut a .000 light and ran 9.332 against his 9.33 dial to seal the win as Rizzoli broke out by two-hundredths. [video]

Former world champ Jody Lang claimed his 33rd national event victory and his fifth in Phoenix when he stopped Tony DeFrank in the Stock final. Lang cruised to the win in his L/SA Malibu after DeFrank slowed. Both drivers were solid off the starting line. [video]
 
Drag racing driving instructor Thomas Bayer put his theory into practice and walked away with his milestone 10th career win, scoring in Super Comp in Phoenix for the second time in his career. After a near-even start, Bayer eked past homestate favorite Brandon Dolezal by .002-second on an 8.939 to 8.942 score. [video]

Chris Bishop made the long tow south from Minnesota pay off with his first national event win in his first national event final—round appearance, taking the Super Gas trophy by a mere 002-second. Bishop got out on Bill Dennis then fended him off with a 9.666 to Dennis’ better-but-later 9.926. [video]

Using a .002 light and a 7.157 on his 7.14 dial, Sammy Gonzales defeated reigning Right Trailers Top Sportsman champ Lance Abbott to win his first NHRA national event title. Abbott broke out by .02-second in his Chevy S-10. [video]

Chad Axford claimed his second NHRA national event victory and first since the 2108 JEGS SPORTSnationals when he topped Division 6 champ Dylan Hough in the Right Trailers Top Dragster final. Axford put together a nearly unbeatable run with a .008 light and a 6.808 on his 6.80 dial. [video]