or
a variety of reasons, many of which nobody seems to be able to remember now,
NHRA took the Sportsnationals off of their national event calendar after the
1986 race at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. But now some eight
years later, thanks mostly to the effort of NHRA's Len Imbrogno and the willingness
of No Problem Raceway's owners to take the financial gamble, the Belle Rose,
LA track was the site of the new Sportsnationals.
This version was completely different than the previous races in that the track management opted to exclude the Alky Dragster and Alky Funny Car classes and stated that financial considerations was the reason. But they did add some Sportsman classes that past versions didn't have, including Top Sportsman, Top Stock and a "Shootout" for the Super Stock AA/SA class and Stock's U/SA class. Nearly 600 Sportsman class racers came to the event.
The track also had Top Fuel, Pro Stock and Pro Stock bikes making exhibition passes in addition to the rest of the Sportsman classes on hand.
The combination must have been what the fans wanted because despite inclement weather (rain), according to track officials around 8,000 fans showed up Saturday and Sunday. Despite weather problems and all of the associated problems that come with doing a National Event for the first time racers, fans, and manufacturers have called this magazine to praise the race.
The racing actually began on Thursday with the Top Stock Shootout that was just the first of a series of heads-up races at the event. Ohio racer Joey Wilkes took the win when local favorite Floyd Russo of Gonzales, LA, who had qualified on the pole, bulbed, giving the automatic win to Wilkes. Wilkes ran a stout 10.092/130.28 to become the first winner of what turned out to be a marathon five-day event.
Qualifying was done on Friday and eliminations began on Saturday in all of the Sportsman classes as well as completing the special AA/SA, Top Sportsman, U/SA "shootouts."
Harry Holton (lead photo), who made the trip to No Problem Dragway all the way from Modesto, CA, sat on the pole for the shootout with an 8.647 but he couldn't convert performance to a win and lost to Parma, MI racer Charlie Westcott on a holeshot by Wescott. Holton ran 8.676 but couldn't cover Wescott's 8.712 (photo below). Wescott had a .024 light. Both men were driving '68 Barracudas.
The U/SA shootout was won by Jonathan Tarrance from nearby Breman when he drove his '84 Monte Carlo to a win over fellow Kentuckian John McCarthy's station wagon (intro
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The Quick Eight shootout for six-second, 200 mph, pseudo-Pro Mods was won by Canyon, TX racer Greg Lair driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. He didn't qualify on the pole. That spot went to veteran Top Sportsman shoe Ronnie Davis with a stellar 6.915/200.95 lap. He was closely followed on the ladder by Louisiana racer Earle Folse, whose '86 Cutlass tripped the beams with a 6.927/200.86. Neither of those two made the finals which was a match-up between Texan Lair and number nine qualifier Tommy Turner. Lair ran a 6.990/188.89 to bury Tuner's off- the-pace 7.313/187.78.
The rains came on Sunday delaying the finals in the rest of the Sportsman classes. However, it didn't dampen their enthusiasm as all racers stayed until Monday to finish the race.
Let's hope that next year the success of this race will allow the addition
of the Alky Funny cars and dragsters so that the event will be a true Sportsnationals.
Here are the final round results.
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Vince Deceglie (above), Alta Loma, CA, Chevy Corvette, A/A, 7.611/110.61 defeated Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, FL, '23-T Ford, E/EA, foul
SUPER STOCK
Tim Cole, Collierville, TN, Corvette, SS/AX, 8.724/149.71 defeated Buz Post, Arlington, TX, Pontiac Grand Am, SS/AM, 8.251/164.99
STOCK
Jeff Hefler (above), Mansfield, TX, Pontiac Formula, A/FIA, 10.796/120.56 defeated Bobby Roper, Toad Suck, AR, Camaro, A/SA, 10.197/126.73
SUPER COMP
Craig Anderson, Waxahachie, TX, dragster, 8.928/174.17 defeated Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, AL, dragster, 8.918/155.87
SUPER GAS
Ross Laris (above), Raceland, LA, Corvette, 9.909/146.30 defeated Corky Markwart, Largo, FL, S-10, 9.928/134.74
SUPER STREET
Jason Buckner, New Waverly, TX, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.912/127.52 defeated Mike Frederick, Beaumont, TX, Chevy Camaro, 10.892/143.44
TOP SPORTSMAN
Greg Lair, Canyon, TX, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.990/188.89 defeated Tommy Turner, Naples, FL, Chevy Cavalier, 7.313/187.78
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