Gainesville, Fla. – Chris Demke picked up his second win of the year this past weekend at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Top Alcohol Dragster while Mickey Ferro grabbed his first in Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Demke, Sunland, Calif., qualified No. 5, then worked his way through the field to face off with No. 2 qualifier and former National Champion Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., in the final. Demke left first and never relinquished the lead crossing the finish line in 5.306 seconds at 271.19 mph to Reichert’s 5.318, 265.22.
Ferro, Stamford, Conn., laid down a 5.550 second pass at 258.42 mph to knock out Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., in the funny car final. Ferro currently sits second in the national point’s standings behind John Lombardo, Brea, Calif., who fell to Gill in the semifinals.
Piedmont, Ala., racer David Rampy took home his 80th career NHRA national event win holding off the hard charging Joe Tueton, Schriever, La., in Super Stock. Rampy’s ’89 Camaro went 10.250 at 120.17 for the win.
The Comp Eliminator title went to Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., in a ’03 dragster at 7.113 seconds, 142.63 mph while Charlie Fitzsimmons, Chattanooga, Tenn., took the win over Chris Stephenson, Tipton, Ind., in Stock.
Todd Ewing, Vinemont, Ala., and Jim Perry, Niota, Tenn., round out the weekend winners at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville taking the wins in Super Comp and Super Gas respectively. Ewing won over Frank Altilio, Apopka, Fla., and Perry beat Rich Price, Royersford, Pa.
