Hess Regains Mopar Hemi Title (NHRA)

BELLE ROSE, La. – Bucky Hess took out the 2-time defending champ Charlie Westcott Jr. to claim the Mopar Hemi Super Stock Challenge at this weekend’s NHRA JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway.

Hess raced to an 8.741 second lap at 153.07 mph for the win as Westcott broke in the final round. Hess, who won the inaugural Hemi Challenge at the prestigious NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2001, took out Jeg Coughlin in the semi-finals and took home the $5000 purse from Mopar.

“It’s just unbelievable,” expressed Hess. “The top three cars were in the semi-finals and I owe this to Joe Clark and my engine program. Joe is a genius. He just knows how to find a little more in the engine when we need it. I need to thank my family as well; my wife Regina, my son Travis, and his wife Lori.”

Troy Coughlin knocked off Greg Lair in the Didier Communications Top Sportsman Shootout with a run of 6.689 seconds at 204.57 mph. Coughlin covered the field throughout eliminations running 6.693 and 6.687 seconds in rounds one and two prior to meeting up with Lair.

“We qualified well and the car was set,” said Coughlin after the win. “Then the weather changed and we had to change some things around. We went to our notebook, did a little homework, and had a great day.”

Coughlin is also the No. 1 qualifier in Top Sportsman for the Jeg’s.com Cajun SPORTSnationals event which will start eliminations on Sunday morning.

Craig Bourgeois held on to the No. 1 spot in Comp Eliminator running 6.889 seconds, 0.651 seconds under the index. The Matairie, La., racer is followed by Michael Johnson of Springdale, Ark., with an 8.722 second lap, 0.638 seconds under.

Westcott’s father Charlie Sr., qualified No. 1 in Super Stock running 9.551 in his ’98 Grand Am followed by Jerry Silveus in second and Donaldsonville, La., resident J. Allen Sherman in the No. 4 spot.

Robert Shaw put his ’85 Chevy on top in Stock Eliminator with a 14.397 second run and Freddie Sandrock finished No. 1 in Top Dragster covering the quarter-mile in 6.800 seconds at 199.64 mph. Michael Kile of Westlake, La., qualified second in the 28-car field full of Louisiana racers.

Racing continues Sunday at 9:00 with round one of eliminations. Gates open at 7 a.m. and tickets are $20. For more information, call No Problem Raceway at 985-369-3692.

The following are Saturday’s final qualifying results for the NHRA JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at No Problem Raceway.

Competition Eliminator

1) Craig Bourgeois, Metarie, La., dragster, A/ND, 6.889 seconds, -0.651 (under index)
2) Michael Johnson, Springdale, Ark., ’04 Cavalier, F/SMA, 8.722, -0.638
3) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., ’32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.312, -0.638
4) Dick Maris, Valrico, Fla., dragster, C/D, 6.988, -0.622
5) Shane Heckel, LaPorte, Texas, dragster, B/D, 6.670, -0.620
6) Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Spring, La., dragster, C/D, 7.010, -0.600
7) Raymond Martin, Mt Belvieu, Texas, ’32 Bantam, K/AA, 7.782, -0.598
8) Jeff Miller, Pasadena, Texas, ’05 Cavalier, B/SMA, 8.211, -0.579
9) Scott Cashio, Ventress, La., ’02 Cavalier, G/SMA, 8.897, -0.553
10) Adam White, Houston, Texas, dragster, A/ND, 6.991, -0.549

Super Stock

1) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., ’98 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.551 seconds, -1.249 (under index)
2) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, ’05 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.457, -1.243
3) Gilbert Johnson Jr, Lecompte, La., ’90 Camaro, GT/IA, 10.300, -1.200
4) J Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., ’90 Grand Am, SS/DM, 9.021, -1.179
5) Charlie Wescott Jr, Parma, Mich., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.622, -1.178
6) Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., ’67 Nova, SS/G, 9.595, -1.155
7) Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., ’56 Nomad, SS/NA, 11.296, -1.154
8) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., ’96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.719, -1.131
9) Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.674, -1.126
10) Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill, W.V., ’68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.681, -1.119

Stock Eliminator

1) Robert Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., ’83 Caprice, L/FIA, 14.397 seconds, -1.403 (under index)
2) Kent LaPorte, New Iberia, La., ’91 Camaro, F/FIA, 11.719, -1.231
3) Jim Hale, Van Buren, Ark., ’67 Barracuda, G/SA, 11.070, -1.230
4) Charlie Smith, Modesto, Calif., ’69 Dart, C/SA, 10.501, -1.199
5) Floyd Russo Jr., Gonzales, La., ’01 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.540, -1.160
6) Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., ’98 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.544, -1.156
7) John McCarthy Jr, Lyndon, Ky., ’77 Starfire, V/S, 14.401, -1.149
8) Greg Turk, Pasadena, Texas, ’80 Malibu, M/SA, 12.015, -1.135
9) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, ’70 Challenger, A/SA, 10.177, -1.123
10) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., ’70 GTX, B/SA, 10.432, -1.118

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Troy Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, ’04 Cavalier, 6.616 seconds, 209.79 mph
2) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., ’68 Camaro, 6.806, 203.40
3) Lee Adkins Jr, Linden, Tenn., ’57 Chevy, 6.848, 201.22
4) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, ’05 Grand Am, 6.900, 200.32
5) J. Lee Didier II, Fort Smith, Ark., ’04 Cavalier, 6.920, 199.88
6) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., ’03 Pontiac, 6.945, 203.16
7) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., ’05 Cobalt, 6.955, 199.70
8) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., ’06 GTO, 6.957, 200.77
9) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, ’02 Cavalier, 6.958, 201.97
10) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., ’04 Cavalier, 6.962, 200.08

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Freddie Sandrock, Bay St. Louis, Miss., dragster, 6.800 seconds, 199.64 mph
2) John Garner, Houston, Texas, dragster, 6.979, 193.54
3) Andre Landry, Pierre Part, La., dragster, 7.002, 192.60
4) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 7.036, 196.42
5) Timmy Graves, Denham Spgs, La., dragster, 7.097, 187.86
6) Brandon Chauvin, Gonzales, La., dragster, 7.107, 188.17
7) Loretta Eckert, Calhoun, La., dragster, 7.126, 190.00
8) Gary Mock, Prairieville, La., dragster, 7.144, 191.67
9) George Tyler, Franklin, La., dragster, 7.144, 188.75
10) Chris Bermond, Bay St Louis, Miss., dragster, 7.183, 191.29