ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – In the final results for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Toyota NHRA Supernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park two reigning national champions and a former champion took home the hardware. Reigning Stock Champion Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., won in Stock and Super Gas Champion Peter Biondo won in Super Street to become just the second driver in history to win an NHRA national event in six different classes.
Santangelo won immediately off the starting line in his ’95 Camaro as Eric Cabral, Manchester, N.H., left early with a red-light. Santangelo drove through to a 10.866 second 119.79 mph winning run.
Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., used a better reaction time to knock out Chris Butcher for his first national event win in Super Street to tie Jeg Coughlin Jr. as the only driver to win in six different categories at an NHRA national event. Biondo has also won in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp and Super Gas. Biondo went 10.887, 146.29 to Butcher’s quicker 10.883, 146.40 in the final.
2005 Super Gas NHRA Lucas Oil National Champion Ray Sawyer, Acton, Mass., wheeled his ‘02 Camaro to the win in Super Gas as he ran down Marc-Andre Piche-Nadeau, St. Jean Chrysostome, Que., with a 9.888, 167.74 for his first win of the 2012 season.
Comp Eliminator saw the numbers 3 and 4 on the all-time Comp win list face off in the final round with Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., downing Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y. Fletcher got out front early but Martel drove around him for the win in 7.574 seconds at 170.17 mph to Fletcher’s 7.808, 157.06.
Brian Martel (no relation) marched to the win in Super Stock as did Franklin DiBartolomeo in Super Comp. Martel, Magnolia, Del., won against James Antonette, New Hyde Park, N.Y., on a red-light and DeBartolomeo, Beaver Springs, Pa., won on a double break-out with Dave Heuwetter, Iselin, N.J.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Toyota NHRA Supernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park event:
Competition Eliminator -- Arnie Martel, Pontiac GTO, 7.574, 170.17 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Cobalt, 7.808, 157.06.
Super Stock -- Brian Martel, Chevy Cobalt, broke def. James Antonette, Pontiac Grand Am, foul.
Stock Eliminator -- Joe Santangelo, Chevy Camaro, 10.866, 119.79 def. Eric Cabral, Pontiac Firebird, foul.
Super Comp -- Franklin Di Bartolomeo, Dragster, 8.883, 170.34 def. Dave Heuwetter, Dragster, 8.879, 170.43.
Super Gas -- Ray Sawyer, Chevy Camaro, 9.888, 167.74 def. Marc-Andre Piche-Nadeau, Camaro, 9.882, 131.36.
Super Street -- Pete Biondo, Chevy Nova, 10.887, 146.29 def. Chris Butcher, Ford Mustang, 10.883, 146.40.
