2015 NHRA Atco Lucas Oil Series Final Results

MC PHILLIPS & GILL DOMINATE ALCOHOL RACES

ATCO, N.J. – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series presented by PC Richard.com commenced at Atco Raceway over the weekend and Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., and Matt Gill, Brocktown, Mass., took home the wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car respectively.

Mc Phillips worked his way through the field and ran 5.278 seconds at 278.86 mph in his final round victory over Dan Mercier, who clocked in at 5.446 seconds, 269.73 mph. McPhillips steadily pulled away to a surprisingly large win margin over Mercier who posted his slowest ET and speed of the event. This is McPhillips’ 15th regional/divisional trophy in 35 final rounds and his second this season, in four finals. His other win this year in June, at Lebanon Valley Dragway.

Gill faced off against Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., in a race that almost did not happen. It was an intense start as Veney’s car fired, but had no drive, Gill’s car had no oil pressure, and it was almost shut off. Gill managed to stage and idled down the track, crossing the line and declaring him the winner. This was Gill’s third regional win, in seven final rounds, and his second this year, in three final round appearances. His other regional win this year came at Maple Grove Raceway in May.

Don Eckel, Piscataway, N.J., got the win light and the Comp Eliminator trophy over Peter Luciano who left early. This is Eckel’s second Comp Eliminator win this year. He won at Maple Grove back in May. In Stock Eliminator there was a double breakout and Justin Picillo, Warwick, R.I. scored the win. He has a perfect final round record, after his third divisional win.

Scott Luken, Perry Hall, Md., won a close one in Manga-Flux Top Dragster presented by Select Performance over David Batchelor, Lebanon, Pa. Luken ran 6.821 seconds at 204.76 over Batchelors’ 6.963 seconds at 198.11 mph. This is Luken’s third divisional Top Dragster Wally, in five final rounds.

In the division’s Magna-Flux Top Sportsman class presented by Select Performance it was Jeff Brooks, taking the win and the trophy back to Fredricksburg, Va., with a pass of 6.818 seconds at 204.85 mph in his ’51 Henry J.

It was a 19 year comeback win for Keith Mayers, Middletown, Del., who took his second divisional trophy in Super Street in defeating Shawn Fricke, Flemington, N.J. Mayer’s last win came at Cecil County Dragway nearly two decades ago.

Other racers visiting the winner’s circle this weekend were Michael Iacono, Wading River, N.Y.; Justin Lopes, Lakeville, Mass., got his first win in Super Gas; and Jimmy Ditucci earned his first win in Super Comp.

Northeast Division racers head to Cecil County Dragway for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, August 14-16.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Atco Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

Round 1

1) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.351, 272.61 def. 8) Earl Nichols Jr., Wilmington, Del., 12.639, 41.30;

3) Richard Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., 5.368, 271.41 def. 6) Karen Stalba, Hammonton, N.J., 9.243, 136.44;

2) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.324, 278.23 def. 7) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 15.624, 51.39;

4) Dan Mercier, LaPrairie, Quebec, 5.361, 267.22 def. 5) Wayne Morris, Lincoln University, Pa., 5.518, 255.43

Semifinals

Mercier, 5.336, 271.30 def. Shields, 5.344, 272.17; McPhillips, 5.367, 276.18 def. Bourke, 5.410, 268.49

Final

McPhillips, 5.278, 278.86 def. Mercier, 5.446, 269.73.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

Round 1

2) Matt Gill, Brocktown, Mass., ’08 Mustang, 5.599, 260.86 def. 5) John Headley, Newportville, Pa., ’03 Mustang, broke;

4) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., ’10 Monte Carlo, 5.651, 258.62 def. 3) DJ Cox Jr., Whiteford, Md., ’10 Monte Carlo, 5.681, 255.82;

1) Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., ’14 Camaro, 5.842, 203.43 def. 6) Marie Ferriolo, Allentown, N.J., ’14 Mustang, broke

Semifinals

Gill, 6.418, 160.27 def. Pomponio, 11.954, 70.75; Veney, 5.598, 263.92 was unopposed

Final

Gill, 25.165, 27.81 def. Veney, broke.

COMP ELIMINATOR

Don Eckel, Piscataway, N.J., ProStart, C/DA, 7.410, 140.11 def. Peter Luciano, Malvern, Pa., ’10 Cobalt, L/AA, foul.

SUPER STOCK

Michael Iacono, Wading River, N.Y., ’87 Camaro, GT/DA, 10.050, 123.04 def. Joe Hertline, Penfield, N.Y., ’67 Camaro, SS/FA, 9.924, 134.90.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Justin Picillo, Warwick, R.I., ’72 Chevelle, J/SA, 11.826, 103.59 def. Bobby Fazio, King of Prussia, Pa., ’88 Mustang, L/SA, 12.015, 108.08.

SUPER COMP

Jimmy Ditucci, East Kingston, N.H., ’23 roadster, 8.924, 160.54 def. Kent Hanley, Newtown, Conn., dragster, 8.897, 164.73.

SUPER GAS

Justin Lopes, Lakeville, Mass., ’63 Nova, 9.892, 167.57 def. Jason Kenny, Kutztown, Pa., ’03 Corvette, 9.881, 161.44.

SUPER STREET

Keith Mayers, Middletown, Del., ’85 Porsche, 10.899, 148.07 def. Shawn Fricke, Flemington, N.J., ’02 Firebird, 10.859, 135.09.

MXI/MAGNAFLUX TOP DRAGSTER PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE Scott Luken, Perry Hall, Md., dragster, 6.821, 204.76 def. David Batchelor, Lebanon, Pa., dragster, 6.963, 195.11.

MXI/MAGNAFLUX TOP SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE Jeff Brooks, Fredericksburg, Va., ’51 Henry J, 6.818, 204.85 def. Vonnie Mills, Kennedyville, Md., ’06 Cobalt, foul.