SOROKIN WINS NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL DRAGSTER AT CONCLUSION OF HOLLEY HOT ROD REUNION PRESENTED BY AAA INSURANCE
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Thrilling racing action headlined the final day of the NHRA Holley Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance at Beech Bend Raceway with eliminations taking place in all the categories. In the signature event, the Nostalgia Top Fuel pitted west coast racers Adam Sorokin and Jim Murphy.
Murphy, the 2013 Nostalgia Top Fuel champion and tuned by legendary tuner Roland Leong put himself in an early disadvantage with a .126 second reaction time to a .062 of Sorokin. Murphy moved out of the groove at the top end and allowed Sorokin in his bright red Champion Speed Shop dragster to speed past for the win.
Sorokin posted a time of 5.762 seconds at 237.38 mph to the losing run of 6.376 at 158.87. With the win, Sorokin took over the points lead in Nostalgia Top Fuel category and won at an event the California-based team had circled on their calendar.
“It was worth the drive, worth the sweat, worth the heat, and this has been a race that has been kinda a thorn in our side ,” said Sorokin following the win. “We have been to the final three times but could just never pull the trigger on a win. This race to us is like Churchill Downs, rolling fields, hay and stuff, just a beautiful thing.”
All the categories crowned champions during the day and in Classic AA/GS it was Alan Borowski of West Seneca, N.Y taking the win; the victor in 7.0 Pro was Robbie Freels of Island, Ky.; Steve Matthews of Marietta, Okla. Won in 7.5 Pro; Competition Eliminator was won by Russell Snyder of Cordova, Tenn.; Bob Mitchell from Cincinnati, Ohio won Gas Eliminator; Gosnell, Ark., native Scott Tiffany won in Modified Eliminator; Geezer Gasser champion was Don Moyer of Mason, Ohio; Nostalgia Super Stock winner was Tommy Sedlock of Benton, Ky.; Top Stock Eliminator was won by Donnie Beeler of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Trevor Messamore from Hanson, Ky. sped to the Hot Rod Elimination I victory; Hot Rod Elimination II champion was Lyles, Tenn. native Johnny Matthews; Allen George from Coplay, Pa. took home the win in 409 Eliminator I; and Lonnie Hall from Dayton, Ohio was the 409 Eliminator II victor.
The Axalta Show ‘N Shine winners were also honored during the course of a busy day. Winners were:
Grand Marshall Award: Kenny & Mary Lee Doss, Greenville, Ky.,
Directors Choice: Marty Bachand, Monroe, Ill., ’34 Ford Coupe
Timeless Tradition: Shaun Blanford, Louisville, Ky., ’34 Ford Coupe Highboy
Killer Kustom: Hollis booker, Memphis, Ind., ’54 Orange Merc
Thrilling ’30’s: Robert & Chrissy Graton, Homosassa, Fla., Model A Coupe with Blown Buick
Fabulous 40’s: Laura Donat, Ripley, W.V., ’41 Willy with 409 engine
Finest 50’s: Dan Duffy, Marietta Ga., ’55 Chevrolet 5 window pickup
Sensational 60’s: Steve Sarfain, White Pine, Tenn., ’69 Dodge Charger RT
Super 70’s: Timmy Keown, Morgantown, Ky., ’71 Chevy Cheyanne pick up with Corvette motor
Axalta Best Shine & Detail: Dan Duffy, Marietta, Ga., ’55 Chevrolet 5 window pickup
One of a kind: Ron Smith, Clarnton, Mo., ’37 GMC crew cab custom dually
Period Correct: Joe Wall, Goodlettsville, Tenn., ’49 Rod Woodie Wagon
Most Uninsurable Car: Scott Robets, McDonald, Tenn., front motor VW turbo with suicide doors
Early Iron: Matt Robinson, Gallatin, Tenn., ’23 Ford T-Bucket Roadster
Axalta Best Paint: Gerald Feigl, Lexington, Ill., CFX Basecoat Candy Apple Red
Dynamat’s Less Noise: Tad & Jeff Johnson, Wingate, N.C., ’32 Ford 3 Window Coupe
Memory Lane: M. Keen, Dublin, Ga., Ramp truck with Bo-Laws Camaro Pro Stock
Honoree’s pick: Dane Lewis, Elizabeth, Pa., ’32 Ford 5 window coupe
Dazzlin’ Deuce: Jeff Rodda, Chelsea, Ala., ’32 Ford Highboy Roadster
Mighty Muscle: Bill & Barbara Rose, Cross Plains, Tenn., ’64 Dodge white with blown Hemi
The weekend closed with the famous Cacklefest featuring over 40 nostalgic cars at full throttle under a picture perfect sky.
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The following are Saturday’s final results from the NHRA Motorsports Museum 14th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance:
NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Adam Sorokin, Glendale, Calif., ’04 Sterling, 5.762, 237.38 def. Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa, Calif., ’13 Neil & Parks, 6.376, 158.87.
CLASSIC AA/GS
Alan Borowski, W. Seneca Falls, N.Y., ’48 Anglia, 5.859, 104.78 def. Brian Spotts, Polk, Ohio, ’48 Anglia, broke.
7.0 PRO
Robbie Freels, Island, Ky., dragster, 7.022, 187.91 def. Steve Faller, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., ’32 Bantam, foul.
7.50 PRO
Steve Matthews, Marietta, Okla., dragster, 7.490, 168.75 def. Bo Boles, Slaughters, Ky., ’23 Ford T, 7.489, 178.95.
GAS ELIMINATOR
Bob Mitchell, Cincinnati, Ohio, ’69 Dart, 9.994, 135.14 def. Phil Stamps, Tipton, Ind., ’70 Camaro, foul.
MODIFIED ELIMINATOR
Scott Tiffany, Gosnell, Ark., ’65 Chevy P/U, 11.145, 115.19 def. Ryan Hanlon, St Louis, Mo., ’67 Nova WGN, 11.565, 116.72.
GEEZER GASSERS
Don Moyer, Mentor, Ohio, ’40 Willys, 10.979, 118.40 def. Frankie Allen, Covington, La., ’33 Willys, foul.
NOSTALGIA SUPER STOCK
Tommy Sedlock, Benton, Ky., ’64 Fury, 9.771, 137.98 def. Mick Alles, New Albany, Ind., ’64 Belvedere, 10.951, 117.60.
TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR
Donnie Beeler, Elizabethtown, Ky., ’67 Camaro, 10.947, 120.50 def. Chris Cowles, Bowling Green, Ky., ’70 Nova, foul.
HOT ROD ELIMINATOR I
Trevor Messamore, Owensboro, Ky., ’85 Chevy S10, 10.348, 127.86 def. Adam Cline, Franklin, Ky., ’78 Malibu WGN, 10.636, 118.70.
HOT ROD ELIMINATOR II
Johnny Mathews, Lyles, Tenn., ’65 Comet, 11.991, 101.33 def. Johnny Britt, Bowling Green, Ky., ’69 Camaro, 11.914, 112.90.
348/409 ELIMINATOR I
Allen George Jr., Coplay, Pa., ’62 Impala, 10.892, 122.50 def. Rob Walden, Doraville, Ga., ’62 Bel AIR, 8.836, 152.09.
348/409 ELIMINATOR II
Lonnie Hall, Dayton, Ohio, ’62 Impala SS, 11.842, 106.76 def. Thomas Truppo, Conneaut, Ohio, ’66 GMC, 16.018, 83.74.