Mon, 28 Nov 2011, 23:10 PM Biondo Caps Season with Sixth World Championship

Courtesy of Luke Bogacki

When he defeated second place Mike Sawyer in the opening round of Super Gas eliminations at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, CA, Peter Biondo clinched the 2011 NHRA Super Gas Lucas Oil World Championship. The title marked Biondo's sixth NHRA World Championship and first in the 9.90 category. As if the season-capping title wasn't enough, Biondo continued through eliminations and put the proverbial icing on the cake by winning the Super Gas crown at the NHRA Finals, besting Dana Keniry in a close final round.

"What can I say," asked Biondo. "We had a great season. I was disappointed not to win the championship in Super Stock (Biondo finished 2nd in the national points chase), but to be able to clinch the Super Gas title was a great feeling. Then winning the race here was an added bonus. We really finished the season strong, which always makes the winter go by quicker!"

In 2011, Biondo made significant additions to his already overflowing trophy case, as 12 new NHRA "Wally" trophies made their way into his possession throughout the season. He earned six NHRA divisional victories, 4 NHRA national event crowns, and the NHRA Division 1 championship in Super Gas (his 14th divisional title) in addition to the most coveted trophy of all: the NHRA Lucas Oil Championship Wally.

Biondo took his championship hopes from long shot to reality on the strength of a stunning year end run. In the last five NHRA events he attended (The Englishtown LODRS, and national events in Reading, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, and Pomona, CA) he appeared in 7 final rounds and captured five event wins.

Biondo's sixth NHRA World Championship makes him the most illustrious champion in the true sportsman ranks, as the only NHRA sportsman competitors to earn more titles come from the alcohol categories. His first Super Gas championship also puts him in elite company as a world champion in three different NHRA categories: Super Stock (4), Stock, and Super Gas. Almost equally impressive is the fact that Biondo's second place national finish in Super Stock marked the sixth time the New York racer has finished the season as a national runner-up, meaning he's been ranked in the top 2 at seasons end on a whopping 12 occasions.

Biondo was quick to credit car owners Anthony Bertozzi, who owns the Super Gas Corvette he drove to the championship, and longtime owner Phil Monteith, who owns the familiar "Hatari" Pontiac that Biondo drove to a second place finish in Super Stock. He also wanted to recognize his girlfriend, Emily Lewis, "for her support and for taking care of things at home so unselfishly while I chased the championship."

Biondo gave special thanks to Steve Williams of K&N, Mike and Kristin at Sparco Safety, the Coughlin family and JEGS, Biondo Racing Products, Digital Delay Electronics, Numidia Dragway, Goodyear Tires, VP Racing Fuels, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, PAR Racing Engines, ATI Transmissions, Weld Wheels, Auto Meter gauges, BLP Fuel Systems, Manley, ARP, MSD, Racepak data loggers, and BracketRaces.com.

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