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The list of Sportsman winners at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals included everything from fresh-faced 18-year-old Koy Collier, who was competing in his first national event, to 69-year-old veteran Larry Cummings, who collected his first victory after more than five decades in the sport. The rest of the winners included first-time champions Terry Smith (Comp) and Christopher Dodd (Super Comp) as well as past winners Jacob Pitt (Super Stock), Tom Schmidt (Top Sportsman), and Matt Driskell (Top Dragster).

The youngest, and perhaps most exuberant champion, was Super Gas winner Collier, who turned 18 on Sept. 23, the day that qualifying and time trials began for the event. It was significant because had the event been held a week earlier, Collier would not have been eligible to participate. While the St. Louis race was technically his first national event, Collier does have extensive experience. He is not only a graduate of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, but he has also been racing his family’s Camaro at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events for more than a year. When most racers dream of winning their first event, they also dream of beating the toughest opponent possible in the final round, and for Collier, that scenario came true when he stopped reigning national champion Jacob Elrod in a close 9.91 to 9.92 battle. []

Cummings has visited the winner’s circle many times, but it’s usually to join the celebration with one of his two sons, Britt and Slate, who have combined to win 10 national events in a variety of classes. This time, it was his turn to shine behind the wheel of his Moser Engineering Cavalier. He was infallible in the final round with a .005 light and an 8.538 on his 8.52 dial to stop fellow 69-year-old Keith Lynch, who won back-to-back Super Stock national championships in 1982-83. []

Comp champ Smith called his first victory a “dream weekend” after defeating Fred Allen in the final round. In a battle between the No. 12 and No. 19 qualifiers, Smith used a (-.543) 6.547 to beat Allen’s (-.503) 7.387. Smith’s A/DA, backed by Kil-Kare Dragway in Xenia, Ohio, features a 500-cid Dodge Hemi engine that was built by Pro Stock engine builder Roy Johnson. Smith’s biggest win came in round two when he defeated the sport’s most successful Comp racer, David Rampy, who fouled. []

After a runner-up finish earlier this season, when he fouled against Tommy Phillips in Houston, Pitt rallied to win his second national event title. Driving his ’69 Barracuda, a car built by West Coast ace Steve Wann, Pitt kicked off eliminations with an almost-perfect .003 package and later defeated Carson Pedigo’s Chevelle in a heads-up, no breakout C/SA battle, 10.34 to 10.43. In the final round, Pitt got the best of Chris Stephenson’s K/SA ’73 Buick Apollo in a double-breakout race. []

Super Comp winner Dodd had one prior national event final at the 2014 Dallas event, but he has now evened his record by driving his Undercover-chassis dragster to a final-round win over Robert Eaker, who fouled in his ’67 Nova wagon. Dodd faced plenty of tough opponents during eliminations, including fellow Division 4 racer Terry Sullivan, Ross Laris, and four-time national champ Gary Stinnett in the semifinal round. []

Schmidt wheeled his Pontiac GXP past JJ Heber’s Mustang in the final round of Top Sportsman presented by Racing RVs and in the process earned his fifth NHRA national event victory in four different categories. Schmidt, a previous winner in Comp, Super Comp, and Super Gas, won the final with a 6.89 on his 6.88 dial against Heber’s .02-second breakout. After the final, the Minnesota-based Schmidt noted that he doesn’t get a lot of time to race, so he has to make the most of each opportunity. He also credited his wife, Holly, for her help with the team. []

Driskell, the 1996 Super Comp national champ, is now a serious contender for a second title following his win in the Top Dragster presented by Racing RVs category. The final round featured two of the top-five ranked drivers in the country with Driskell running right on his 6.32 dial to defeat Jeff Strickland, who was .01-second over with a 6.42. Driskell, who finished as runner-up in last year’s inaugural Top Dragster points battle, also defeated reigning champ Marco Abruzzi en route to his seventh career win. After the final, Driskell was just one point behind current leader Steve Furr in the race for the 2016 title.����]

Previous events:
Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
NHRA Carolina Nationals