2022 US Nationals Champs Among Expected Challengers at US 131 Motorsports Park~
In addition to Funny Cars, jet dragsters, a bullet-nose Studebaker wheelstander and the inimitable Bob Motz and the Original Jet Truck, this week’s 18th Honor Credit Union Funny Car Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park also will feature racing in the MidWest Drag Racing Series that will showcase a pair of winners from last week’s 68th NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, IN.
Sean Bellemeur of Placentia, CA, and Rusty Baxter of Beckville, TX, will try to ride the momentum born of their victories in The Big Go to MWDRS championships in Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Dragster, respectively.
Bellemeur, who crushed the competition at Indy at the wheel of the Bartone Brothers Camaro, posting low ET (5.438 seconds) and top speed of the meet (267.22 miles per hour), is in position to win his third straight MWDRS title although Annie Whiteley of Grand Junction, CO, and last year’s runner-up, Chris Marshall of McMinnville, OR, still are within striking distance.
Baxter, meanwhile, still has some work to do at US 131 where he will start in fifth place, 143 points behind defending series champ Anita Strasburg of Mapleton, Utah.
The most important battle, however, likely will come in Pro Modified, a category in which only seven points separate the top three drivers: Dustin Nesloney of Orange Grove, TX, former national pulling champion-turned-drag racer Stan Shelton of Albemarle, NC and Daniel Pharris of Sikestown, MO.
Also expected to challenge in Pro Mod are the drivers of two of the most unique cars in the category: Aaron Wells of Oklahoma City, OK, the 2020 series runner-up and his 1967 Shelby Mustang GT, and Steven Whiteley of Grand Junction, CO, the 2017 NHRA Gatornationals champion and his 2014 Cadillac CTS-V.
Rod Moore of Rushville, MO, leads the Top Sportsman entries in his 2001 Chevy S-10 truck with recent NHRA Brainerd runner-up Michael Chitty of Ames, IA, among the top contenders in his 2014 Chevy Cavalier.
MWDRS qualifying is scheduled Friday at 6 and 8 p.m. with a last chance session at 10 a.m. Saturday. First round is set for 3 p.m. Saturday with a second round to follow the Funny Cars, jets and wheelstander at 6 p.m. Semifinals are set for 8 p.m. with finals to following the Funny Cars and jets at 9 p.m.
In addition to the pro cars and the MWDRS, the race also will feature the factory hot rods of the Great Lakes Super Stock Association and the newly-added Great Lakes Gassers of Gary Cromwell, Jeff Davis, Rey Jordan, Jim Gilson, Mike Kulchinski, Wally Peterson and Tim Timoszyk.
Buy tickets on-line now and save $5 on the gate price or get $7 off with a coupon from any participating Honor Credit Union location. Adult admission at the gate is $25 Friday and $35 Saturday with kids 6-12 $5 each day. Children under six are free with a ticketed adult and, as always, every ticket is a pit pass that also includes free parking.
* * *
MIDWEST DRAG RACING SERIES
Current Points
PRO MODIFIED – 1. Dustin Nesloney, Orange Grove, TX, 2017 Chevy Camaro, 377; 2. Stan Shelton, Albemarle, NC, 2019 Ford Mustang, 375; 3. Daniel Pharris, Sikestown, MO, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 370; 4. Aaron Wells, Oklahoma City, OK, 1967 Shelby Mustang GT, 254; 5. Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction, CO, 2014 Cadillac CTS-V, 245.
FUNNY CAR – 1. Sean Bellemeur, Placentia, CA, 2022 Chevy Camaro, 330; 2. Annie Whiteley, Grand Junction, CO, 2017 Chevy Camaro, 313; 3. Chris Marshall, McMinnville, OR, 2017 Chevy Camaro, 291; 4. Bryan Brown, Gainesville, TX, 2016 Chevy Camaro, 207; 5. Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, CO, 2022 Chevy Camaro, 201.
TOP SPORTSMAN – 1. Rod Moore, Rushville, MO, 2001 Chevy S-10 truck, 319; 2. Robert Irby, Collierville, TN, 2013 Chevy Camaro, 267; 3. Michael Chitty, Ames, IA, 2014 Chevy Cavalier, 260; 4. Mark Griffin, Round Mountain, TX, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 250; 5. Jeff Staab, St. Georges, KS, 1989 Pontiac Firebird, 236.
TOP DRAGSTER – 1. Anita Strasburg, Mapleton, UT, 340; 2. Dan Phelps, Labadie, MO, 327; 3. Delaine Whiteley, Grand Junction, CO, 299; 4. Mark Moore, Hutchinson, KS, 202; 5. Rusty Baxter, Beckville, TX, 197.
-www.us131msp.com-
