REYNOLDS, Ga.– Arnie Martel raced to the win in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Silver Dollar Raceway over the weekend. With just one divisional and two national events left to finish the season, the Lucas Oil Championship races have heated up.
In the final round of Comp Eliminator, it was Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., who was a little late at the green but ran down Don Eckel, Piscataway, N.J., for the win with a pass of 7.553 seconds at 168.11 miles per hour in his ’15 Camaro. Eckel ran a pass of 6.961 seconds at 190.86 miles per hour for a runner-up finish. This was Martel’s fourth divisional win of the season and the win keeps him in contention for the Lucas Oil Championship. Martel now sits only eleven points behind the leader Craig Bourgeois.
Nick Morris, Louisville, Ky., was closer to his dial-in running a winning lap of 9.740 seconds at 133.87 mph in the Super Stock class. This is Morris’ fifth divisional Wally trophy, and his second earned this season. He won the Super Stock race at the North Central event at Summit Motorsports Park in May of this year.
Butch Payne scored his second divisional Wally in Stock Eliminator, and is a perfect two-for-two in final rounds. He ran a 10.899 second lap at 119.77 mph defeating Justin Picillo, Warwick, R.I., in his ’72 Chevelle. Payne’s previous win came in 2009 at the Southeast Division event in Orlando. Denver Maltba, Newland, N.C., scored his second-ever divisional Super Comp Wally, over Tony Helms, Ringgold, Ga., with a winning pass of 8.916 seconds, at 179.61 miles per hour.
It was a close final round in Super Gas and Super Street. The title for Super Gas went to Jacob Elrod, out of Lima, Ohio, and his ’92 Corvette posting a lap of 9.893 seconds at 154.33 mph to defeat John Labbous of White House, Tenn., who went 9.887 seconds at 162.25 mph in his ’63 Corvette. Elrod has three divisional Wallys, making him three for four in final rounds. This win now puts Elrod in the points lead for the Super Gas National Championship. In Super Street Franky Bishop earned his first ever Wally trophy running his ’72 Nova at 10.909 seconds at 127.32 miles per hour taking out David Polichena, Lake Worth, Fla., in his ’69 Firebird with a lap of 10.931 seconds at 146.38 miles per hour.
In other racing news, Joe Hessling, Toledo, Ohio, took out Steve Furr, Harrisburg, N.C., in Top Dragster; Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., in his ’37 Chevy defeated James Noel, Westminster, S.C. in Top Sportsman; and in the 11.00 index class Jake Sealey, Aiken, S.C., defeated Matt Weston, Wellford, S.C.
John Rollins of High Springs, Fla., outlasted the 16-car field on Saturday to take home the win and the $2,500 payday in the NHRA Moser Sportsman Shootout.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway:
COMP ELIMINATOR
Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., ’15 Camaro, E/AA, 7.553, 168.11 def. Don Eckel, Piscataway, N.J., ProStart, C/DA, 6.961, 190.86.
SUPER STOCK
Nick Morris, Louisville, Ky., ’98 Mustang, FGT/F, 9.740, 133.87 def. Mark Nowicki, Gaylord, Mich., ’98 Avenger, FGT/D, 9.558, 135.73.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Butch Payne, Rome, Ga., ’97 Firebird, D/SA, 10.899, 119.77 def. Justin Picillo, Warwick, R.I., ’72 Chevelle, J/SA, 11.718, 105.47.
SUPER COMP
Denver Maltba, Newland, N.C., dragster, 8.916, 179.61 def. Tony Helms, Ringgold, Ga., dragster, 8.908, 177.35.
SUPER GAS
Jacob Elrod, Lima, Ohio, ’92 Corvette, 9.893, 154.33 def. John Labbous, White House, Tenn., ’63 Corvette, 9.887, 162.25.
SUPER STREET
Franky Bishop, Albany, Ga., ’72 Nova, 10.909, 127.32 def. David Polichena, Lake Worth, Fla., ’69 Firebird, 10.937, 146.38.
TOP DRAGSTER
Joe Hessling, Toledo, Ohio, dragster, 6.989, 185.77 def. Steve Furr, Harrisburg, N.C., dragster, 6.650, 195.96.
TOP SPORTSMAN
Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., ’37 Chevy, 6.934, 194.49 def. James Noel, Westminster, S.C., ’69 Mustang, 7.619, 176.95.
11.00 INDEX
Jake Sealey, Aiken, S.C., ’93 Mustang, 10.953, 115.44 def. Matt Weston, Wellford, S.C., ’70 Camaro, 10.929, 121.43.
