Freer's historic double highlights Norwalk Lucas Oil Sportsman action
Ten champions were crowned in NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, led by Lauren Freer, who won in both Super Comp and Super Gas, the first female to double up in national event competition.
Freer captured the first half of her historic double in Super Comp, wheeling her dragster to solid 8.91 to drive around David Dahlem’s holeshot-initiated 8.94 to collect her fifth career win, four of which had come in Super Comp. [video]
A few minutes after winning in Super Comp, Freer completed the first double-up win by a female in NHRA national event competition, taking home the Super Gas Wally in a spectacular final against Pat Martin. Both drivers were .00 on the Tree and ran 9.91s, but Freer got the win light by just .007-second. [video]
Kirk Wolf claimed his first Top Alcohol Dragster victory, wheeling the Dean Dubbin-owned, Chase Copeland-tuned Kentex Roofing Systems entry to a strong 5.29 to defeat Cody Krohn, who also was in pursuit of his first career win. Along the way, Wolf defeated perennial championship runners Julie Nataas and Matt Cummings to reach the final. [video]
Final round No. 8 was great for Bob McCosh Jr, who scored his first victory in Top Alcohol Funny Car after seven previous runner-ups. The Missouri car dealer took out one of the best, past world champ Sean Bellemeur, who shook the tires, to seal the deal. [video]
Three-time Comp world champ Bruno Massel Jr. collected career win No 18 in all-turbocharged final round, cutting a clutch .16 light and powering his Toyota 2JZ-powered Vital Brew Coffee entry to a (-.53) 7.00 to beat the Honda-powered I/Dragster of first-time finalist Andrew Holt (-.57) 6.63. [video]
Sean Dornan parked his vintage Hemi-powered ’64 Plymouth Savoy in the winner’s circle in Super Stock after topping reigning world champ Pete D’Agnolo in the final round. Dornan got the best of a double breakout with an 8.917 on his 8.92 dial. [video]
Marion Stephenson has now won a national event in each of the last four seasons and seven overall following his Stock final round win against Rob Bihl in Norwalk. Bihl left first but broke out while Stephenson turned in a winning 9.778 on his 9.72 dial. [video]
Ohio’s Scott Wasko was nearly unstoppable in the final of Right Trailers Top Sportsman as he coupled a .003 light and a 6.459 on his 6.45 dial to freeze out opponent Mike Morehead, who put together a very competitive run of his own with a .012 reaction time and a .013-over 6.643. [video]
Joe Swanson joined his wife, Afton, as an NHRA national event winner in the Right Trailers Top Dragster class after defeating past Top Sportsman world champ Darian Boesch in the final. Swanson broke out by a thousandth of a second but had already won the race after Boesch fouled. [video]