Connor Hebig has been the seat of the S&W dragster for only about two
years and had never before won an event. Regardless, the second generation driver
from Orefield is a major player in the points program based on going rounds and
stands a chance to finish in the top three or four spots depending on how he does
over the next two weeks as well as the performance of several racers currently
ahead of him. This weekend Connor broke through for the Super Pro title in fine
fashion when he handed points leader and four time finalist Richie Williams his
first defeat of the season. And with Todd Martin and Elyse DeCarlo exiting in the
first round, Hebig advanced to third in overall points and putting pressure on
Robbie Boyd and Williams in the process.
Hebig took out DeCarlo, Bryan Mirsky and Wayne Rudy on his way to the
deciding race as Richie Williams and his Chevelle looked headed for a fourth win
of the year, by far the best record of any in the bracket. Both finalists got lucky
when they needed it and Hebig caught a slight advantage on the tree in the final.
That proved enough as both cars ran about a hundredths off the dial and Williams
suffered his first defeat at 7.73, 132.36 and put Hebig in the winner’s circle via his
6.80 at 149.43.
Pro class again had the biggest turnout and Mike Franek collected h is first
win of the year by defeating Joe Focarino. Franek had to get by points leader
Rob Zetterberg in the quarters as Focarino bumped Bill Wackermann from the
field. Paul Northrup bested Kelly Conway and Scott Embley ran solo. Franek
treed Embley in the semis to run a 10.15 to 9.37 win and Focarino squeezed past
Northrup 9.76 against a 13.25. The final ended swiftly when Focarino went red on
the line and dropped to second place on a time of 9.76 and 127.71 i9n his Monte
Carlo. Franek pushed his Dodge Swinger to a 10.29 and a slowing 112 effort.
Scott Franks Sr won the Sportsman award by outlasting Jon Northrup .
Michael Franks lost to Northrup in the QF along with John Hedenberg IX falling to
Gary Agar’s Camaro and Franks taking out Connie Wackermann. Northrup was a
solo in the semis and Franks won a double run out contest with Agar. Franks hung
a hole-shot on Northrup for the title and breezed to a 12.38 at 98.79 ticket.
Northrup came in second place when he posted a 13.13 at 87.25.
Chris Miele holds what appears to be a commanding lead in Bike but the
next two slots are up for grabs. Don Hookway, who once lead this bracket, began
the day in fourth place but got back in the top three as he faced a toughened Barry
Stephens, who has not had a banner year. Earlier in the event Stephens beat Jacob
Teats and Hookway took care of Miele to set the final pairings. Only .004
difference in RT made for a race where neither rider dared to lift and sure enough
it worked out to be a dual breakout. Stephens emerged with the trophy on a 9.79
and 133 effort to Hookway’s 9.23 and 145.89.
Harley Parson was better than Al Magliocco for J/D and Anna Sawicki beat
Sean Conway Jr in J/ST. Parson ran a 7.95, 76.33 to overtake an 8.97 and 71.99
for her title. Sawicki’s Mustang rang up a 9.07, 76.72 in besting Conway’;s 11.36,
65.45.
Dick Copertino was the champ i9n Consolation One over Bryan Mirsky.
The CT based RED machine hit a swift 6.07 at 162.16 that was slightly less under
his dial than Mirsky’s 8.03 at 125.79.
Four rounds of Consolation Two brought Jim Trommelen’s AMC pentry to
face the Mustang of Mitch Speert. Speert miscued and went red and dropped the
final at 14.44, 96.49. Trommelen ran an 11.17 at 118.17 for the money.
Competition Copyright 8/14/21: Hebig Scores First S/P Victory; Points Shuffle As Season Nears Ending
