Sunday
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 20, 2009) – The event ran into the wee hours on Saturday night and into Sunday morning but the NHRA North Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals is in the books. NHRA and track officials wanted to dodge the rain that was forecast for all day Sunday. Racers in four categories, Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle, representing tracks from across the region took to the track vying for individual and team honors.
The squads from Milan Dragway in Michigan and Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, battled it out for the team championship and Team Milan came away with the title, scoring a total of 54 points to Summit’s 49. The difference came in the all-Milan Dragway Super Pro final which was round No. 9 for the class. Summit Motorsports Park had two final round appearances as well, in Pro and Motorcycle but Pro eliminations were eight rounds and Motorcycle was six rounds.
Leading Milan Dragway to the team championship were Super Pro racers David Hadyniak of Garden City, Mich., and Garry Fleenor of Port Clinton, Ohio. Hadyniak took the win and will have the chance to race for a national championship at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., in November.
In Pro, Milan, Ohio, racer Brian Hurst, racing for Summit Motorsports Park, wheeled his ’70 Nova to the win over Steve Collier, Xenia, Ohio, in his ’96 Fox. Collier, racing for Kil Kare Raceway, red-lighted in the final.
Tracy Crutcher of Pleasant View, Tenn., running for Beech Bend Raceway, ousted John Smith, Girdler, Ky., racing for London Dragway, in the final. Crutcher was driving a ’66 Chevy II and Smith was in a ’80 Malibu.
Clinton, Iowa’s Bruce Damewood, representing Midstate Dragway, rode his ’83 Suzuki to the win over Kevin Adams who was piloting a ’92 Suzuki. Adams was representing Summit Motorsports Park.
Hurst, Crutcher and Damewood will all have the chance to join Hadyniak in Pomona to race for the national championship against the four winners from NHRA’s other six divisions. The national champion in each class will come away with a winner-take-all $5,000 payday.
The High School Championship, which was to be run on Sunday, has been postponed until the division’s Fall Classic National Open in October.
Following are the NHRA North Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals champions:
SUPER PRO
David Hadyniak, Garden City, Mich., ‘95 Racecraft, Milan Dragway, 4.777, 142.70 def.
Garry Fleenor, Port Clinton, Ohio, Milan Dragway, ‘03 undercover, 4.877, 141.22
PRO
Brian Hurst, Milan, Ohio, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, ‘70 Nova, 7.118, 95.58 def.
Steve Collier, Xenia, Ohio, Kil Kare Raceway, ‘96 Fox, foul
SPORTSMAN
Tracy Crutcher, Pleasant View, Tenn., Beech Bend Raceway Park, ‘66 Chevy II, 12.262, 105.46 def.
John Smith, Girdler, Ky., London Dragway, ‘80 Malibu, 12.008, 107.07
MOTORCYCLE
Bruce Damewood, Clinton, Iowa, Midstate Dragway, ‘83 Suzuki, 8.990, 136.87 def.
Kevin Adams, Brunswick, Ohio, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, ‘92 Suzuki, 8.363, 155.81
Following are the final team point standings for the NHRA North Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals:
Team Totals
1. Milan Dragway 54
2. Summit Motorsports Park 49
3. O’Reilly Raceway Park 40
4. Coles County Dragway USA 37
5. Kil-Kare Dragway 36
6. Gateway Int’l Raceway 35
London Dragway 35
Beech Bend Raceway Park 35
9. Bunker Hill Dragstrip 34
10. Route 66 Raceway 33
11. Bluegrass Raceway Park 32
12. Lyons Raceway Park 30
Edgewater Sports Park 30
14. Chandler Motorsports Park 29
15. Pacemakers Raceway Park 28
16. National Trail Raceway 27
Crossroads Dragway 27
18. Midstate Dragway 26
19. Tri-State Raceway 25
20. Muncie Dragway 22
21. Ohio Valley Dragway 19
22. Mid-Michigan Motorplex 18
Windy Hollow Dragway 18
24. Great Lakes Dragway 12
Saturday
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 19, 2009) – More than 600 of the top bracket racers from across NHRA’s North Central division have come to O’Reilly Raceway Park to race for individual and team honors at the division’s Summit Racing Series Division Finals. Competitors are running in four categories, Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle, vying for a share of the cash and contingency purse. The division’s High School category will also run in conjunction with the race.
