FRY AND RUPERT VICTORIOUS AT CALIFORNIA HOT ROD REUNION SUNDAY AT AUTO CLUB FAMOSO RACEWAY
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (October 21, 2018) – The 2018 California Hot Rod Reunion® presented by Automobile Club of Southern California completed competition at Auto Club Famoso Raceway on Sunday crowning not only event winners but also many champions in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series.
Mendy Fry piloted her High Speed Motorsports dragster to victory with a 5.61-second pass at 259.36 mph in the Nostalgia Top Fuel final taking out Rick McGee. Fry was the top qualifier for the weekend and achieved the low ET for the event in the semi-finals with a 5.550 ET.
“To win the 2018 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series championship and the California Hot Rod Reunion – I’d call that a good day at the races,” said Fry. “My team gave me the car to beat, and I didn’t screw it up. So this win is theirs. I’m just glad they picked me.”
In Nostalgia Funny Car, Jason Rupert took home the Wally when he ran a 5.63 pass at 259.51 in his 1969 Camaro bettering Rian Konno’s 5.855 pass at 241.84.
“The car ran so good last night (in the first round of eliminations), I was hoping this would happen,” said Rupert. “I go to every race with the intention of winning but everyone else does too. We had a lot of weird stuff happens in the pits but my guys persevered. They do a great job.”
Other winners included Brian Hope in AA / Fuel Altered, Drew Austin in A / Fuel, John Marottek in Junior Fuel, Steve Faller in 7.0 Pro, Bernie Plourd in Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Robert Johnson in Nostalgia Eliminator 2, Lindsey Lister in Nostalgia Eliminator 3, Brian Rogers in A / Gas, Val Miller in B / Gas, Bill Becker in C / Gas, Bill Norton in D / Gas, Scott White in AA / Gas, Roger Holder in Pro Mod, Jack Goodrich in A / FX, and Alex George in Hot Rod.
The 2018 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series champions are Mendy Fry in Top Fuel, Bobby Cottrell in Funny Car, Drew Austin in A / Fuel, John Marottek in Jr. Fuel, Brad Denny in 7.0 Pro, Dustin Lee in Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Robert Johnson in Nostalgia Eliminator 2, Ed DeStaute in Nostalgia Eliminator 3, Frank Merenda in A / Gas, Kevin Riley in B / Gas, Chris Rea in C / Gas, Ed Carey in D / Gas, and Dale Hicks in Hot Rod.
***
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Sunday’s final results from the 27th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Automobile Club Famoso Raceway.
NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Mendy Fry, Hadman, 5.610, 259.36 def. Rick McGee, Tedford, 5.749, 256.50.
NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR
Jason Rupert, Camaro, 5.634, 259.51 def. Rian Konno, Mustang, 5.855, 241.84.
JUNIOR FUEL
John Marottek, N + P, 6.997, 155.96 def. Don Enriquez, Farr, Foul – Red Light.
A FUEL
Drew Austin, Parker, 5.862, 233.88 def. Wayne Ramay, N + P, 6.053, 225.63.
AA/FUEL ALTERED
Brian Hope, Bantam, 6.456, 203.55 def. Rodney Flournoy, Ford, 8.863, 96.87.
7.0 PRO
Steve Faller, Bantam, 7.004, 193.52 def. Brad Denney, Bantam, Broke – No Show.
A/FX
Jack Goodrich, Belvedere, 9.977, 133.61 def. Ken Moreland, Chevelle, Foul – Red Light.
PRO MOD
Roger Holder, Camaro, 8.133, 123.37 def. Ed Thornton, Camaro, 9.135, 101.79.
AA GAS
Scott White, Willys, 6.449, 214.69 def. Gary Reinero, Austin, 6.701, 211.93.
A GAS ELIMINATOR
Brian Rogers, Nova, 7.650, 179.33 def. Frank Merenda, Rambler, 7.664, 165.29.
B GAS ELIMINATOR
Val Miller, Barracuda, 8.555, 161.36 def. Kevin Riley, Barracuda, Broke – No Show.
C GAS ELIMINATOR
Bill Becker, Willys, 9.467, 144.50 def. Mark Capps, Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
D GAS ELIMINATOR
Bill Norton, Nova, 10.586, 125.41 def. Larry Cook, Fairlane, 10.530, 125.49.
NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR I
Bernie Plourd, Bantam, 7.437, 175.05 def. Jim Seivers, Ford, Foul – Red Light.
NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR II
Robert Johnson, S & W, 8.592, 153.02 def. Jaclyn Generalao Jones, Ford, 8.580, 154.09.
NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR III
Lindsey Lister, Shoemaker, 9.600, 135.51 def. Wes Anderson, Ford, 9.597, 133.63.
HOT ROD ELIMINATOR
Alex George, Maverick, 10.090, 104.92 def. Mark Dyck, Nova, Foul – Red Light.
***
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Final round-by-round results from the 27th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Automobile Club Famoso Raceway.
NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Rick McGee, Tedford, 6.077, 222.66 def. Jim Young, Dragster, Foul – Red Light; Mendy Fry, Hadman, 5.582, 258.42 def. Tyler Hilton, Horton, 6.308, 251.25; Pete Wittenberg, Stirling, 5.734, 244.52 def. Rick White, Hansen, Broke – No Show; Adam Sorokin, Sterling, 5.889, 213.70 def. Bret Williamson, Uyehara, 11.118, 73.02; SEMIFINALS — McGee, 5.748, 233.12 def. Sorokin, 6.008, 182.43; Fry, 5.554, 261.62 def. Wittenberg, 6.153, 169.53; FINAL — Fry, 5.610, 259.36 def. McGee, 5.749, 256.50.
A FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Drew Austin, Parker, 5.972, 232.95 was unopposed; Dennis Allen, Allen, 6.033, 224.92 def. Jerry Kumre, Sterling, 7.439, 182.33; Kin Bates, Tuttle, 6.100, 212.23 def. Sabrina Capps, Davidson, 8.270, 103.51; Gary Wheeler, Yancer, 6.179, 222.00 def. Rick Ewens, Sarmento, 6.346, 190.22; Wayne Ramay, N + P, 11.514, 73.28 def. Shayne Stewart, Ford, 6.739, 150.15; QUARTERFINALS — Austin, 5.976, 231.95 def. Wheeler, 6.300, 221.67; Ramay, 6.047, 223.69 def. Allen, Broke; Bates, Broke was unopposed; SEMIFINALS — Austin, 28.000, no speed was unopposed; Ramay, 28.000, no speed was unopposed; FINAL — Austin, 5.862, 233.88 def. Ramay, 6.053, 225.63.
JUNIOR FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Matt Baldonado, Farr, 7.204, 186.02 def. Michael Lardy, Boulton, 7.995, 164.73; John Marottek, N + P, 7.083, 157.65 def. Ken Mickey, RHC, 8.330, 155.60; Don Enriquez, Farr, 7.169, 185.23 def. Ward Francev, Dragster, Broke; Tim Beeman, Uyehara, 7.171, 187.29 def. Brad Woodard, Dragster, Foul – Red Light; Alan Hull, Farr, 7.086, 186.64 def. Wayne Williemsen, Dragster, Foul – Red Light; QUARTERFINALS — Enriquez, 7.232, 181.40 def. Beeman, 7.121, 185.15; Baldonado, 7.190, 183.52 def. Hull, Broke; Marottek, 7.093, 152.97 was unopposed; SEMIFINALS — Marottek, 7.214, 144.91 def. Baldonado, Broke; Enriquez, 7.186, 175.11 was unopposed; FINAL — Marottek, 6.997, 155.96 def. Enriquez, Foul – Red Light.
NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Matt Bynum, Camaro, 5.748, 251.67 def. Tim Nemeth, Firebird, Foul – Red Light; Geoff Monise, Monza, 13.290, 57.06 def. Steven Densham, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Dan Horan, Camaro, 6.177, 246.26 def. Bill Windham, Camaro, 6.471, 221.23; Jeff Arend, Firebird, 5.682, 253.80 def. Cory Lee, Challenger, 6.156, 189.82; Brad Thompson, Camaro, 5.742, 232.87 def. John Hale, Camaro, 5.969, 220.37; Bobby Cottrell, Camaro, 5.767, 245.45 def. Ryan Hodgson, Camaro, 5.809, 257.83; Rian Konno, Mustang, 5.838, 245.81 def. Matt Melendez, Challenger, 5.862, 234.57; Jason Rupert, Camaro, 5.638, 232.79 def. Tony Jurado, Camaro, 5.826, 246.57; QUARTERFINALS — Cottrell, 5.745, 248.07 def. Horan, 6.479, 229.35; Konno, 5.826, 247.61 def.
Monise, 6.008, 204.98; Arend, 5.754, 252.05 def. Thompson, 5.744, 245.36; Rupert, 5.653, 257.43 def. Bynum, 5.656, 260.41; SEMIFINALS — Konno, 5.912, 230.96 def. Arend, 5.920, 232.79; Rupert, 5.653, 254.47 def. Cottrell, 5.727, 250.27; FINAL — Rupert, 5.634, 259.51 def. Konno, 5.855, 241.84.
