ACTION KICKS OFF FOR NHRA JEG’S NORTHERN SPORTSNATIONALS

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES
JEG’S NORTHERN SPORTSNATIONALS
NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY, HEBRON, OHIO

HEBRON, Ohio – Racing kicked off today with more than $400,000 in purse and contingency up for grabs at this weekend’s Jeg’s Northern Sportsnationals event at National Trail Raceway. More than 400 cars in seven classes are competing for individual honors and NHRA Lucas Oil National Championship points.

Bruno Massel leads all number one qualifiers running 7.637 seconds in Comp Eliminator with his ’07 Cobalt. Massel, from Addison, Ill., is followed by Vinny Barone of Dix Hills, N.Y., and multi-national event champion David Rampy of Piedmont, Ala., in third.

Frank Tamez made the haul from Yakima, Wash., to qualify on top in the Top Sportsman class with a 7.103 seconds, 195.68 mph pass. Robert Sellers of Daytona Beach, Fla., and local racer Mike Coughlin of Delaware, Ohio, are No. 2 and 3 respectively.

On top in Super Stock is Ray Vierheller III of Barberton, Ohio, with a pass of 9.639 seconds followed by Ronnie Terrell of Hebron, Ky., in second and Coughlin’s brother John in fifth. Johnny Fisher qualified No. 1 in Stock Eliminator out of Raleigh, N.C., with a run of 11.87 seconds and is followed by Cincinnati resident Rick Winchester in second.

Racing continues Friday at 10 a.m. along with class eliminations in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, and the Stock classes, highlighted by the Mopar Hemi Challenge contested by racers in Super Stock running 1968 Dodge Darts and 1968 Hemi Barracudas.

Delaware, Ohio, racer Jim Pancake leads the Hemi cars in qualifying running an 8.869 second pass while Charlie Westcott Jr. is looking to take home his fourth consecutive Jeg’s Sportsnationals Hemi Challenge trophy this weekend.

Saturday’s activities include a car show and swap meet along with Jet Car exhibition runs.

Gates open at 7 a.m. both days. Tickets are $15 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. National Trail Raceway is located at 2650 National Road SW in Hebron, Ohio; approximately 20 miles east of Columbus on old U.S. Highway 40, one mile north of Interstate 70 at the Kirkersville exit. From Columbus, take I-70 to Highway 158 north and follow the signs, or take I-70 to Highway 37 north to U.S. Highway 40 and follow the signs. For more information, call National Trail Raceway, (740) 928-5706.


The following are Thursday’s qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Jeg’s Northern Sportsnationals event at National Trail Raceway:

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Bruno Massel, Addison, Ill., ’07 Cobalt, DD/AT, 7.637 seconds, -0.663 (under index)
2) Vinny Barone, Dix Hills, N.Y., ’34 Roadster, A/SR, 7.930, -0.550
3) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., ’32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.428, -0.482
4) Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., dragster, C/ED, 7.464, -0.466
5) Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., ’32 Bantam, D/EA, 8.531, -0.449
6) Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., ’23 roadster, J/AA, 8.024, -0.416
7) Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., dragster, D/D, 7.410, -0.410
8) John Frech, Warren, Ohio, dragster, F/D, 8.310, -0.410
9) Dale Spencer, Greenwood, Ind., dragster, F/ED, 8.551, -0.409
10) Lee Zane, Perry Hall, Md., ’32 Bantam, L/AA, 9.308, -0.402


SUPER STOCK

1) Ray Vierheller, Barberton, Ohio, ’92 Camaro, SS/BX, 9.639 seconds, -1.211 (under index)
2) Ronnie Terrell, Hebron, Ky., ’85 Camaro, SS/JA, 10.196, -1.104
3) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., ’98 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.706, -1.094
4) Irvin Johns, Charlestown, Ind., ’02 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.511, -1.039
5) John Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, ’04 Cavalier, SS/CM, 8.925, -1.025
6) Byron Worner, Duncannon, Pa., ’96 Camaro, SS/IA, 9.977, -1.023
7) Gene McBean, Chardon, Ohio, ’95 Mustang, GT/BA, 9.556, -0.994
8) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., ’96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.867, -0.983
9) Ricky Decker, Charlestown, Ind., ’94 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.730, -0.970
10) Don Carpenter II, Conway, Pa., ’79 Cadillac, SS/PA, 11.986, -0.964


STOCK

1) Johnny Fisher, Raleigh, N.C., ’80 Mirada, K/SA, 11.887 seconds, -1.063 (under index)
2) Rick Winchester, Cincinnati, ’73 Camaro, I/SA, 11.558, -1.042
3) Raymond Skipper Jr., Richmond, Va., ’95 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.701, -0.999
4) Steve Sullivan, W. Chester, Ohio, ’88 Mustang, G/FIA, 12.152, -0.998
5) Ben Wenzel Sr., Freeland, Mich., ’67 Camaro, D/S, 10.815, -0.985
6) Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., ’69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.725, -0.975
7) Mike Welfel, Nashville, Tenn., ’69 Camaro, F/SA, 11.176, -0.974
8) Bob Schroeder, Peconic, N.Y., ’69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.577, -0.973
9) Bruce Witherspoon, Lansing, Mich., ’90 Corvette, D/FIA, 11.341, -0.959
10) Brent Darroch, Monaca, Pa., ’96 Impala, F/FIA, 11.993, -0.957


TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Frank Tamez, Yakima, Wash., ’04 Grand Am, 7.103 seconds, 195.68 mph
2) Robert Sellers, Daytona Beach, Fla., ’06 Avenger, 7.311, 175.98
3) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, ’06 Cobalt, 7.368, 188.25
4) Jim Carlton, Bradenton, Fla., ’04 Corvette, 7.405, 165.97
5) Mitch Smith, Anderson, Ind., ’06 GTO, 7.450, 183.89
6) Ed Stuart, Pensacola, Fla., ’04 Cavalier, 7.785, 176.93
7) Mark Parente, Englishtown, N.J., ’05 Grand Am, 7.799, 175.94
8) Charlie Edelen, Kettering, Ohio, ’02 Camaro, 8.641, 114.68
9) Mark Conkle, Etna, Ohio, ’87 Sunbird, (no time)


HEMI SUPER STOCK CHALLENGE

1) Jim Pancake, Delaware, Ohio, ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.869 seconds, -0.931 (under index)
2) Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.931, -0.869
3) Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill, W.V., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 9.030, -0.770
4) Matt Hensley, Knoxville, Tenn., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 9.095, -0.705
5) Randy Warford, Nashville, Tenn., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 9.115, -0.685
6) John Gifford, Naples, Fla., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 9.138, -0.662
7) John Baughman, York, Pa., ’68 Dart, SS/AH, 9.173, -0.627
8) Bob Wolkwitz, Darien, Conn., ’68 Dart, SS/AH, 9.225, -0.575
9) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, ’68 Dart, SS/AH, 9.575, -0.225
10) Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma, Mich., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 10.882, 1.082