WINNER’S CROWNED IN NHRA PACIFIC DIVISION SUMMIT SERIES RACE OF CHAMPIONS
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (October 3, 2010) – Four racers picked up perhaps the biggest wins of their careers Saturday night at Sacramento Raceway and the NHRA Summit Racing Series Pacific Division Race of Champions. Led by Joe Brown, Vacaville, Calif., Bill Culver, Gary Hairfield, Leo Shaver, and Brown will advance to the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship next month at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., during the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Each of the four drivers were among the top points earners at their home tracks which earned them a spot in the Race of Champions competition.
Running for Sacramento Raceway, Brown knocked off Rob Knoles, Sheridon, Calif., of neighboring Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.) for the win in Super Pro. Brown covered the quarter-mile in 10.533 seconds at 127.46 mph to Knoles’ 10.844, 120.88.
A pair of racers from Las Vegas and The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway took home trophies as Culver won in the Pro category and Shaver beat Michael Pires, Eureka, Calif., in Motorcycle. Culver ran his ’70 Chevelle past Auto Club Famoso Raceway runner Peter Chilbes Jr., Ridgecrest, Calif., in 10.716 seconds at 121.03 mph. Shaver posted a time of 9.382, 136.59 on his ’87 Ninja over Pires’ quicker 9.239, 140.87 on his ’89 GSXR.
The win in Sportsman went to San Diego resident Hairfield and his ’09 Corvette. The Barona 1/8th Mile Drag Strip racer defeated Jack Swanson, Yucaipa, Calif., (Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway). Swanson’s teammate Craig Hoefer of Calimesa, Calif., scored the win in the High School class. His ’78 Camaro went 12.145 seconds at 105.82 mph in downing Gage Cameron, Bakersfield, Calif., and his ’66 El Camino.
The Team from Auto Club Famoso Raceway scored a 1-point victory in the Track Manager’s Challenge over Infineon Raceway followed by Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway in third, and host track Sacramento Raceway in fourth.
Racing continues on Sunday with eliminations for the Pacific Division Summit Racing Series Championship.
The following are Saturday’s Race of Champions final results from the NHRA Pacific Division Summit Racing Series Finals at Sacramento Raceway:
Super Pro
Joe Brown, Vacaville, Calif., ’70 Duster, 10.533 seconds, 127.46 mph def. Rob Knoles, Sheridon, Calif., ’69 Camaro, 10.844, 120.88
Pro
Bill Culver, Las Vegas, ’70 Chevelle, 10.716, 121.03 def. Peter Chilbes Jr., Ridgecrest, Calif., ’65 Chevy II, 10.055, 126.48
Sportsman
Gary Hairfield, San Diego, ’09 Corvette, 12.185, 112.76 def. Jack Swanson, Yucaipa, Calif., ’67 Camaro, 12.069, 108.30
Motorcycle
Leo Shaver, Las Vegas, ’87 Ninja, 9.382, 136.59 def. Michael Pires, Eureka, Calif., ’89 GSXR, 9.239, 140.87
High School
Craig Hoefer, Calimesa, Calif., ’78 Camaro, 12.145, 105.82 def. Gage Cameron, Bakersfield, Calif., ’66 El Camino, 12.225, 100.70
Final Points Standings for the Track Managers Challenge
Auto Club Famoso Raceway 26
Infineon Raceway 25
Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway 23
Sacramento Raceway 21
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 20
Barona 1/8th Mile Drag Strip 13
Toyota Dragstrip at Irwindale 11
Redding Dragstrip 8
Top Gun Raceway 8
Samoa Dragstrip 8
Southwestern Int’l Raceway 7
Speedworld Dragstrip 5
Firebird Int’l Raceway 5
Albuquerque Dragway 0
