Tue, 10 Jun 2008, 01:08 PM 11h annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals Special Awards

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

JOLIET, Ill. -- Special awards from the 11th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

U.S. Smokeless Showdown award ($4,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car) - Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., ProCare Rx Dodge Charger, 4.752 seconds, 327.27 mph.

K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge award ($3,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) - Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt, 6.705 seconds, 204.98 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 Stock: Joe Covert, Saukville, Wisc.; Stock Eliminator: Chuck Veach, Rhinebeck, N.Y.; Super Comp: Eric Reyes, Oakland, Calif.; Super Gas: Doug Woody, Independence, Mo.; Super Street: Not contested.

Hedman Hedders Best Engineered Vehicle ($1,000 to the best engineered vehicle) - Mono-shock dragster entry. Driver: Ron Erks, Clinton, Ohio.

NHRA Best Appearing Car - 1937 Super Gas Ford entry. Driver: Steve Shaughnessy, Springfield, Ill

NHRA Best Appearing Crew - Top Alcohol Funny Car crew. Wayne Butler, Forest City, Ill.

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: Melanie Troxel/Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald, ProCare Rx Dodge Charger crew
Pro Stock: Jeg Coughlin/Roy Simmons, JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt crew
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Andrew Hines/Byron Hines, Terry Vance, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson