4/25/15
EMBLEY UPSETS YOUNG FOR PRO WIN
BURNHAM OVER NOWAK FOR STREET
FERGUSON TAKES BIKE HONORS
While the weather was nice for the afternoon, the threat of cooler temperatures after dusk had everyone hurrying back to the lanes to get the event done before the sun went down and the traction would begin to slip. Pro class again was the largest with almost forty entrants in the opening round, followed by Street with a count over two dozen. This weekend also saw the debut of the new-this-year Modern Muscle class.
The Pro eliminator went a full six rounds before a winner was determined, and once again the buyback system produced one of the contestants. Jim Young, defending champ from one week ago, took an unusual first round loss, decided to pay to try to reenter the race, and after being successful on his second chance, moved into the quarterfinals to pair off with the flying Nova of Darrin Elia. Young’s Olds had the head start and held off the top end charge of the Nova, turning in a 10.70 and 121 to a 9.08 pass
at 147 mph for Elia. Scott Embley, who would go all the way to the final shot down Mark Santee’s Comet as the Chevelle hit a 9.61 at 129 that was more than enough to best the late starting Merc’s 10.48, 120. Rich Martin put his Fairmont Ford into the semis when he was better than Mike Franek’s Dodge, 9.63, 137 against a too quick 10.11 and 130 posting. Young got the automatic advance out of the semis with a bye run and Embley took on Martin for the other open spot. A close race between this pair went to Embley as his 9.60 at 131 beat the 9.67 and 138 for the Ford. In a somewhat unusual final, Young, having the handicap threw out a -.001 light to instantly lose the race on a ticket of 10.67. 126.45. Embley racked up the top spot as the Chevy clicked off a 9.58 second run at a speed of 138.39.
Keith Burnham used to make most of his appearances with the Impala circuit crew, but for the past couple of years has been a regular weekly entrant in Street. His dedication to the class paid off this weekend when he squared off against long time racer Dave Nowak for the money in the bracket. Burnham came out of the QF with a victory over Bill Wackermann’s Camaro in a 15.78 to 11.67 matchup. Patty MacDonald drove her new-this-year Gremlin X to a win over Boll Doczi’s Camaro, 11.75 versus 12.19 where both cars went under their handicaps. Nowak and his Jeep went solo. Nowak took out MacDonald in the semis again on a double run out, 16.97 to an 11.68, and Burnham was assured of a final round berth when he received a bye. Both finalists were on the tree with Burnham gaining a very slight advantage. He managed to chase down Nowak for the win light, putting the Caprice through the traps at 15.76 and 85.21 to a close but losing 16.96, 80.20.
Dave Ferguson collected his first Bike title of the year, becoming the third different winner in the category in as many weeks. Ferguson gunned down Vinny Cianci for a SF wins, 10.98 to a 9.66 with both under the dial. Scott McGrath sent Barry Stephens home with a final round spot, a 9.70 and 138 pushing the loser under the number on a 9.40, 138. McGrath was a little overanxious in the final and went red on the tree, clocking an on the dial 9.69 and 139.30 for second place. Ferguson ran his Arctic Cat to the trophy on an 11.02 at 110.96.
For the third week it was a new face in the winner’s circle in Super Pro. Actually the victor here is familiar with winning, generally finishing high in the points each and every year. Todd Martin and his RED eased into the semifinals on a single while Joe Algieri’s Corvette took out Craig Sonderfan to earn a SF spot. Jason Wilson, coming off a win last week, was better than Don Algieri in a battle of dragsters and Bryan Mirsky hung tight over Mick Sulc to complete the final four pairings. Wilson cranked out a 7.69 at 162 to pass Algieri’s 10.09, 127. Then Martin sent Mirsky packing on a very close race, 7.58 and 174.91 to a 9.94 at 132.43, a margin of victory of just .007 seconds. Martin nailed the RT advantage in the deciding race and pounded out a stout 7.60, 168.45 to put the win light on. Wilson came up short with his 7.69 time at 170.84 mph.
The initial Modern Muscle contest fell to Steve Ciregna and his Pontiac when he took the measure of Connie Wackermann’s Camaro. The Brooklyn NY entry hit an 11.55 at 113.57 to push his competitor under the dial on an 11.91, 112.49.
Trophy class was picked up by Kyle King and his Camaro out of Ottsville Pa. Mike Volpe tried had a good shot at defeating King as he was superior on the line, but slowed too much at the top end and lost at 11.68, 112.07. King collected the cup with a slip of 12.44 at 115.22.
Consolation Two eliminator was an all local affair as the final three contestants were all locals from Great Meadows. Joe Dukin and his S-10 edged out the Monte Carlo of Rob Zetterberg in the semis, 9.13, 141.74 versus a 9.57, 140.49. After Joe’s brother, Bob Dukin, had a single the final was an all family affair. This was more about bragging rights than the money involved. Trying for any advantage possible, Bob triggered his launch in the Malibu too soon and fouled out his 9.56, 137.67 run. Joe can boast, at least for now, when he racked up a 9.08 and 147.49 time slip.
Sunday brought a test and tune session along with some nostalgia racing by the clans from MANDRA and NETO. MANDRA had a nice showing of entries and Bob Maulick and his T-bucket altered won the bracket over Merritt Snyder’s Comet, 10.26, 122.24 against a problem plagued 11.56, 97.75.
NETO Comp went to Greg Georges and his Camaro when he outlasted the Comet of John Giambertone. Georges ran up an 8.78 lap with a 154.94 speed to chase down the Comet’s 9.77, 131.32. NETO Nostalgia belonged to Charles Speizio’ 55 Chevy after he proved better than Roger Wright’s Cuda. Speizio managed an 11.31 at 115 for the victory over a run out of 10.94, 117.10. New this year was a 10.0 Index class that was headed by Jody Kenly and his Challenger. Kenly went to the final against the Chevelle of Vinney Laurita and based on reaction time it looked like Laurita was in control of this race. But having attained such a big lead over Kenly, Laurita tried to protect against a break out and slowed too much, losing at 10.32, 112.17. Kenly walked off with the inaugural award at a 10.14 and 133.50.