Double Points for Pro Mods, Funny Cars, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Cars

The promise of double points is expected to assure a world class field of Pro Mods, Funny Cars, Top Dragsters and Top Sportsman cars Friday and Saturday when US 131 Motorsports Park plays host to the Summit Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Services.

Because of the executive orders issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a limited number of tickets will be made available for spectators on-line at www.us131msp.com. Adult tickets are $25 per day, $5 for kids 6-12 with children under six free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

The Mid-West Series fills the calendar spot usually occupied by US 131’s Funny Car Nationals which, like the Night of Thunder and Northern Nationals before it, was canceled due to the Governor’s restrictions. Fans who already had purchased tickets for the Funny Car Nationals can use them to attend this week’s race or to attend next year’s Funny Car Nationals.

Two-time reigning NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Sean Bellemeur of Placentia, Calif., winner of the last two Mid-West Series events at the wheel of the Bartone brothers’ 2018 Chevy Camaro, is expected to face challenges from a host of top runners, most of whom raced last weekend in the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind.

While Bellemeur has a comfortable lead in the Mid-West Funny Car standings, the battle for the Pro Mod championship is wide open. Clint Satterfield of Albuquerque, N.M., has his 1969 Camaro currently on point, but Aaron Wells of Oklahoma City, most recent event winner Tommy Cunningham of Murray, Ky., and Texas Brian Brown all are within striking distance.

In the most recent race in the Mid-West Series, Bellemeur spoiled Steve “Fast” Jackson’s Funny Car debut at St. Louis, beating the Pro Mod standout in the final round.

Among the drivers still in championship contention in Top Dragster is 27-year-old Matt Sackman of Joliet, Ill., who spent last weekend at his day job handling cylinder head maintenance on the Top Fuel dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown. Sackman, who also competes when possible in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, enters the race trailing Bob Henry of Owasso, Okla., by 41 points.

A pro test session from 5-10 p.m. on Thursday will set the stage for pro qualifying runs Friday at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. A last chance qualifier Saturday morning at 11 will set the fields for eliminations beginning at 4 p.m. The Saturday program also will feature bracket racing in Pro ET, Modified, Street and Jr. Dragster categories.

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MARTIN, Mich. – Current points standings, Summit Racing Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Services:

PRO MODIFIED – 1. Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque, N.M., 1969 Chevy Camaro, 397; 2. Aaron Wells, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1967 Ford Mustang, 374; 3. Tommy Cunningham, Murray, Ky., 1967 Ford Mustang, 353; 4.Jim Sakuvich, Raymore, Mo., 1969 Chevy Camaro, 345.

FUNNY CAR – 1. Sean Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., 2018 Chevy Camaro, 220; 2. Bob McCosh Jr., Colombia, Mo., 2019 Chevy Camaro, 135; 3. Kyle Smith, Wichita, Kan., 2009 Ford Mustang, 116; 4. Brian Brown, Gainesville, Texas, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 91.

TOP SPORTSMAN – 1. Marty Blair, Spicewood, Texas, 1996 Chevy Corvette, 350; 2. Kelvin Brown, Savannah, Tenn., 1998 Pontiac Firebird, 328; 3. Kirk Piepke, Pauls Vallley, Okla., 2007 Pontiac GTO, 269; 4. Mark McDonald, Booneville, Ind., 1967 Ford Mustang, 251.

TOP DRAGSTER – 1. Bob Henry, Owasso, Okla., 311; 2. Matt Sackman, Joliet, Ill., 270; 3. John Biagi, Buda, Ill., 259; 4. Steve McDermott, Crowley, Texas, 221.

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