Tue, 18 Oct 2011, 12:26 PM NHRA Arizona Nationals Firebird International Raceway Special Awards

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Special awards from the NHRA Arizona Nationals Firebird International Raceway.

K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge award ($3,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) - Mike Edwards, Penhall/Interstate Batteries Pontiac GXP, 6.617 seconds, 210.28 mph.

NHRA Best Appearing Car - Chip Rumis, Top Dragster Entry, Ramona, Calif.

NHRA Best Appearing Crew - Todd Losenko, Jolly Roger Dodge Charger, Funny Car Entry, St. Albert, Canada

NHRA Best Engineered Car - Don Toia, Super Comp Entry, Lubbock, Tucson, Ariz.

Strange Engineering Perfectly Strange Performance Awards ($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: No winner
Super Comp: Keith Downing, Glendale, Ariz.
Stock: No winner
Super Gas: Jimmy Lewis, Forney, Texas
Super Street: No winner

Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award ($3,000 each to Top Fuel and Funny Car, $1,500 to Pro Stock and $750 to Pro Stock Motorcycle for the crews that are recognized as the hardest working of the event) -
Top Fuel: Steve Torrence's Capco Racing crew for advancing to the semifinals and giving Larry Dixon a very close race in that round.
Funny Car: Johnny Gray's Service Central Dodge Charger crew for advancing to their second consecutive final round
Pro Stock: Vincent Nobile's Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger crew for turning around the team's performance and advancing to the final round.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Hector Arana Jr.'s Lucas Oil Buell crew for defeating former champions LE Tongelt and Matt Smith in eliminations and advancing to the final round.