Warm Temperatures Lead to Exciting Racing in World of Speed Jrs, Hole in the Hood, NAPA Import Parts Sport Compact, Powderpuff
A wonderfully blue sky day lead to amazingly close side-by-side races, with a wide variety of classes competing, including exciting exhibition passes from the Jet Cars (Richard Smith), AA/Supercharged (Mitch Chamberlin), and BB/Funny Cars (Marty Stewart), the racers had their A-Game on come eliminations time! Drivers who claimed wins were Trevin Walberg (Jr Lightning), Carson Campbell (Jr Thunder), Ryan Bese (Jr Storm), Steve Canton (Hole in the Hood), Chelbi Hageman (Powderpuff), Hoppy Hopkins (Sport Compact), Bob Rea (Run Tuff), and Kyler Pitts (Jr Tuff). Excitement abounds next weekend, with the running of the 13th Annual Tulip Festival Drags! Information for the event is available in the Events section on www.woodburndragstrip.com and www.facebook.com/woodburndragstrip.
The World of Speed Jr Lightning category featured a final round between Trevin Walberg and Jake Meithof. Walberg made his way into the last elimination matchup by defeating Shawn Cranford, a single, and Katie Day. Walberg’s trip was littered with good reaction times and close runs, with his worst light of eliminations being a .066. In the final round, the reaction time advantage was to Meithof, but the closer run and package was for Walberg, earning the finish line stripy be .0056. Taylor Toftemark was the number one qualifier with a .006 reaction time.
For the World of Speed Jr Thunder class, the finals were between Carson Campbell and Dylan Hough. Campbell defeated Ian Theofelis in the quarterfinals to earn the semi-final round single. Trying to prevent back-to-back wins for Hough, Campbell ran an 8.905 on his 8.90 dial-in to secure victory, and make his way into the winner’s circle. Campbell made the long trip down from Olympia WA this weekend to compete, and ended up with a well-deserved victory for their efforts. Theofelis was the number one qualifier with a .022 reaction time.
In the World of Speed Jr Storm category, it was a pair of award winners in the final round as last year’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Bese took on 2014 Jr Storm Champion Ramon Vincent. Bese earned a first round single for being number one qualifier, before downing last event’s winner Ryan Dick in the semis. Racing without crew chief/dad Isaac Bese, Ryan downed last year’s champion in the final round in a double-breakout finish decided by .024 at the finish line. Bese’s .014 earned him the number one qualifying spot.
Hole in the Hood is a category for door cars that are supercharged; tunnel rammed, or have a carburetor that protrudes through the stock hood line. In the final round, it was ‘Wildcard’ Steve Canton against Dave Klug. Canton downed Rick Norrington and 2014 Champion Jay Phillips to reach the final round. The Wildcard was set to kill today as he went .071 in the finals to earn the reaction time advantage and seal the deal at the finish line, running a 10.354 on his 10.20 to take the win. Canton wanted to thank Thunderbolt Racing Fuels, as well as Jeff Raybourne Performance.
The NAPA Import Parts Sport Compact category featured Hoppy Hopkins and Bud Kuhns in the final round, as a pair of three-time Sport Compact Champions did battle. With nearly identical reaction times, in favor of Kuhns, the race was on! Hopkins out in front was looking to keep it that way, and he did thanks to a double-breakout finish that left him in the Winner’s Circle by a cool .016. Hopkins wanted to send a big thank you to NAPA Import Parts for sponsoring the category, as well as his car for ‘doing half the work!’
In the Powderpuff category, it was a Lady’s Only zone when Chelbi Hageman and Stephanie Biscay raced off in the final round. Hageman, who earned the single first round for being the number one qualifier, defeated Lisa Belcher and Amy Fields to reach the final round. What was set up to be a dynamite race ended prematurely when Biscay turned on the dreaded red light bulb, automatically disqualifying her from the final round, and turning the win light on in Hageman’s favor.
In the Tualatin Transmissions Run Tuff category, Bob Rea defeated Rick Norrington by virtue of a breakout finish at the finish line stripe. Aumsville’s Rea defeated William Breese in the semis, while Oregon City’s Norrington downed Kourtney Dixon. In the Jr Tuff category, it was Kyler Pitts earning the win over last year’s Division 6 Champion in Alisha Miller, when Pitts ran a 7.902 on the 7.90 dial-in to secure victory.
Jr Lightning
W: Trevin Walberg, Junction City OR (’09 Eickmann) [.066] 8.913, 72.48 (8.90 dial).
R/U: Jake Meithof, Lafayette OR (’08 Eickmann) [.018] 7.925, 83.87 (7.90 dial).
Semi’s: Katie Day, Estacada OR.
Jr Thunder
W: Carson Campbell, Olympia WA (’07 Creative) [.098] 8.905, 72.56 (8.90 dial).
R/U: Dylan Hough, Junction City OR (’14 Mike Bos) [.011] 8.877, 73.43 (8.90 dial).
Semi’s: Nicholas Karr, Salem OR.
Jr Storm
W: Ryan Bese, Keizer OR (’04 Dragster) [.113] 11.316, 54.32 (11.35 dial).
R/U: Ramon Vincent, Stayton OR (’05 Fluge) [.269] 9.851, 66.01 (9.91 dial).
Semi’s: Ryan Dick, Astoria OR.
Hole in the Hood
W: Steve Canton, Boring OR (’63 Corvair) [.071] 10.354, 125.75 (10.20 dial).
R/U: Dave Klug, Milwaukie OR (’63 Nova) [.270] 10.395, 128.55 (10.40 dial).
Semi’s: Jay Phillips, Aumsville OR; Herschel Gates, Aumsville OR.
Sport Compact
W: Hoppy Hopkins, Beavercreek OR (’93 Accord) [.171] 17.506, 79.70 (17.51 dial).
R/U: Bud Kuhns, Roseburg OR (’88 CRX) [.122] 11.550, 115.26 (11.57 dial).
Semi’s: Josh Wilson, Vancouver WA.
Powderpuff
W: Chelbi Hageman, Blodgett OR (’65 Satellite) [.069] 11.746, 112.51 (11.78 dial).
R/U: Stephanie Biscay, McCleary WA (’56 Thunderbird) [-.031] foul.
Semi’s: Amy Fields, Tigard OR.
Run Tuff
W: Bob Rea, Aumsville OR (’72 Cuda) [.065] 10.922, 123.01 (10.85 dial).
R/U: Rick Norrington, Oregon City OR (’72 Mustang) [.030] 13.297, 97.88 (13.36 dial).
Semi’s: William Breese, Hillsboro OR; Kourtney Dixon, Sweet Home OR.
Jr Tuff
W: Kyler Pitts, Lebanon OR (’10 Half Scale) [.048] 7.902, 82.08 (7.90 dial).
R/U: Alisha Miller, Warren OR (’06 Fluge) [.010] 8.989, 74.33 (8.90 dial).
Semi’s: Duncan Gray, Portland OR; Ian Theofelis, Olympia WA, Port Orchard WA.
By Travis Hilton
