DEMKE, VENEY VICTORIOUS IN NORWALK
NORWALK, Ohio – Reigning NHRA Lucas Oil National Champion Chris Demke of Tujunga, Calif., earned his second national event win this season, and 17th career win overall, in Top Alcohol Dragster at the 9th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park. The California racer took the early lead and held on for the win, earning the trophy over Corey Michalek of Columbus, Ohio. Demke ran in the 5.30’s all weekend.
Joining Demke was Todd Veney, grabbing his first NHRA National event win in Top Alcohol Funny Car but did so in anticlimactic fashion as DJ Cox, Whiteford, Md., broke on the burnout handing over the trophy to Veney. Veney also suffered mechanical problems and coasted across the finish line. Veney qualified No. 3 and took out Jay Payne, Dan Pomponio and Paul Noakes on his way to his sixth career final. Veney also won last weekend at the Lucas Oil regional event at Lebanon Valley Dragway.
In Comp Eliminator it was Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., in his ’34 Chevrolet going 7.75 seconds at 168.87 mph taking the win over Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., ’23 T-Ford, 7.704 seconds, 168.75 mph. Santangelo left first and held the lead to earn his 11th national win, and 3rd win in Comp Eliminator.
It was a close race in Super Stock with Rylee Stufflebeam earning the win by taking advantage at the start and finishing first over Brad Zaskowski by about six inches. This was the first national event win for Stufflebeam. In Super Gas, Ray Miller, Spring City, Tenn., with a holeshot, won his 3rd national event, this being his first win in Super Gas.
Rounding out the weekend’s winners was a trio of Ohio racers along with Billy Leber of New York. Leber beat out Dean Mc Ilvian, New Carlisle, Ohio, who left early with the red light foul start. Leading the Ohio charge was Aaron Allison, Macedonia, in Stock and Tim Weise, Cardington, in Top Sportsman as both drivers scored their first national event win. In Top Dragster, Ron Biondo, Macedonia, Ohio, was closest to his dial and scored the win defeating Joe Hessling, Toledo, Ohio.
The following are the final results from the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals event at Summit Motorsports Park:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Chris Demke, 5.357, 271.08 def. Corey Michalek, 5.478, 262.59.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Todd Veney, Chevy Camaro, 21.794, 33.42 def. DJ Cox Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, broke.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Joe Santangelo, Chevy Roadster, 7.775, 168.87 def. Steve Ambrose, ’23-T Ford, 7.704, 168.75.
SUPER STOCK
Rylee Stufflebeam, Pontiac Firebird, 10.208, 125.92 def. Brad Zaskowski, Chevy Camaro, 9.825, 130.14.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Aaron Allison, Pontiac Firebird, 10.278, 129.28 def. Mitch Truman, Chevy Camaro, 10.625, 122.21.
SUPER COMP
Billy Leber, Dragster, 8.917, 159.27 def. Dean McIlvain, Dragster, foul.
SUPER GAS
Ray Miller, Chevy Camaro, 9.944, 155.24 def. Bernard Weaver, dodge Daytona, 9.930, 150.98.
TOP DRAGSTER
Ron Biondo, Dragster, 6.574, 197.33 def. Joe Hessling, Dragster, 6.229, 224.92.
TOP SPORTSMAN
Tim Weise, Ford Mustang, 7.096, 193.05 def. Donald Horne, Mustang, 6.781, 202.21.
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