Mon, 2 Jun 2008, 10:52 AM 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals Special Awards

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Special awards from the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals

U.S. Smokeless Showdown award ($4,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car) - Tony Bartone, Long Island City, N.Y., Canidae Pet Food Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.881 seconds, 301.81 mph.

K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge award ($3,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) - Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt, 6.720 seconds, 204.51 mph.

Strange Engineering "Perfectly Strange" performance award ($250 bonus to the first racer in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street who wins an elimination round by running dead-on their dial-in or index) - Super Comp: Craig Anderson, Waxahachie, Texas. Super Gas: Randy Nygaard, Watertown, SD.

Hedman Hedders Best Engineered Vehicle ($1,000 to the best engineered vehicle) - Noble Biocare Top Alcohol Funny Car entry. Driver: Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., Canada

NHRA Best Appearing Crew - Putz Racing Top Alcohol dragster entry. Driver: Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa.

NHRA Best Appearing Car - Eaton Racing Comp entry. Driver: Bub Miller, Overland Park, Kan.

Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship ($3,000 each to Top Fuel and Funny Car's top crew, $1,500 to Pro Stock's top crew, and $750 to Pro Stock Motorcycle's top crew) Driver/crew chief:
Top Fuel: Doug Kalitta/Jon Oberhofer, Mac Tools dragster crew
Funny Car: Bob Tasca/Chris Cunningham, Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang crew
Pro Stock: Dave Connolly/Tommy Utt, Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt crew