Woodburn 5/02 Results include Nostalgia Hot Rod and More




VICTORIES CLAIMED IN NOSTALGIA HOT ROD, WORLD OF SPEED JR, PICKUP, & POWDERPUFF SERIES

For once, the weatherman finally got it right. With blue sky in the forecast, and blue sky overhead, racing was completed in a warm, cool spring breeze. Individual winners were claimed in the name of Ron Pappel (Top Gas), Rick Sales Sr (Hot Rod I), David Bronec (Street Machine I), Dawn Dietrich (Hot Rod II), Jolene Woodward (Street Machine II), Walt Skoczylas (Inline/Flathead), John Davidson (Stick Shift), Jake Meithof (Jr Lightning), Dylan Hough (Jr Thunder), Ramon Vincent (Jr Storm), Harry Cole (Pickup), Amy Fields (Powderpuff), Jeff Sievers (Run Tuff), and Nicholas Karr (Jr Tuff). For more information on upcoming events, please visit www.woodburndragstrip.com, or our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/woodburndragstrip.com.

Top Gas eliminations is for vehicles that are 1979 and older, dial 7.00-11.99, and have the assistance of either a delay box and/or throttle stop. Ron Pappel defeated Don Schroeder, Brad Swinford, Gary Wargnier, and a competition single to reach the final round. Pappel’s week was full of adversity as he overcame engine problems to reach the event. In the final round, the race was over before it even began as Olmsted turned on the red light bulb by -.007. Schroeder was the number one qualifier with a .000 perfect light, which gained him admission to the Perfect Light Club, courtesy of Northwest Wholesale/Hilton Racing, the suppliers of Goodyear/Hoosier/Mickey Thompson Race Tires.

The Hot Rod I category is one that has vehicles 1965 and older, running 9.00-13.99, and allows the use of a transbrake. Rick Sales Sr faced off alongside incoming points leader Alan Ross. Sales Sr ran his Radio Flyer Pickup past Marc Pruett, Bret Davis, a single, and Steve Canton. Against the wheel-standing Mustang of Ross, Sales ripped the line with a .011 reaction, and powered out to a 10.146 on his 10.09 dial-in. Jerry Biscay was the number one qualifier with a .005 reaction.

Street Machine I racers are those who have vehicles 1967-1979, run between 9.00-13.99, and are permitted to use a transbrake. ‘Dynamite’ Dave Bronec continued his successes from 2014 by reaching the final round in this event after defeating Randy Doan, Jay Hindman, and Dean Tabert, before lining up in the finals against Mike Hansen. In the finals, Hansen got to the finish line first but broke out, meaning that last years’ ET Finals Pro Champion would be the winner in today’s event. Bill Brown was the number one qualifier with a .004.

For the Hot Rod II category, racers must compete in vehicles that are 1965 or older, while running slower than a 12.00. Dawn Dietrich drove to the final round in the Bob Comeau-built ’39 Coupe to face off against Dan Stokes’ ’65 Mustang. Dietrich took out points leader Marty Arrigotti, Inaugural class champion Jeff Enger, and 2014 Class Champion Garry Heinrich en route to the final round. In the finals, Stokes left with the reaction time advantage but broke out at the finish line by .010, leaving the win light to come on in Dietrich’s lane. Mark Tabert was the number one qualifier, leaving with a stellar .007 reaction.

The Street Machine II category is for racers in vehicles that are 1966-1979, and run 12.00 and slower. The final round brought a matchup of a Chevrolet and a Ford, with Jolene Woodward and Jimmy Heriford doing battle. Woodward downed Michael McFadden, a single, and last year’s Champ Tony Bombara to reach the finals. With what was set up for a phenomenal final ended prematurely when Heriford left with a .012 red light start, sending Jolene Woodward into the Quality Concrete/Salem Concrete Paving Winner’s Circle. Woodward was also the number one qualifier with a .039.

The Inline/Flathead category, one strictly for 1979 and older vehicles powered by an inline/flathead motor, always brings out a special kind of competition. With a wide range of vehicle speeds, the rounds are always exciting! In the final round, a pair of former champions did battle: Walt Skoczylas, ‘08 Dragster/Roadster; and Michael Bjerklund, ’12 Inline/Flathead. Skoczylas defeated Richard Bjerklund and Jim Johnson to earn the semi-final round single, while Bjerklund earned wins over Jerry Stauffer, Douglas Powers, and Jim Weiblen. The final round showed a dial-in difference of 6.58 seconds! Bjerklund was off first with the green light. Waiting…waiting…waiting was Skoczylas, and they were both off with green lights! Bjerklund had the advantage but runs under his posted dial-in and breaks out! Skoczylas was the number one qualifier with a .011.

