2015 NHRA Joliet Lucas Oil Series Final Results

DEMKE & HARKER VICTORIOUS AT ROUTE 66

JOLIET, Ill. – Chris Demke and Steve Harker, reining national champions, clinched wins in the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire at Route 66 Raceway this past weekend. Demke, from Tujunga, Calif., secured the Top Alcohol Dragster win by taking the advantage at the start and never wavering to maintain the lead and capture the win. Harker’s win in Top Alcohol Funny Car is his first national event win this season and the 11th of his career.

Demke worked his way through the field and ran 5.321 seconds at 270.81 mph in his final round victory over Mia Tedesco, Pittsburgh, who clocked in at 5.372 seconds, 265.59 mph. Demke was first off the line and had the power to hold on for the win over the event’s No.1 qualifier. The win made it three consecutive victories for Demke in Chicago, and his 18th national event win overall.

Harker out of Gainesville, Ga., had luck on his side in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final when Kris Hool went red off the tree. Harker got out of the groove and slowed to a 6.197 second pass to flip on the win light.

In the Comp Eliminator final, reigning event champion Troy Galibraith of Indianapolis, defended his win against Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla. Treadwell got the advantage off the line, but Galbraith reeled him in and went around for his second national event win with a 6.832 second, 194.35 mph pass.

Shanna Snyder, the No.1 qualifier in Top Dragster, laid down a .001 second reaction time off the tree in the final, but it was not enough to overtake Steve Cohen of Trilby, Fla. Cohen, who picked up the win in the rain-delayed final from the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals earlier in the weekend, ran a 6.579-second pass on his 6.57 dial to secure the win. With the two victories, Cohen now has 21 national event wins to his name.

Other racers visiting the winners circle this weekend were Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., in Stock Eliminator; Gary Williams, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., in Super Comp; Ray Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, in Super Gas; Rob Kropfield, Hamilton, Ohio in Super Street; and Mike Williams, Tilley, AB, in Top Sportsman.

In conjunction with the event, a special race within a race was contested where the best drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series faced off in the prestigious JEGS Allstars. Racers competed for team and individual honors and a share of the $124,000 purse. Leading the pack of winners was Phil Unruh of McPherson, Kan., who doubled up by winning the JEGS Allstars and the event eliminator in Super Stock. Southeast Division 2 won its seventh JEGS Allstars team championship thanks to victories from Kevin Brannon in Super Comp and Jeffery Barker in Top Sportsman. The Central Region picked up the alcohol class regional championship.

The following are NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series final results from the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire at Route 66 Raceway

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

Chris Demke, 5.321, 270.81 def. Mia Tedesco, 5.372, 265.59.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

Steve Harker, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.197, 177.07 def. Kris Hool, Monte Carlo, foul.

COMP ELIMINATOR

Troy Galbraith, Spitzer, 6.832, 194.35 def. Glen Treadwell, ProStart, 7.742, 170.47.

SUPER STOCK

Phil Unruh, Chevy Cobalt, 8.613, 156.46 def. Brad Zaskowski, Chevy Camaro, 9.851, 134.30.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Jeff Strickland, Chevy Camaro, 10.478, 120.29 def. Britt Cummings, Chevy Corvette, 10.713, 119.64.

SUPER COMP

Gary Williams, Dragster, 8.928, 160.21 def. Luke Bogacki, Dragster, 8.899, 175.25.

SUPER GAS

Ray Connolly, Chevy Corvette, 9.902, 149.33 def. Haley Gregory, Chevy Cobalt, 9.961, 170.36.

SUPER STREET

Rob Kropfeld, Chevy Vega Wagon, 10.901, 125.32 def. Phillip Smida, Chevy Cavalier, 10.944, 135.63.

TOP DRAGSTER

Steve Cohen, Dragster, 6.579, 201.19 def. Shanna Snyder, Dragster, 6.160, 233.24.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Mike Williams, Pontiac GXP, 7.088, 190.16 def. Michael Daniele, Chevy Cavalier, 7.035, 193.63.