Tue, 30 Oct 2012, 02:10 AM Big O Tires NHRA Nationals Special Awards

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

LAS VEGAS -- Special awards from the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals.

K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge award ($3,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) - Jason Line, Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, 6.590 seconds, 209.72 mph.

Best Engineered Vehicle - Brian Fitzpatrick, C & F dragster, Comp, Lake Havasu, Arizona

NHRA Best Appearing Car - Pete Carbery, 2007 Cobalt, Comp, Odessa, Texas

NHRA Best Appearing Crew - Raymond Commisso, 1968 Camaro, Pro Mod, Toronto Ontario, Canada

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: Don Thomas, Spruce Grove, Alberta
Super Comp: Larry Marshall, Cave Creek, Arizona
Stock: No winner
Super Gas: Rick Cates, Canyon, Texas
Super Street: No winner

Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award ($3,000 each to Top Fuel and Funny Car and $1,500 to Pro Stock for the crews that are recognized as the hardest working of the event):
Top Fuel: Bob Vandergriff took out Countdown to the Championship contender Spencer Massey on the way to his 15th career final and second career win.
Funny Car: Ron Capps and his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Avenger have overcome a bad outing at the Reading event and the team is back in full form.
Pro Stock: Allen Johnson and his entire team have shown that consistency and hard work have paid off. They lead the points going into the final event in Pomona.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Matt Smith and his Viper Motorcycle Company Buell team went back to an old bike this weekend. They raced to their first final of season.