Stick Shift is for vehicles 1979 and older that run a manual shifting transmission. John Davidson brought out his ’66 VW Bug to compete, and found himself in the final round against Paul Carbaugh. Off the starting line Davidson had the reaction advantage, and he never looked back turning that into an 11.751 on the 11.70 dial victory.

The World of Speed Jr Lightning category is for Jr Competitors ages 13-17, with a dial-in window of 7.90 & Slower. With this being a double-header event for the Jr Dragster racers, it was all the more important to have a strong showing on the first day. Jake Meithof and Austin Varner were both anxious to do just that, as they faced off in the final round of competition. Meithof defeated Shawn Cranford, Trevin Walberg, and Katie Day to reach the finals, while Varner defeated Adam Lint and Anthony Friesen to earn the semi-final round single. In the finals, Meithof had the reaction time advantage and ran closer to his dial-in for the victory. Walberg was the numb

For the World of Speed Jr Thunder category, it’s a competition of young adults ages 10-14. Dylan Hough and Conner Rice were set for battle in the finals. Hough defeated Nicholas Karr to earn the semi-final round single, while Rice’s first round single sent him into a semi-final round victory against Ian Theofelis. In the finals, Hough left with a reaction time advantage of over .05, and was able to run a closer to his posted dial to get the win—already his third of the series. Theofelis was the number one qualifier with a .011.

In the World of Speed Jr Storm category, reserved for ages 6-10, final round opponents Ramon Vincent and Duncan Gray were set for battle. Vincent defeated Kaison Smith to earn the semi-final round single, while Gray’s first round single sent him to a semi-final round battle against Ryan Dick. In the finals, young Duncan Gray was a touch too anxious off the line, leaving too soon by .074, and handing the win to Ramon Vincent, scoring his second consecutive. Gray was the number one qualifier with a .028.

Pickup eliminations showcased Harry Cole and John Floyd Jr in the final round of racing. Cole defeated Bart Sowa, Dell King, and Steve Sherman to reach the final round. These two being friends and business partners, the action was certain to be intense in the finals. Floyd left with the better reaction time, but got there too quickly, breaking out by .001 at the finish, and meaning that Cole would be the winner in today’s activities.

Powderpuff contestants competed through four brutal rounds of racing before Amy Fields and Chelbi Hageman emerged as final-round opponents. Fields defeated Kourtney Dixon and Kimberly Volk before earning the semi-final round single. Meanwhile, Hageman had eliminated Lavonne Goodman, Karen Kalsch, and Stephanie Biscay. In the finals, the race was over before it even began as Hageman turned on the red light bulb, meaning Fields would be the event champion. Fields wanted to dedicated the race victory in honor of Sarah Crunelle, who tragically lost her life earlier in the week.

The Tualatin Transmissions Run Tuff category is for racers who have the misfortune of losing in the first round of competition. Jeff Sievers and Norm Davis were set to do battle in the final round, with Sievers getting the win after Davis turned on the red light bulb by -.001. Sievers went down the track and showed that he meant business, running a 11.861 on his 11.86 dial-in, with a .039 reaction time. Adam Leisinger was the lone semi-finalist. In the World of Speed Jr Tuff category, Nicholas Karr defeated Nathan Greene when Greene broke out at the finish line stripe. Kaison Smith and Adam Lint were the semi-final finishers.

Final round results listed below, in order of driver name, hometown, (vehicle year/model), [reaction time], elapsed time, miles per hour, and (dial-in).

Top Gas
W: Ron Pappel, Eugene OR (’27 Roadster) [.034] 8.403, 159.09 (8.40 dial).
R/U: Kirby Olmsted, McMinnville OR (’68 Camaro) [-.007] 9.127, 150.35 (9.08 dial).
Semi’s: Ken Sweo, Oregon City OR.

