Mon, 7 Jun 2010, 08:02 PM Big Wins Under the Lights in Chicago

By Kelly Wade Photo copyright 2010 Auto Imagery, Inc.

JOLIET, Ill. --

Manzo vs. Ferro

On the heels of the highly anticipated Allstars race contested the day before, the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, held at Chicago's esteemed Route 66 Raceway, finished well into the evening following a string of storms that put racing on pause off and on throughout the weekend. For Top Alcohol Funny Car Allstars winner Frank Manzo, it was well worth the wait when he put an exclamation point on an already successful weekend with a double-up victory. Monroe Guest (Top Alcohol Dragster), James Caro (Comp), Gary Emmons (Super Stock), Peter Biondo (Stock), Don Higgins (Super Comp), Steve Furr (Super Gas), and Wayne Christopher (Super Street) also reigned supreme in their respective categories at the event.

Manzo has yet to be defeated since settling in behind the wheel of the Al-Anabi Racing entry, and his incredible 5.459 pass in the final was unnecessary though breathtaking; opponent Mickey Ferro red-lighted by -.213. Over the course of the weekend, Manzo went from quick to quicker, leading the field in qualifying with a 5.551, clicking off a 5.537 in the first round with a victory over a tire-shaking Steve Gasparelli, and then easily getting past Paul Gill in the second round with a 5.489 at 262.90 mph. Gill was extra tardy on the line, recording a .223 reaction and then clicking off early in his pass with troubles. In the semifinals, Jay Payne tree'd Manzo with a sharp .002 reaction, but the Northeast alcohol Funny Car ace hastily made up the difference. Payne surged ahead at half track, but Manzo again reclaimed the lead and scored the round-win by three-thousandths.

Guest vs. Dreher

The Top Alcohol Dragster final pitted Guest against Dreher, and no matter the outcome, a first time winner would hoist the trophy at the conclusion of the round. Guest, who qualified his Tigerflow A/FD with a 5.363 at 255.48 mph for a start from the No. 5 spot, rattled the tires early in his final round pass but expertly regained control and got around Dreher just before the finish line to claim his first win in his fourth money round.

On the way to the final, Guest put a quick 5.295 on the scoreboard to best Darren Nicholson in the opening round and earn his first shot at beating Division 7 powerhouse Jim Whiteley. When Whiteley's blown J&A Service/Rator rail started dropping cylinders, Guest took advantage and easily advanced, 5.348 to 5.692. Semifinals challenger Bill Reichert entered the round with lane choice, but he smoked the tires of his Bars Leaks/Rislone A/FD at the hit of the throttle and allowed Guest a bit of revenge from their last meeting - at the Houston event earlier this season, where Reichert was triumphant.

Notably, No. 1 qualifier Duane Shields was competing in his 100th race in his Shortline Express dragster. He exited in the second round at the hands of Reichert.

Caro vs. Rampy

After going way under the index and notching an impressive Allstars win, Bruno Massel was disqualified for excessive braking in the first round of Comp following an intense crash at the top end. After getting the win light over Matt Harris, he lost control of his turbo-charged Cobalt and hit Harris, whose car flipped over and spun around on its roof. Harris was to have raced Caro in the second round, but was unable to make the call following the incident. Entering the third round, Caro, who took the green light in his unexpected second-round single, was CIC penalty-free, but challenger Adam Hickey was carrying a .05 hit. Caro nabbed a bit of an advantage out of the gate and took a .06 CIC penalty in order to get the win and pushed Hickey to a .01 hit to the C/SMA permanent index in his efforts to stave off Caro's charge. Caro shut down Robert Bailey in the semifinals, and in the closing round, he sewed up his first win since the Houston event in 1989 by beating David Rampy off the starting line by seven-thousandths and sealing the deal at the finish line.

Emmons vs. Plourd

Emmons competed in the Allstars on Saturday and had hoped for better than a semifinals finish, but he soothed the sting with a win over Brad Plourd in the Super Stock final of the main event. Emmons wheeled his SS/JA '96 Firebird to a triple-zero launch and clocked a 10.050 on his 10.03 dial at the top end to best Plourd's .040 reaction and breakout 8.741 (8.75). En route to his eighth national event victory, Emmons put away a string of tough competitors, including quarterfinals challenger Bo Butner, who was four-thousandths too quick at the tree, to earn a bye run into the final.

Biondo vs. Fletcher

The Stock final was an allstar match in and of itself, with Biondo driving his B/SA '69 Camaro to victory over four-time Chicago winner Dan Fletcher. Biondo, now perfect in three Stock final round matches with Fletcher, cut a .004 light and finessed the finish line, clocking a 10.482 on his 10.45 dial to Fletcher's 10.354 (10.33). Biondo scored in a heads-up no-breakout B/SA contest over Wally Krueger in the quarters, 10.511 to 10.780 for the bye run into the final, where he earned his 37th Wally.

Higgins vs. Miller

Super Comp No. 1 qualifier Higgins, of Mapleton, Ill., recorded a speedy .003 start and an 8.920 on the 8.90 index to stop Ray Miller in the final and pick up his first national event victory. Lucas Oil Series points leader Miller was a very nice .006 at the starting line but his 9.020 wasn't enough. In the quarterfinals, Higgins was better at both ends of the track to beat Austin Williams for a bye run into the final, and Miller got the nod when Samantha Kenny had a better reaction time but broke out by .012.

Furr vs. Wallace

The Super Gas title was awarded to Furr, of Harrisburg, N.C., when he piloted his '68 Camaro to victory in the final over a red-lighting Gale Wallace. Both drivers were too-quick at the start, but Furr's -.004 was the lesser infraction to Wallace's -.012. Furr's ascension through eliminations included a double-breakout triumph in the quarterfinals over Allstars winner Jason Kenny that handed the eventual winner a bye run into the final. The title was the second of the season for Furr; he won Super Comp at the Gainesville event.

Christopher

Christopher entered the final round of Super Street with a tremendous gift; his would-be opponent, Dan Carter, was unable to stage his car for a semifinal bye run and was disqualified, and Christopher simply had to take the green light with his '84 Monte Carlo to win the event. In the quarters, Christopher survived a double-breakout with Miller that concluded with identical 10.879s on the scoreboard. Christopher recorded a .016 reaction and Miller was .033 at the tree. In the semis, Christopher was again the winner of a double-breakout, this time over Scotty Rienschield.

The Lucas Oil Series will resume next weekend at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Monroe Guest, 5.482, 260.26 def. Jared Dreher, 5.498, 252.85.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.459, 264.75 def. Mickey Ferro, Monte Carlo, foul.

Competition Eliminator -- James Caro, Dodge Stratus, 8.124, 162.35 def. David Rampy, Roadster, 7.342, 152.00.

Super Stock -- Gary Emmons, Pontiac Firebird, 10.050, 130.72 def. Brad Plourd, Chevy Cavalier, 8.741, 155.56.

Stock Eliminator -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Camaro, 10.482, 120.35 def. Dan Fletcher, Camaro, 10.354, 121.30.

Super Comp -- Don Higgins, Dragster, 8.920, 160.75 def. Ray Miller, Dragster, 9.020, 165.42.

Super Gas -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.886, 161.81 def. Gale Wallace, Camaro, foul.

Super Street -- Wayne Christopher, Chevy Monte Carlo, no time was unopposed.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 13- NHRA and FOX Sports Announce TV Schedule for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 12- 75th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"