KRAUS, LAGANA, JET TRUCK SHINE AT FUNNY CAR NATIONALS

Freels, Boles, Rasler and Mullin Prevail in NDRL; Six, Vanderploeg in Brackets

Dom Lagana raced to a near-record speed in his “Nitro Ninja” Top Fuel dragster, Greg Kraus recorded the fastest ever speed for a fuel altered and the Mark McElwee-driven “Buzzy’s Bomber” 1962 Chevy II was the quickest of the Funny Cars during the 14th annual Funny Car Nationals completed Saturday at US 131 Motorsports Park.

On an off week from the NHRA tour where he and his brother Bobby Jr. usually spend their time on the crew supporting Top Fuel point leader Steve Torrence, the youngest of the Lagana brothers drove the “family car” to a speed of 334.57 miles per hour on the first of two runs.

Unfortunately, on the second, the 10,000 horsepower engine in the hybrid dragster suffered a catastrophic failure three quarters of the way down the quarter mile course that slowed it to just 277.95 mph, well off its own record of 338.35 mph.

Kraus, driving the Buffalo, NY-based “Moonshine Express” 1943 Fiat Topolino hybrid against Tom Motry’s world record-holding “Drastic Plastic” 1948 Anglia, earned a split in the two match races but stole some of the thunder by posting both the quickest time and fastest speed at 5.311 seconds, 285.35 mph.

The Chicago-based “Drastic Plastic,” which has covered the standard distance in as few as 5.286 seconds, had a best of 5.431 at 266.43 mph.

Rich “the Shoe” Ream wowed the crowd with his wheelstanding 1950 bullet-nosed Studebaker wheelstander, Dan Crownhart made a special appearance in his “Jet Bandit” jet-powered Funny Car and Wadsworth, OH legend Bob Motz closed the show with typical flair in “The Original Jet Truck.”

McElwee stopped the timers in a best-of-the-event 5.680 seconds in the first of two rounds of Funny Car racing but didn’t get the overall win. Because of a slow reaction to the starting signal, the Vandalia driver couldn’t quite catch St. Louis veteran Greg Jacobsmeyer in a first round race decided by .002 of a second.

In his second race, he had problems and slowed to 13.99 seconds at only 93.59 mph in a rematch with Jacobsmeyer and the “All-Star Dodge” 1970 Dodge Challenger. Jacobsmeyer and veteran John Lawson of Joliet, IL, shared the victory as the only unbeatens in the round robin event.

Reigning series champion and Hot Rod Reunion champion Robbie Freels of Island, Ky., teammate Bo Boles of Slaughters, KY, C. Shane Rasler of Wolcottville, IN, and David Mullin of Lemont, IL, were the Nostalgia Drag Racing League winners in 7.0, 7.5, Pro Comp and Pro Gas, respectively.

Finally, in the bracket racing portion of the event, Parma’s Chad Six and Plainwell’s Bernie Vanderploeg joined Ken Hansen in the winners’ circle. Six beat Bill Schmidt of Fruitport to win the Modified title, Vanderploeg stopped Rich Schneider of Westland in Top ET and Hansen upset Donnie Hagar of Clarklake in Street.

The Muchlers swept the top two Jr. Dragster divisions with Ally winning in the Master class and brother Evan prevailing in Advanced. The Beginner title was grabbed off by Kalamazoo’s Kenzie Wanamaker when Austin Perrone was guilty of a final round foul start.

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MARTIN, Mich. – Results from the 14th annual Funny Car Nationals completed Saturday at US 131 Motorsports Park. Hometowns are Michigan unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time when applicable, track time, target time when applicable, and finish line speed:

NOSTALGIA FUEL FUNNY CAR
Round 1 – Mike McIntire Jr., Mentor, OH, “McAttack” 1969 Chevy Camaro, 5.790, 239.74 mph, def. Bazz Young, Sydney, Australia, “Thunder Down Under” 1969 Chevy Camaro, 5.792, 256.26 mph; Mark McElwee, Vandalia, “Buzzy’s Bomb” 1962 Chevy II, 5.680, 221.67 mph, def. Greg Jacobsmeyer, St. Louis, MO, “All-Star Dodge” 1970 Challenger, 5.781, 249.45 mph; Brian Cunningham, Stanfield, NC, “Gone Ballistic” 1975 Chevy Monza, def. Kevin Lennon, “Shake and Bake” 1968 Plymouth Arrow; John Lawson, Joliet, IL, “Runaway” 1980 Chevy Camaro, 6.077, 162.87 mph, def. Joe Haas, Morrison, IL, “Quickdraw” 2001 Pontiac Firebird 9.370, 85.15 mph.
Round 2 – McIntire, bye; Young, 5.826, 246.58 mph, def. Cunningham, 6.309, 221.89 mph; Jacobsmeyer, 5.745, 251.40 mph, def. McElwee, 13.998, 93.59 mph; Lawson, 7.712, 113.87 mph, def. Haas, 13.879, 80.94 mph.

