Sat, 18 Nov 2006, 11:49 AM Vinje, Truitt, Hoefer, and Nash Crowned NHRA Summit National Champions in Pomona

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing Photo copyright 2006 Auto Imagery, Inc.

POMONA, Calif. --

Standing:Don Lower, Michael Nash, Tom Compton, Phillip Truitt, and Kirk Heinbuch Kneeling: Willie Hoefer and Brad Vinje

Brad Vinje (Super Pro), Phillip Truitt (Pro), Willie Hoefer (Sportsman) and Michael Nash (Motorcycle) took home the 2006 NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship held in conjunction with the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona.

Vinje, running out of Langley, B.C. CAN, held off NHRA West Central Division racer Rodney Thompson with a 10.560-second run at 138.70 mph in his '68 Camaro. Vinje ran consistent 10.50's throughout eliminations for the win.

Parsonsburg, Md., resident Truitt knocked off Gary Schneneman of Elko, Minn., in the final of Pro running 12.619 seconds at 105.87 mph while Hoefer of Yucaida, Calif., won over Derrick Jackson with a 13.204 second lap at 88.62 mph. Nash, out of Texarkana, Texas, rode his '83 Honda to the win over Jeff Lanoue of Zimmerman, Minn., recording a 9.279 second lap at 133.38 mph in the Motorcycle class.

Each champion earned the invitation and a shot at the national championship by winning at their respective NHRA Summit Division Championship earlier this year and took home $5,000 for their win in Pomona.

All 28 competitors were awarded $3,500 from Summit Racing Equipment for participating in the national championship at a special banquet held on Thursday of race week at the NHRA Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The racers and their families were joined by Summit's Kirk Heinbuch and Don Lower, NHRA President Tom Compton, 2006 Pro Stock National Champion Jason Line, Line's teammate and 3-time Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson, Top Fuel pilot Hillary Will, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Craig Treble.

SUPER PRO
Brad Vinje, Langley BC, CAN, '68 Camaro, 10.560, 138.70 def.
Rodney Thompson, Anoka, Minn., '94 Cutlass, 9.906, 165.86

PRO
Phillip Truitt, Parsonsburg, Md., '76 Nova, 12.619, 105.87 def.
Gary Schueneman, Elko, Minn., '79 Malibu, 10.255, 130.02

SPORTSMAN
Willie Hoefer, Yucaida, Calif., '99 Camaro, 13.204, 88.62 def.
Derrick Jackson, McMinnville, Ore., '70 El Camino, 12.363, 104.73

MOTORCYCLE
Michael Nash, Texarkana, Texas, '83 Honda, 9.279, 133.38 def.
Jeff Lanoue, Zimmerman, Minn., '05 Suzuki, 7.908, 155.45