The racers in the four top categories who are named the winners here have the opportunity to run for a national championship against the winners in NHRA’s other six divisions. The runoff takes place during the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., in November where each class will run for a winner-take-all $5,000 payday.
After a time trial run this morning, racers started eliminations. After the first round, the squad from O’Reilly Raceway Park was leading the team standings with 22 points. The contingents from Gateway Int’l Raceway and Summit Motorsports Park are just off the pace with 21 points apiece.
NHRA North Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals team standings after one round of eliminations:
Team Totals
1. O'Reilly Raceway Park 22
2. Gateway International Raceway 21
3. Summit Motorsports Park 21
4. Kil-Kare Dragway 19
5. Bunker Hill Dragstrip 18
6. Coles County Dragway USA 17
7. Pacemakers Raceway Park 17
8. Crossroads Dragway 16
9. London Dragway 16
10. Midstate Dragway 16
11. National Trail Raceway 16
12. Edgewater Sports Park 15
13. Milan Dragway 15
14. Muncie Dragway 15
15. Mid-Michigan Motorplex 14
16. Route 66 Raceway 14
17. Tri-State Raceway 14
18. Beech Bend Raceway Park 13
19. Lyons Raceway Park 13
20. Ohio Valley Dragway 13
21. Chandler Motorsports Park 12
22. Bluegrass Raceway Park 9
23. Windy Hollow Dragway 9
24. Great Lakes Dragway 8
Friday
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 18, 2009) – The top bracket racers in the NHRA North Central division have gathered at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis for the division’s Summit Racing Series Finals. The three-day event kicked off today with time trials for the more than 600 racers in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle as well as a High School category who are representing 25 tracks. Racers are competing for team and individual honors and a share of the roughly $70,000 purse.
Today’s action included the VP Racing Fuels Race of Champions, a race within a race where the top points-earning drivers from each track square off in head-to-head competition. Art Reed of Kokomo, Ind., racing for Bunker Hill Dragstrip, scored the win in Super Pro, ousting Scott McQueen, Tyner, Ky., running for London Dragway, in the final round. In Pro, Timmy Elliott, Portland, Ky., representing Beech Bend Raceway Park, wheeled his ’69 Camaro to the win over Amelia, Ohio’s Kevin Bishop who was driving his ’69 Camaro for Tri-State Dragway. The win in the Sportsman category went to Pacemakers Dragway Park racer Nick Hastings of Shelby, Ohio, who ran his ’88 Mustang to victory over Gary Blankenship of Yorktown, Ind., in his ’69 Camaro. Blankenship was racing for Muncie Dragway. Chad Isley rode his ’73 Kawasaki to the win in the Motorcycle/Snowmobile category. The Charleston, Ill., racer running for Coles County Dragway defeated Bob Lohr of Staunton, Ill., racing for Gateway Int’l Raceway.
On Sunday, racers will run down to one winner in each of the division’s four categories. The champions in the top four classes will have the opportunity to race at the NHRA finals in Pomona, Calif., against the winners from NHRA’s other six divisions for a national championship and a winner-takes-all $5,000 purse.
Gates at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis open at 7 a.m. each day. Time trials will continue Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Race of Champions will kick off at 1 p.m. All classes will run at least one round of eliminations following the Race of Champions. Eliminations continue Sunday at 8 a.m. High School competitors will have a time trial run on Sunday and run eliminations with the other classes throughout the day.
O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is located on Indiana Highway 136, four miles west of I-465, exit 16. For more information call the track, (317) 291-4090, or visit www.OreillyRacewayPark.com or www.NHRAdiv3.com.