7.0 PRO:
ROUND ONE — Lawton Ferreira II, Fiat, 7.053, 192.22 was unopposed; Jerry Buckley, Comstock, 7.476, 184.52 def. Blake Reynolds, Fiat, Broke; Chris Bates, Ford, 7.009, 194.80 def. Aaron Wardell, Stirling, 7.140, 190.78; Brad Denney, Bantam, 7.070, 188.44 def. Dewayne Sanders, Tuttle, 7.097, 192.19; Ronnie Lennon, Bantam, 7.082, 190.81 def. Vince Generalao Jr., Bantam, Foul – Red Light; Richard High, Dragster, 7.040, 191.24 def. Eily Stafford-day, Hansen, 6.995, 194.24; Derrick Moreira, Bantam, 7.288, 150.65 def. Tony Trimp, HWB, Broke; Steve Faller, Bantam, 7.047, 176.40 def. Joacim Ljungberg, Ford, 6.703, 204.76; George Vanderpool, Uyehara, 7.066, 190.94 def. Dave Rosenberg, DRE, Broke; Ed Middlebrook, Fiat, 7.111, 175.80 def. Dwight Garland, Dragster, Broke; QUARTERFINALS — Denney, 7.091, 189.82 def. Vanderpool, Foul – Red Light; High, 7.076, 180.45 def. Ferreira II, 7.020, 191.35; Faller, 7.017, 192.52 def. Bates, Foul – Red Light; Buckley, 7.042, 189.12 def. Moreira, 7.128, 188.83; Middlebrook, 7.002, 191.24 def. Lennon, Broke; SEMIFINALS — High, 7.125, 175.37 def. Buckley, 7.383, 188.28; Denney, 7.019, 192.52 def. Middlebrook, 6.951, 194.77; Faller, 7.005, 192.66 was unopposed; FINAL — Faller, 7.080, 188.33 def. High, 6.965, 194.02; Denney, 7.033, 192.33 was unopposed; FINAL — Faller, 7.004, 193.52 def. Denney, Broke – No Show.
PRO MOD:
ROUND ONE — John Durden, Corvette, 5.854, 244.56 def. Sean Renteria, Valiant, 6.617, 152.47; Mike Doushgounian, Camaro, 7.494, 172.39 def. Justin Wake, Corvette, Broke; Ed Thornton, Camaro, 5.773, 265.59 def. Ed Marx, Corvette, 6.225, 224.47; Jeremy Hanger, Corvette, 5.693, 257.83 def. Wade Sjostrom, Bel AIR, 11.863, 85.57; Rob Cacioppo, Corvette, 6.136, 232.83 def. Jay Diedrich, Camaro, 6.419, 178.31; Mike Maggio, Camaro, 5.819, 258.12 def. Garret Richards, Mustang, Foul – Red Light; Roger Holder, Camaro, 5.969, 254.14 def. Rick Snavely, Camaro, 6.426, 180.79; Bret Williamson, Corvette, 8.212, 119.44 def. Karl Wilson, Corvette, Foul – Red Light; QUARTERFINALS — Thornton, 5.781, 265.38 def. Durden, Foul – Red Light; Hanger, 5.762, 255.63 def. Williamson, 6.112, 250.18; Holder, 5.940, 253.71 def. Cacioppo, 6.191, 223.43; Maggio, 5.825, 247.47 def. Doushgounian, 7.194, 132.93; SEMIFINALS — Holder, 5.952, 254.90 def. Hanger, 10.541, 83.07; Thornton, 5.807, 264.39 def. Maggio, Foul – Red Light; FINAL — Holder, 8.133, 123.37 def. Thornton, 9.135, 101.79.
AA/FUEL ALTERED:
ROUND ONE — Rodney Flournoy, Ford, 6.126, 198.50 def. Chris Bennett, Bantam, 13.615, 58.75; Brian Hope, Bantam, 6.234, 213.57 def. David Giles, Bantam, 10.212, 86.00; Shawn Callen, Bantam, 6.756, 185.08 def. Randy Bradford, Fiat, 8.272, 214.35; Ron Hope, Bantam, 7.892, 139.21 def. Kyle Hough, Ford, 5.971, 243.15; Joe Morrison, Ford, 7.304, 193.90 was unopposed; QUARTERFINALS — Giles, 6.393, 183.79 def. Bradford, 6.780, 208.65; Flournoy, Broke was unopposed; B. Hope, Broke was unopposed; SEMIFINALS — B. Hope, 6.456, 203.55 def. Flournoy, 8.863, 96.87.
AA GAS:
ROUND ONE — Scott White, Willys, 6.439, 210.05 def. Mike Oconnor, Chevrolet, 7.070, 170.99; Gary Reinero, Austin, 6.775, 205.29 def. Mark Gordon, Mustang, 6.880, 206.20; Garry Fauble, Studebaker, 7.261, 186.72 def. Chuck Moore, Corvette, Broke; SEMIFINALS — Reinero, 6.740, 206.23 def. Fauble, Broke; White, 6.438, 212.63 was unopposed; FINAL — White, 6.449, 214.69 def. Reinero, 6.701, 211.93.
The Hot Rod Reunions are produced by the NHRA Motorsports Museum and benefit the facility located in Pomona, Calif. The NHRA Motorsports Museum is a 501c (3) non-profit institution. The Museum’s mission is to celebrate the impact of motorsports on American culture. The Museum collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets the vehicles, stories and artifacts that represent America’s affection for, and the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms.
