LINKE AND BENHAM GO GOLD IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD
OLD BRIDGE, N.J.- Russell Linke and Scott Benham scored big victories in front of a cheering home crowd during the NHRA Northeast division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Linke, who lives minutes away from the track in Old Bridge, gave up the starting line to charging Fred Thibeault, Middleton, N.S., but Thibeault took too much stripe and broke out. Linke earned the Stock Eliminator divisional Wally trophy, making a winning pass of 10.519 seconds, 115.65 mph; Thibeault 10.212 seconds, 126.01 mph.
New Jersey Comp Eliminator standouts Benham of Jackson and Aragona of Freehold squared off in the final round. Benham pulled the minor upset, running 8.076 seconds, 162.02 mph to hold off Aragona, 7.365 seconds, 177.72 mph.
Peter Frisina, Farmingville, N.Y., got off the starting line first and outlasted Val DiGenova, Derry, N.H., running 6.774 seconds, 194.49 mph in the MXI/Magnaflux Top Dragster final round. Sandy Wilkins, Mount Ulla, N.C., triggered a .006 second reaction, and edged Joseph Heffernan, Aston, Pa., for the MXI/Magnaflux Top Sportsman Wally. Wilkins hit a final stride of 6.689 seconds, 190.94 mph.
The other drivers visiting the winner’s circle were Joseph Santangelo in Super Stock; Philip Smida in Super Comp; Karri Khoury in Super Street; Jason Kenny in Super Gas; Ed Armstrong in Pro Stock Snowmobile.
The following are Sunday’s final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northeast Division event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park:
COMP ELIMINATOR
Scott Benham, Jackson, N.J., ’03 S-10, B/T, 8.076, 162.02 def. Frank Aragona, Freehold, N.J., ’16 Neil & Parks, E/DA, 7.365, 177.72.
SUPER STOCK PRESENTED BY ATI
Joseph Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., ’87 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.031, 121.87 def. Paul Guenther, Galloway, N.J., ’03 Mustang, FGT/F, 9.372, 133.63.
STOCK ELIMINATOR PRESENTED BY ATI
Russell Linke, Old Bridge, N.J., ’97 Camaro, C/SA, 10.519, 115.65 def. Fred Thibeault, Middleton, N.S., ’69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.212, 126.01.
SUPER COMP
Philip Smida, Canfield, Ohio, ’15 American, 8.896, 176.12 def. Mike Robilotto, Albany, N.Y., ’13 Undercover, 8.883, 174.30.
SUPER GAS
Jason Kenny, Kutztown, Pa., ’03 Corvette, 9.909, 166.11 def. Tom Goldman, Allentown, Pa., ’58 Corvette, 9.908, 163.04.
SUPER STREET
Karri Khoury, North Salem, N.H., ’84 Chevy Pickup, 10.906, 141.67 def. Mark Proulx, Osgoode, Ont., ’65 Comet, 10.874, 119.18.
MXI/MAGNAFLUX TOP SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE
Sandy Wilkins, Mount Ulla, N.C., ’69 Camaro, 6.689, 190.94 def. Joseph Heffernan, Aston, Pa., ’69 Opel GT, 7.225, 187.50.
MXI/MAGNAFLUX TOP DRAGSTER PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE
Peter Frisina, Farmingville, N.Y., ’06 Spitzer, 6.774, 194.49 def. Val DiGenova, Derry, N.H., ’00 Dan Page, 6.737, 199.52.
PRO STOCK SNOWMOBILE
Ed Armstrong, Westfield, Mass., ‘ch Z, 8.433, 155.94 def. Heath Smith, Westmoreland, N.Y., ’03 Skidoo, 9.037, 153.30.
