LOPEZ DOUBLES IN NOBLE
NOBLE, Okla. – Jeff Lopez scored a rare double at Thunder Valley Raceway Park and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Thunder in the Heartland event after rain pushed final eliminations to Monday. The Bedford, Texas, racer faced off against local racer Aaron Tatum, Oklahoma City, Okla., in the final of Super Gas, taking the win when Tatum broke out in his ’57 Corvette. Lopez was on a roll advancing to the final in Super Comp as well, and faced off with Valley Springs, S.D., racer Steve Swenson. Lopez took the win with an 8.956 second pass at 163.78 mph for his second trophy of the day.
Ponchatoula, La., resident Slate Cummings entered the late rounds with a similar situation, only in Stock and Super Stock as he advanced to the final in both classes. Unfortunately, Joe Tysinger and Keith Lynch had different agendas. Tysinger, Wrightsville Beach, N.C., drove his ’87 Firebird past Cummings and into the winner’s circle in the Super Stock class while Lynch, Eldorado, Ohio, ran down Cummings in the Stock final. Lynch clocked in at 10.280 seconds, 124.51 mph in his ’09 Challenger for the win.
In Super Street it was Michael Britt, Italy, Texas, coming out on top in his ’62 Nova running 10.949 seconds at 116.94 mph against Ted Ash, Topeka, Kan., and his ’61 Corvette.
The following are Monday’s final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Thunder in the Heartland event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park:
SUPER STOCK
Joe Tysinger, Wrightsville Bch, N.C., '87 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.914, 23.45 def. Slate Cummings, Ponchatoula, La., '04 Cavalier, SS/CM, 13.305, 67.65.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Keith Lynch, Eldorado, Ohio, '09 Challenger, C/SA, 10.280, 124.51 def. Slate Cummings, Ponchatoula, La., '99 Firebird, B/SA, 10.648, 124.70.
SUPER COMP
Jeff Lopez, Bedford, Texas, dragster, 8.956, 163.78 def. Steve Swenson, Valley Springs, S.D., dragster, 8.928, 175.78.
SUPER GAS
Jeff Lopez, Bedford, Texas, '63 Corvette, 9.945, 135.84 def. Aaron Tatum, Oklahoma City, Okla., '57 Corvette, 9.880, 152.64.
SUPER STREET
Michael Britt, Italy, Texas, '62 Nova, 10.949, 116.94 def. Ted Ash, Topeka, Kan., '61 Corvette, 10.885, 148.93.
