THOMPSON AND HALL WIN AT HOME
ENNIS, Texas – Fans were in celebration as multiple home state winners were crowned in the action packed AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. Champions were recognized in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, as well as Comp Eliminator, Stock, Super Comp and the rest of the classes that encompass the nationwide series.
In Top Alcohol Dragster, Bradley Thompson scored his first win in just his second start, getting the victory on Shawn Cowie’s final-round red-light. Thompson’s debut came at this event last year, where he failed to qualify. Bradley, a local Texan hailing from Vernon, registered a victory pass of 5.299 seconds, 268.17 mph. Cowie, Surrey, B.C., hit a runner-up pass of 5.666 seconds, 229.31 mph.
In an all Californian Top Alcohol Funny Car finale, Sean Bellemeur, who scored his first win at the Fall Nationals last year in the Bartone Bros., entry, successfully defended his event championship by defeating John Lombardo Jr. in the final round. Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., scored a victory pass of 5.527 seconds, 236.84 mph. Lombardo, Brea, Calif., who had mechanical issues at the starting line, made a subpar pass of 10.104 seconds, 98.76 mph. Lombardo however, was able to prevent Jonnie Lindberg from clinching his second straight season championship by defeating him in the semifinals.
The postponed Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car finals from the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle were also completed this weekend. In the funny car finale, Shane Westerfield, Anaheim, Calif., ran 5.569 seconds, 267.53 mph to defeat Nick Januik, Las Vegas, who posted a runner-up pass of 5.608 seconds, 261.32 mph.
Newly crowned 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil World Champion Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., pulled out the victory in a very close Top Alcohol Dragster finale against Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif. Severance hit a winning run of 5.281seconds, 273.33 mph as Demke was nearly neck-and-neck with him, running 5.329 seconds, 272.12 mph.
In the Comp Eliminator final round Keith Hall, Ravenna, Texas, was able to outlast Dick Maris from Montgomery, Texas, in a battle for state bragging rights. Both ran nearly five-tenths under their index but Maris left early with a red light foul start.
In the all Texas, Top Dragster final round presented by RacingRVs.com, Scooter Hampton, Odessa, Texas had an easy victory, Roger Massey, Gilmer, Texas red lit at the starting line. Hampton registered a victory run of 7.178, 190.75.
The Top Sportsman final round presented by RacingRVs.com also left little to confusion as to who the victor was. Jeff Koron, Hays, Kan., cruised to victory running 6.398, 200.83; Danny Nelson, Batesville, Ark., red lit at the starting line.
The other drivers visiting the winner’s circle (including three Texas champions) were James Caro, Houma, La., in Super Stock; Rusty Hall, Sweeny, Texas in Stock Eliminator; Jeremy Demers, Carroll, Iowa in Super Comp; Christopher Best, Plano, Texas in Super Gas; and Chase Huffman, Blanchard, Okla., in Super Street.
The following are final results from AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Bradley Thompson, Monden, 5.299, 268.17 def. Shawn Cowie, Hadman, 5.666, 229.31
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Sean Bellemeur, Camaro, 5.527, 236.84 def. John Lombardo Jr., Camaro, 10.104, 98.76
COMP ELIMINATOR
Keith Hall, Cavalier, 8.434, 154.83 def. Dick Maris, Prostart, 6.988 seconds, 183.89 mph
SUPER STOCK
James Caro, Challenger, 9.847, 133.33 def. Norvell Bowers, Firebird, 10.673, 122.77
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Rusty Hall, Mustang, 10.218, 120.96 def. Bobby Brannon, Camaro, 10.406, 125.12
SUPER COMP
Jeremy Demers, Worthy, 8.912, 176.44 def. Gary Stinnett, Miller, 8.917, 177.39
SUPER GAS
Christopher Best, Nova, 9.927, 155.54 def. Heidi Robison, Corvette, 9.939, 166.66
SUPER STREET
Chase Huffman, Camaro, 10.979, 120.41 def. Tom Phillips, Firebird, 11.050, 140.11
TOP DRAGSTER
Jeff Koron, Undercover, 6.398, 200.83 def. Danny Nelson, Racecraft, 8.893, 104.00
TOP SPORTSMAN
Scooter Hampton, GTO, 7.178, 190.75 def. Roger Massey, Cavalier, 7.004, 197.94
The following are final results from the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Joey Severance, 5.281, 273.33 def. Chris Demke, 5.329, 272.12
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Shane Westerfield, 5.569, 267.53 def. Nick Januik, 5.608, 261.32