Following are the final round results from the VP Racing Fuels Race of Champions at the NHRA North Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals at O’Reilly Raceway Park:
SUPER PRO
Art Reed, Kokomo, Ind., Bunker Hill Dragstrip, Dragster, 5.231, 127.70 def.
Scott McQueen, Tyner, Ky., London Dragway, '72 Vega, 6.237, 109.23
PRO
Timmy Elliot, Portland, Tenn., Beech Bend Raceway Park, '69 Camaro, 6.283, 108.12 def.
Kevin Bishop, Amelia, Ohio, Tri-State Dragway, '69 Camaro, 6.420, 99.46
SPORTSMAN
Nick Hastings, Shelby, Ohio, Pacemakers Dragway Park, '88 Mustang, 12.726, 94.32 def.
Gary Blankenship, Yorktown, Ind., Muncie Dragway, '69 Camaro, 12.107, 109.56
MOTORCYCLE
Chad Isley, Charleston, Ill., Coles County Dragway USA, '73 Kawasaki, 9.520, 131.86 def.
Bob Lohr, Staunton, Ill., Gateway International Raceway, '80 Kaw, 9.607, 128.09
Preview
INDIANAPOLIS – O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis will host the NHRA Summit Racing Series North Central Division Finals, September 18-20. The event will feature teams of the series’ best racers representing NHRA Member Tracks from across the region. Drivers in five classes will compete for individual and team honors and a share of the $70, 850 purse. More than 800 drivers are expected to compete in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Super Pro Bike, and High School categories. Racers in the High School class will run for trophies.
The individual winners in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Super Pro Bike will advance to a national run-off in California in November at the NHRA Auto Club of Southern California Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona where they will vie for a national championship and a winner-take-all $5,000 payday in each class. Each driver who competes in Pomona will also receive an extra $3,500.
Gates at ORP open at 7 a.m. each day. Time trials start at 9 a.m. Friday. Racers in the VP Racing Fuels Race of Champions, a race within a race that pits the top points-earning drivers from each track against each other, will begin at 2 p.m. Final time trials for Pro, Super Pro, Super Pro Bike and Sportsman are scheduled Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All classes will then run one round of eliminations on Saturday. Eliminations will continue Sunday morning at 9 a.m. High School competitors will have a time trial run on Sunday and run eliminations with the other classes throughout the day.
O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is located on Indiana Highway 136, four miles west of I-465, exit 16. For more information call the track, (317) 291-4090.
SUMMIT RACING SERIES NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION FINALS: Fact Sheet
WHAT: NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals, where top drivers from NHRA member tracks across the North Central division compete in five classes for individual and team honors. Individual champions will advance to a national run-off at the NHRA Auto Club of Southern California Finals at Pomona Raceway in Calif.
WHERE: O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Indianapolis. Track is located on Indiana Highway 136, four miles west of Interstate 465 at exit 16.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, September 18-20, 2009.
SCHEDULE: Time trials schedule for the Summit Racing Series North Central Division Finals:
FRIDAY, Sept. 18 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Time trials begin at 9 a.m. The VP Racing Fuels Race of Champions, a race within a race featuring the top points earners from each track, will begin at 3 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 19 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Final time trials for Pro, Super Pro, Super Pro Bike and Sportsman run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. First round of eliminations for all categories will start at 1 p.m. All classes will run two rounds of eliminations.
SUNDAY, Sept. 20 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Eliminations continue at 9 a.m. Competitors in the High School category are slated to have two time trial runs before running eliminations with the other classes.
PURSE: The Summit E.T. Racing Series competitors in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will compete for cash awards of $70,850. The winners in each category will advance to compete against winners from NHRA’s other six divisions at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., in November. They will each receive $3,500 for competing in the Finals in Pomona and the winner in each class will receive an additional $5,000. Participants in the High School category compete for trophies.
2008 EVENT WINNERS: O’Reilly Raceway Park, team champion; Lance Stillwell, Super Pro; Joe Lee, Pro; Jimmie Barrett, Sportsman; Chad Isley, Super Pro Bike; Jordan Eaker, High School