SEVERANCE STAYS HOT IN VEGAS
LAS VEGAS – Joey Severance, the 2015 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national champion, kept his winning streak alive in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at the 17th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals.
The Woodburn, Ore., pilot cashed in on his fourth consecutive victory at this event and the fifth of his career at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Severance had the starting line advantage in the final round over Chris Demke and never trailed for his 11th national event Wally trophy of his career. He laid down a 5.465 second, 270.75 mph lap for the win, while Demke shook the tires and had to pedal a 6.360 second, 159.72 mph runner up finish.
Terry Ruckman came out on top in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final with a winning run of 5.629 seconds at 258.52 mph, the first of his career. Ruckman defeated Jirka Kaplan and his pass of 5.705 seconds at 257.38 mph. This is the first time the two have squared off in the money round.
Dan Fletcher of Churchville, N.Y., returned to his familiar place in the winner’s circle grabbing his 96th national event win of his career, this time in Super Comp. Fletcher met up with Steve Williams in the final where he got out in front and held on for a winning 9.062 second, 145.22 mph pass. The sportsman superstar has now won a NHRA national event in five different categories.
Alan Ellis, the event’s No.1 qualifier, ran through the field in his familiar ’23 roadster by knocking out Tony Mandella in the Comp Eliminator final. Ellis laid down a 6.613 second, 210.37 mph lap to defeat Mandella’s 8.536, 154.33 pass, who won the race here in 2015.
The Super Stock final paired Cody Lane and Kyle Seipel, who both got off the line with identical reaction times. Seipel broke out at the stripe handing Lane his second win of the season, the third national event win of his career. Leo Glasbrenner picked up his sixth career win with a 10.788 second, 118.66 mph pass to defeat Brad Burton in the Stock Eliminator final. John Labbous Jr got off to a great start in the Super Gas final, but ran too quick as Ken Mostowich secured his fourth career win with a 10.058 second, 150.97 mph pass.
J.R. Lobner clocked in at 6.821 seconds at 185.77 mph to defeat Denny Hills’ 6.349 second, 217.84 mph lap in the Top Dragster final. Lobner got off the line first and ran to his second national event Wally. In the Top Sportsman final round, Don Meziere used a nice reaction time in his Chevy Cobalt coupled with a 7.016 second, 189.36 mph lap to knock out Ed Olpin and his 7.155 second, 193.54 mph runner up finish. It was a battle of brothers in the Top Fuel Harley final as Craig Pelrine powered to a 6.716 second, 201.49 mph winning pass while Mike broke at the starting line.
A majority of the sportsman racers will remain on property as they prepare for this weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Test & Tune kicks off Thursday, qualifying on Friday, eliminations will begin on Saturday and event champions will be crowed on Sunday, April 10th.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series 17th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Joey Severance, 5.465, 270.75 def. Chris Demke, 6.360, 159.72.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Terry Ruckman, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.629, 258.52 def. Jirka Kaplan, Chevy Camaro, 5.705, 257.38.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Alan Ellis, ’23-T Ford, 6.613, 210.37 def. Tony Mandella, Chevy S-10, 8.536, 154.33.
SUPER STOCK
Cody Lane, Chevy Cavalier, 8.870, 148.46 def. Kyle Seipel, Chevy Camaro, 9.727, 135.97.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Leo Glasbrenner, Pontiac Firebird, 10.788, 118.66 def. Brad Burton, Firebird, 10.917, 115.76.
SUPER COMP
Dan Fletcher, Dragster, 9.062, 145.22 def. Steve Williams, Dragster, 9.014, 184.30.
SUPER GAS
Ken Mostowich, Chevy Corvette, 10.058, 150.97 def. John Labbous Jr, Corvette, 10.040, 160.35.
TOP DRAGSTER
J.R. Lobner, Dragster, 6.821, 185.77 def. Denny Hills, Dragster, 6.349, 217.84.
TOP SPORTSMAN
Don Meziere, Chevy Cobalt, 7.016, 189.36 def. Ed Olpin, Chevy Camaro, 7.155, 193.54.
TOP FUEL HARLEY
Craig Pelrine, 6.716, 201.49 def. Mike Pelrine, broke.
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