Hot Rod I
W: Rick Sales Sr, Eugene OR (’65 GMC) [.011] 10.146, 132.02 (10.09 dial).
R/U: Alan Ross, Estacada OR (’65 Mustang) [.022] 10.590, 117.32 (10.54 dial).
Semi’s: Ron Wirostek, Brush Prairie WA; Steve Canton, Boring OR.

Street Machine I
W: David Bronec, Hubbard OR (’72 Nova) [.063] 10.207, 128.86 (10.20 dial).
R/U: Mike Hansen, Aurora OR (’67 Camaro) [.081] 10.282, 127.91 (10.32 dial).
Semi’s: Gregg Heriford, Vancouver WA; Dean Tabert, Tigard OR.

Hot Rod II
W: Dawn Dietrich, Battle Ground WA (’39 Coupe) [.085] 12.119, 112.20 (12.12 dial).
R/U: Dan Stokes, Albany OR (’65 Mustang) [.034] 12.430, 102.11 (12.44 dial).
Semi’s: Mike Mihalisko, Beaverton OR; Garry Heinrich, Boring OR.

Street Machine II
W: Jolene Woodward, Lyons OR (’74 Nova) [.029] 12.365, 107.91 (12.30 dial).
R/U: Jimmy Heriford, Battle Ground WA (’66 Fairlane) [-.012] foul.
Semi’s: Tony Bombara, Sutherlin OR.

Inline/Flathead
W: Walt Skoczylas, Aloha OR (’54 Dragster) [.162] 11.836, 111.17 (11.82 dial).
R/U: Michael Bjerklund, Lebanon OR (’68 Dodge) [.105] 18.373, 72.98 (18.40 dial).
Semi’s: Jim Weiblen, Olympia WA.

Stick Shift
W: John Davidson, Coos Bay OR (’66 VW Bug) [.092] 11.751, 114.21 (11.70 dial).
R/U: Paul Carbaugh, Cloverdale OR (’62 Chevrolet) [.228] 11.998, 114.30 (11.95 dial).
Semi’s: Bruce Poppino, West Linn OR.

Jr Lightning
W: Jake Meithof, Lafayette OR (’08 Eickmann) [.119] 7.921, 82.91 (7.90 dial).
R/U: Austin Varner, Astoria OR (’06 Fluge) [.136] 7.925, 84.01 (7.90 dial).
Semi’s: Katie Day, Estacada OR.

Jr Thunder
W: Dylan Hough, Junction City OR (’14 Mike Bos) [.099] 8.972, 70.34 (8.90 dial).
R/U: Conner Rice, Milwaukie OR (’06 Fluge) [.151] 9.016, 76.55 (8.90 dial).
Semi’s: Ian Theofelis, Port Orchard WA.

Jr Storm
W: Ramon Vincent, Stayton OR (’06 Fluge) [.021] 10.148, 63.18 (10.00 dial).
R/U: Duncan Gray, Portland OR (’05 Fluge) [-.074] 11.889, 53.85 (11.90 dial).
Semi’s: Ryan Dick, Astoria OR.

Pickup
W: Harry Cole, Gresham OR (’77 Chevy) [.120] 13.764, 91.43 (13.71 dial).
R/U: John Floyd Jr, Gresham OR (’02 Chevy 2500) [.065] 14.959, 82.16 (14.96 dial).
Semi’s: Steve Sherman, Beavercreek OR; Kourtney Dixon, Sweet Home OR.

Powderpuff
W: Amy Fields, Tigard OR (’84 Chevy S10) [.036] 12.057, 108.36 (12.10 dial).
R/U: Chelbi Hageman, Blodgett OR (’65 Satellite) [-.060] 11.601, 113.33 (11.59 dial).
Semi’s: Stephanie Biscay, McCleary WA.

Run Tuff
W: Jeff Sievers, Veneta OR (’68 Oldsmobile) [.039] 11.861, 113.29 (11.86 dial).
R/U: Norm Davis, Sandy OR (’33 Ford) [-.001] foul.
Semi’s: Adam Lesinger, Jefferson OR.

Jr Tuff
W: Nicholas Karr, Salem OR (’06 Motivational Tubing) [.094] 8.942, 73.16 (8.90 dial).
R/U: Nathan Greene, Rochester WA (’08 Motivational Tubing) [.098] 7.861, 83.72 (7.90 dial).
Semi’s: Kaison Smith, Kaison Smith; Adam Lint, Vancouver WA.

– Travis Hilton




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