Before the lights, cameras and big stage are put in place for the this weekend’s Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers, Amalie Oil once again paid tribute to its loyal customers with the fifth annual Amalie All-Star Race Thursday night at New England Dragway.
The race, which is open to Amalie customers in the New England region, was well represented by several auto parts stores and mechanic shops as the participants competed in a bracket race driving whatever vehicle they had on hand.
Some had dragsters, some had street cars and some even had minivans, but at the end of the night only one walked away with bragging rights and an IHRA Ironman trophy.
On Thursday that man was Ed Knodler from Concord, N.H. as he fought his way through a 40-car field in his Chevrolet Camaro and defeated Shawn Hillsgrove in the final to take home the win.
Knodler had been to the final in three consecutive years, but finally got over the hump on Thursday’s putting his hot rod in victory lane.
“Man is this event fun. I have been runner-up at this event for the last three years so to finally pull it off was just exciting,” Knodler said. “I don’t know how these guys do it. I was out there rolling down the track and some of these guys will be going 300 miles-per-hour this weekend. It is incredible just thinking about that.”
Knodler’s victory knocked off the fire-spewing, diesel burning semi of Hillsgrove who admits that even he was surprised to make it to the final.
“I was the luckiest man in the field. I had no overdrive so I gave up the last couple of runs, but they kept saying I won,” Hillsgrove. “So I kept going and made it all the way to the final.”
And all of the action was brought to life thanks to the help of Terry McMillen.
Driving the Amalie Oil backed Top Fuel dragster, McMillen admits that of all the races on his schedule this one always has a special place in his heart.
Along with representing Amalie Oil in the Top Fuel field, McMillen is also thrilled to put on such a fun and exciting race for the Amalie customers to kick off the event weekend.
“It is huge because you have all of these customers that buy Amalie products through all these years. They have been so loyal and to come up here and give them an opportunity to see what drag racing is all about is exciting for me,” McMillen said. “Every one of them, at the end of the day, walks away ecstatic to be a part of this.”
The Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers will get underway Friday morning and run throughout the weekend.
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