SEVERANCE WINS AGAIN, BELLEMEUR SCORES IN FUNNY CAR
WOODBURN, Ore. – In the final results from the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Les Schwab Challenge at Woodburn Dragstrip local runner Joey Severance from Woodburn, Ore., scored his fourth Top Alcohol Dragster win in a row in the NHRA Northwest Division and his sixth overall for the year.
Severance had a bye run in round 1 but had to earn his wins in both his semifinal and final rounds clocking in at 5.460 seconds at 253.37 mph in the semis against Gregg Lawrence and a 5.336, 264.92 over Ray Martin in the final. Lawrence, Salem, Ore., went 5.492 at a faster 261.93 mph while Anchorage, Alaska, resident Martin, ran 5.468 seconds at 262.92 mph. The win should lock up the Lucas Oil Division Championship for Severance.
Sean Bellemeur joined Severance in the winner’s circle with his first win of the year in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., ran consistent 5.70’s all day including a 5.728 second lap at 252.38 mph in the final to defeat Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., with a 5.830, 252.24. Bellemeur beat Jim Peters, Molalla, Ore., in round 1 and division points leader Steve Gasparrelli in his semifinal match up.
Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., also grabbed is fourth win of the season that will all but lock up the division championship for him. Lane drove his ’11 Cobalt to an 8.012, 155.73 mph win over Brandon Huhtala, Puyallup, Wash.
Robert Matthews and Paul Nero added to their win counts as Matthews, Gig Harbor, Wash., won his third, beating Daryl Hemley, Burley, Wash., in Top Sportsman running 7.599 seconds at 168.03 mph in his ‘67 Nova. It was the second win for Nero, Eugene, Ore., in Top Dragster as he held off Shane Molinari, Battleground, Wash., with a 7.160 second pass at 185.75 mph.
The Super Stock and Stock trophies went to Steve Wann and Mark Faul respectively with Wann, Modesto, Calif., driving his ’69 Barracuda by Jackie Alley, Eagle, Idaho in 9.816 seconds while Faul, Tacoma, Wash., held off local racer Joe Sorensen of Woodburn, Ore., in his ’69 Chevelle.
Other winners included Emmett McKillop, Lynnwood, Wash., with his second win of the year in Super Comp; Lloyd Flatum, Marysville, Wash., over Rod Souza, Eugene, Ore., in Super Gas; Dudley Gee, Canby, Ore., beating Tom Williams, Selah, Wash., in his ’66 Mustang; and Joe Jenkins, Richmond, B.C., past Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Les Schwab Challenge event at Woodburn Dragstrip:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
Round 1
1) Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., 5.371, 238.28 was unopposed;
7) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., 5.551, 254.95 def. 2) Ashley Bart, Calgary, Alb., 7.992, 114.62
6) Ray Martin, Anchorage, Alaska, 5.425, 264.93 def. 3) Kenny Buzdas, Yuba City, Calif., 5.796, 185.75
5) Gregg Lawrence, Salem, Ore., 5.420, 264.39 def. 4) James Butler, Prescott, Ariz., 6.173, 156.08
Semifinals
Severance, 5.460, 253.37 def. Lawrence, 5.492, 261.93
Martin, 5.411, 263.92 def. Austin, 5.531, 256.04
Final
Severance, 5.336, 264.62 def. Martin, 5.468, 262.92
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
Round 1
13) Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.787, 249.10 def. 8) Jeff Ashwell, Keizer, Ore., '09 Mustang, 5.861, 244.83
4) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '11 Monte Carlo, 13.994, 69.31 was unopposed
3) Steve Gasparrelli, W. Covina, Calif., '11 Monte Carlo, 5.769, 252.52 def. 6) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '11 Mustang, 9.431, 97.59
9) Sean Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., '04 Camaro, 5.765, 251.46 def. 12) Jim Peters, Molalla, Ore., '09 Impala, 5.864, 244.89
Semifinal
Thompson, 6.276, 240.44 def. Germain, 6.762, 231.30
Bellemeur, 5.727, 251.88 def. Gasparrelli, 5.671, 255.39
Final
Bellemeur, 5.728, 252.38 def. Thompson, 5.830, 252.24
COMP ELIMINATOR
Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '11 Cobalt, B/SMA, 8.012, 155.73 def. Brandon Huhtala, Puyallup, Wash., '10 GXP, C/A, 7.360, 168.19.
SUPER STOCK
Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/HA, 9.716, 134.56 def. Jackie Alley, Eagle, Idaho, '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.511, 137.80.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash., '69 Chevelle, F/SA, 11.463, 110.85 def. Joe Sorensen, Woodburn, Ore., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.412, 123.84.
SUPER COMP
Emmett McKillop, Lynnwood, Wash., dragster, 8.901, 168.47 def. Brian Preszler, Kennewick, Wash., dragster, 8.895, 174.52.
SUPER GAS
Lloyd Flatum, Marysville, Wash., '01 S-10, 9.919, 162.68 def. Rod Souza, Eugene, Ore., '57 Bel Air, foul.
SUPER STREET
Dudley Gee, Canby, Ore., '66 Mustang, 10.923, 131.88 def. Tom Williams, Selah, Wash., '68 Camaro, 10.953, 129.08.
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Jon Jenkins, Richmond, B.C., '84 Suzuki, 8.896, 143.03 def. Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., '95 Suzuki, 8.313, 122.53.
TOP SPORTSMAN
Robert Matthews, Gig Harbor, Wash., '67 Nova, 7.599, 168.03 def. Daryl Hemley, Burley, Wash., '02 Cavalier, foul.
TOP DRAGSTER
Paul Nero, Eugene, Ore., dragster, 7.160, 185.75 def. Shane Molinari, Battleground, Wash., dragster, 6.814, 197.62.
