Sat, 8 Oct 2011, 07:48 PM Biondo Wins Super Gas, Just Misses Rare Double

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing Photo copyright 2011 Auto Imagery, Inc.

MOHNTON, Pa. --

Bryan Balducci, Peter Biondo, Joe Santangelo and Lenny Williams

Peter Biondo advanced to the final round in two categories taking home the win in Super Gas at this weekend's Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., defeated Dale Koncen, Chaptico, Md., with a 9.911 second pass at 170.17 mph in his Corvette with Koncen running too quick at 9.843 seconds on the 9.90 index.

Biondo also advanced to the final round in Super Stock before falling to Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn. Santangelo held off Biondo with a 10.318 second lap at 120.26 mph for the win in his Camaro. Biondo is leading the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national points standings in both classes looking for the extremely rare double championship with a month left in the 2011 NHRA season.

Joining Biondo and Santangelo in the winner's circle was Lenny Williams in Stock Eliminator and Bryan Balducci in the Super Comp Class. Williams out of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., won in his '71 Grand Sport running 10.939 at 118.99 mph against Joe Lisa, Vernon, N.J., in a Camaro. Balducci, Voorhees, N.J., took his Cobalt to the win over Dan Northrop, Doylestown, Pa., in 8.918 seconds at 164.41 mph to Northrop's 8.912, 158.93.

Qualifying and eliminations for the four classes were postponed from last weekend due to weather, however, three of the Lucas Oil Series classes were completed last weekend with Mike Kosky winning in Top Alcohol Dragster over Joey Severance, Frank Manzo beat Andy Bohl in Top Alcohol Funny Car to clinch his 15th NHRA Lucas Oil Championship, and Bob Butner defeated Sal Biondo in Comp Eliminator.

The following are Saturday's final results for the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Maple Grove Raceway:

Super Stock
Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., Camaro, 10.318, 120.26 def. Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., Firebird, 9.667, 136.25.

Stock Eliminator
Lenny Williams, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Gran Sport, 10.939, 118.99 def. Joe Lisa, Vernon, N.J., Camaro, foul.

Super Comp
Bryan Balducci, Voorhees, N.J., Dragster, 8.918, 164.41 def. Dan Northrop, Doylestown, Pa., dragster, 8.912, 158.93.

Super Gas
Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., Corvette, 9.911, 170.17 def. Dale Koncen, Chaptico, Md., Corvette, 9.843, 158.84.

Last Monday's final results.

Top Alcohol Dragster
Mike Kosky, 5.285, 265.59 def. Joey Severance, 5.324, 269.24.

Top Alcohol Funny Car
Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.419, 264.60 def. Andy Bohl, Ford Mustang, 5.520, 259.51.

Comp Eliminator
Bo Butner, Cobalt, 8.932, 111.57 def. Sal Biondo, Cavalier, broke.