NOSTALGIA DRAG RACING LEAGUE
Ross Racing Engines Pro 7.0
Second round – Cory Millet, Piqua, OH, .021, 7.005, 195.74 mph, def. Billy Smith, Pickerington, OH, foul; Robbie Freels, Island, KY, .000, 7.075, 168.67 mph, def. Donald Nave, South Whitley, IN, .034, 7.057, 192.06 mph; Jeff Sanborn, Shelbyville, TN, 1938 Fiat Topolino, .026, 7.153, 182.56 mph, def. Gordon Horn, Rockport, IN, 1963 Corvette, foul; Michael Sexton, Bloomington, IN, bye.
Semifinals – Sanborn, .138, 7.017, 194.55 mph, def. Millet, .135, 6.988 breakout, 189.63 mph; Freels, .051, 7.068, 180.94 mph, def. Sexton, .073, 7.054, 185.95 mph.
FINAL – Robbie Freels, Island, KY, .000, 6.986, 187.34 mph, def. Jeff Sanborn, Shelbyville, TN, foul.

Phoenix Industries Pro 7.5
Second round – Kurt Duckworth, Weirtown, WV, 1967 Chevy Camaro, .032, 8.955, 131.54 mph, def. Kerry Millet, Piqua, OH, 1941 Willys, .141, 7.479 breakout, 174.83 mph; Bo Boles, Slaughters, KY, .009, 7.562, 175.99 mph, def. Jarrod Bradshaw, Utica, KY, foul; Boom Boom Leonard, Antioch, IL, .015, 7.557, 171.76 mph, def. Brian Freund, Columbus Grove, OH, .355, 7.626, 174.49 mph; Goddard Wagner, Aurora, IL, 1972 Mercury Comet, .193, 7.770, 175.37 mph, def. David Shaffer, Lincoln, IL, 1937 Fiat Topolino, .286, 7.834, 160.54 mph.
Semifinals – Boles, .024, 7.830, 132.16 mph, def. Duckworth, .063, 13.048, 111.69 mph; Leonard, .042, 7.676, 169.17 mph, def. Wagner, .065, 7.810, 174.76 mph.
FINAL – Bo Boles, Slaughters, KY, .052, 11.457, 69.80 mph, def. Boom Boom Leonard, Antioch, IL, foul (-.002).

Rod and Custom Pro Comp
Round 2 – Brett Edwards, Lincoln, IL, 1929 Ford, .220, 9.134 on a 9.000, 137.57 mph, def. Gary Williams, Mattoon, IL, .459, 12.348 on a 9.500, 74.44 mph; D. Weme, .007, 9.023 on a 9.000, 133.45 mph, def. Jay Rowe, Connersville, IN,1963 Corvette, .012, 9.092 on a 9.000, 133.21 mph; C. Shane Rasler, Wolcottville, IN, .017, 8.622 on an 8.500, 154.00 mph, def. Bill Fuesting, Waukegan, IL, 1948 Fiat Topolino, foul; Bob Bommarito, .005, 8.708 on an 8.500, 132.59 mph, def. D. Snyder, .203, 8.465 breakout on an 8.500 153.11 mph; Shane Bowman, Albany, IN, 1923 Ford T, .014, 8.767 on an 8.500, 150.05 mph, def. J. Lawson, foul.
Round 3 – Edwards, .017, 9.295 on a 9.000, 131.66 mph def. Weme, .015, 8.941 breakout on an 9.000, 133.77 mph; Rasler, .041, 8.962 breakout on an 8.500, 127.19 mph, def. Bommarito, .057, 9.316, 154.91 mph; Bowman, bye.
Semifinals – Bowman, def. Edwards; Rasler, bye.
FINAL – C. Shane Rasler, Wolcottville, IN, dragster .060, 8.545, 155.87 mph, def. Shane Bowman, Albany, IN, 1923 Ford T, .084, 8.493,150.55 mph.

QuickFuel Technologies Pro Gas
Round 2 – Kenny Robinson, Greentown, IN, 1967 Ford Fairlane, .062, 9.968 on a 10.000, 127.33 mph, def. Brian Bruckman, Saint Anne, IL, 1979 Chevy Malibu, .037, 9.955 breakout on a 10.000, 123.66 mph; Jim Hayes, Troy, OH, 1972 Chevy Vega, .025, 9.978 on a 10.000, 130.43 mph, def. G. Wildy, foul; S. Flanders, .063, 9.530 on a 9.500, 136.61 mph, def. Mike Cutler, Dawson, IL, 1955 Chevy Bel Air, .064, 9.531 on a 9.500, 139.62 mph; M. Orlando, .054, 9.531 on a 9.500, 142.00 mph, def. Jaxson Messamore, Hanson, KY, 1970 Chevy Camaro, .048, 9.544 on a 9.500, 137.07 mph; Mike Ryan, Cottage Hills, IL, 1966 Chevy Chevelle, .018, 9.016 on a 9.000, 141.78 mph, def. I. Wray, .037, 9.017 on a 9.000, 147.25 mph; David Mullin, Lemont, IL, 1937 Chevy, .045. 9.019 on a 9.000, 148.61 mph, def. Rich Kent, Aurora, IL, 1973 Ford Pinto, .094, 8.972 breakout on a 9.000, 151.01 mph; Nick Dishon, Kokomo, IN, 1969 Chevy Camaro, .012, 8.583 on an 8.500, 149.45 mph, def. Jerry Wilson, Indianapolis, IN, 1963 Corvette, .086, 8.472 breakout on an 8.500, 151.01 mph; D. Mullen, bye.
Round 3 – Robinson, .051, 9.988 on a 10.000, 124.76 mph, def. Hayes, .027, 9.982 breakout on a 10.000, 125.28 mph; Orlando, .003, 9.556 on a 9.500, 136.99 mph, def. Flanders, .092, 9.559 on a 9.500, 131.89 mph; D. Mullin, .034, 9.103 on a 9.000, 132.55 mph, def. Ryan, .085, 9.241 on a 9.000, 145.82 mph; D. Mullen, .002, 8.602 on an 8.500, 152.03 mph, def. Dishon, .032, 8.580 on an 8.500, 157.73 mph.
Semifinals – Orlando, .146, 9.545 on a 9.500, 133.69 mph, def. Robinson, .043, 11.844 on a 10.000, 75.57 mph; Mullin, .041, 9.014 on a 9.000, 140.58 mph, def. Mullen, .131, 8.629 on an 8.500, 158.45 mph.
FINAL – David Mullin, Lemont, IL, 1937 Chevy, 10.472 on a 9.000, 90.36 mph, def. M. Orlando, DQ.

BRACKET RACE
MODIFIED – Chad Six, Parma, .004, 5.843 on a 5.840, 114.97 mph, def. Bill Schmidt, Fruitport, .022, 5.446 on a 5.430, 123.09 mph.
TOP ET – Bernie Vanderploeg, Plainwell, .009, 5.850 on a 5.850, 115.80 mph, def. Rick Schneider, Westland, .029, 4.979 breakout on a 4.990, 132.70 mph.
STREET – Ken Hansen, .076, 8.629 on an 8.620, 77.20 mph, def. Donnie Hagar, Clarklake, .073, 8.759 on an 8.720, 77.33 mph.
MASTER JR. DRAGSTER – Ally Muchler, Grass Lake, .016, 7.928 on a 7.950, 80.88 mph, def. Katelyn Jones, Hamilton, foul.
ADVANCED JR. DRAGSTER – Evan Muchler, Grass Lake, .006, 9.239 on a 9.120, 63.34 mph, def. Rylie Vanaken, Coldwater, .091, 10.818 on a 10.770, 57.69 mph.
BEGINNER JR. DRAGSTER – Kenzie Wanamaker, Kalamazoo, .130, 12.211 on an 11.950, 55.38 mph, def. Austin Perrone, Ionia, foul.