GLENDORA, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2010) — The final NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil of 2010 took to Gainesville Raceway over the weekend with Keith Szabo falling just short in his bid to win all four Aerospace Components Limited Street category races this season.
Szabo knew that coming into the NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil Gainesville Raceway event he would be facing a tough field of racers and this would be the most challenging race of the season to win. He was able to make it to the final round where he faced Carlton Thompson and fell just short as Thompson ran a 4.594 second pass at 160.52 mph to the losing run of Szabo’s at 5.480 seconds at 94.85 mph.
In the thrilling Pro Mod category Matos was able to muscle his way to the winners circle in the ultracompetitive category. In the finals Matos posted a pass of 4.483 second run at 171.18 mph to a trailing run by No. 1 qualifier Robert Mathis at 8.787 seconds at 53.91 mph.
Winners in the remaining NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil categories included Terry Elam in Aerospace Components EZ Street; Aerospace Components Limited Street was won by Carlton Thompson; Aerospace Components 8.5 Index was won by Adam Garner; Aerospace Components 9.0 Index was won by William Waller; Aerospace Components 9.5 Index was won by Craig Pinney, Jr.; Allan Kremkall in Aerospace Components 10.0 Index; Tony Johnson in Aerospace Components 10.5 Outlaw; Brien Radley, a regular racer at Gainesville Raceway, was the winner of Aerospace Components 11.0 Index; Shane Williams took home top spot in Aerospace Components 12.0 Index; Joe Parisi took home top spot in Aerospace Components 13.0 Index.
The ‘Wally Challenge’ race featured the winner and runner-up in the Aerospace Component 11.0 Index category with Radley having to make the difficult choice of retaining his freshly won NHRA Wally or pushing his luck and battling runner-up Sherby Powell for a second time. Radley took the challenge but in the re-match he rolled out of the beams prior to the race and left before the tree was activated. The race was over before it began and gave the win and more importantly, the NHRA Wally to Powell.
“This was a great event with a tremendous car count and a great way to end the NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil season,” said Don Robertson, executive general manager of Gainesville Raceway. “The growth of the series during the course of the year was tremendous and the enthusiasm of the racers was second to none. Even in defeat, many racers came to the tower and thanked us for holding the events and were thrilled to just take part in them.”
Those at the NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil event will be sure to tune into Fox Sports Net’s owned and operated regional networks to watch the two half our shows that were filmed at the Gainesville Raceway. The show will be hosted by Steve Watson and Sara Karges, are produced by Disrupt/ive Studios and will air on Dec. 19th and 26th. Be sure to check your local listing for air times on each date.
Also during the course of the event fans were able to take part in the fourth casting session for “Who Wants to Be a Race Car Driver?” a new reality TV show in development with Disrupt/ive Studios. Would be racers moved through the audition line to see if they have what it takes to get a shot at their dream job: a one-year completely funded ride in an NHRA series.
Winners of the car show were Best of Show winner Craig Robarts of Lake City, Florida in his 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with a 440 motor, he also took home top honors for the Top Mopar category. The best GM of the show went to Robert and Tim Nicholson from Ocala Florida with their 1968 Camaro with a 502 Ram Jet motor. Top Ford for the NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil event went to Chris Hardin of Tavares Florida in a 1968 Mustang with a 482 motor; the best Open Car with to Gibsonton Florida resident, Jim Ladner in his 1965 Backdraft Cobra Boss 302; and the best Open Truck went to Jason Newman of Jacksonville, Florida in his 2001 Ford F-150 Lightning with a 385 CI88MN Turbo motor.
NHRA UNLEASHED PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL RESULTS
Pro Mods
Winner: Raymond Matos, 4.483, 171.18, .084 reaction time
R/U: Robert Mathis, 8.787, 53.91, .051 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Robert Mathis, 4.084, 182.11
Low E. T: Robert Mathis, 4.804
Top Speed: Robert Mathis, 182.11
Aerospace Components 10.5 Outlaw
Winner: Tony Johnson, 4.219, 181.42, .038 reaction time
R/U: Rob Wells, 4.289, 174.87, .013 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Danny Lowry, 4.262, 180.69
Low E. T.: Danny Lowry, 4.262
Top Speed: Rob Wells, 182.77
Aerospace Components Limited Street
Winner: Carlton Thompson, 4.594, 160.52, .067 reaction time
R/U: Keith Szabo, 5.480, 94.85, .054 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Carlton Thompson: 4.546, 167.80
Low E. T.: Carlton Thompson, 4.546
Top Speed: Mel Nelson, 176.65
Aerospace Components EZ Street
Winner: Terry Elam, 5.796, 139.31, .057 reaction time
R/U: Eric Kenward, 5.889, 133.43, .047 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Terry Elam, 5.011, 149.43
Low E. T.: Terry Elam, 5.011
Top Speed: Terry Elam, 149.43
Aerospace Components 8.5 Index
Winner: Adam Garner, 8.615, 149.63, .020 reaction time
R/U: Calvin Hornes Sr., 8.620, 161.27, .141 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Bill Yourchuk, 8.500, 147.21
Aerospace Components 9.0 Index
Winner: William Waller, 9.002, 138.66, .062 reaction time
R/U: Ed Arvonio, 9.006, 149.56, .011 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: John Rougas, 9.000
Aerospace Components 9.5 Index
Winner: Craig Pinney, 9.520, 141.02, .052 reaction time
R/U: Michael Bonacci, 9.555, 140.87, .038 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Keith Fulp, 9.500
Aerospace Components 10.0 Index
Winner: Allan Kremkall, 21.977, 57.33, .108 reaction time
R/U: John Rollins, broke
#1 Qualifier: Stan Sinack, 10.001
Aerospace Components 11.0 Index
Winner: Brien Radley, 11.002, 117.83, .062 reaction time
R/U: Sherby Powell, 10.994, 121.37, .041 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Roger Ward, 11.000
Aerospace Components 12.0 Index
Winner: Shane Williams, 12.117, 101.22,.021 reaction time
R/U: Robert Simpson, 12.202, 107.71, .029 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Garry Thompson, 12.000
Aerospace Components 13.0 Index
Winner: Joe Parisi, 13.110, 99.17, .046 reaction time
R/U: Brian Dacey, 13.130, 101.20, .045 reaction time
#1 Qualifier: Brian Fluker, 13.001
