Tue, 02 Sep 2014, 19:29 PM NHRA Lucas Oil Series Winners Crowned

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2014 Auto Imagery, Inc.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- A pair of former world champions, a couple of past Indy champs, and a roadster (yes, roadster) in Super Comp were among the winners in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series categories at the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

Chris Demke and crew

National Top Alcohol Dragster points leader Chris Demke continued his strong 2014 campaign by claiming his first U.S. Nationals victory. Demke got the automatic win in the title round when Rich McPhillips went red. Demke posted a 5.801 on his victory lap. Though it is Demke's first Indy win, it is the second for his team, whose first national event win came at this event in 1998. Jay Payne's first race with his new Camaro ended with him putting that car in the winner's circle. Payne drove the car to a 5.705 to defeat first-time finalist Todd Robertson in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final. Both drivers had troubles on their run, popping the burst panel, but Payne's came later, allowing him to win. This was Payne's second Indy win (TAFC in 2010), and it is his first since Houston 2012.

Jay Payne and crew

Joe Santangelo, the 2011 Stock world champ, earned his first victory in Comp and the seventh of his career when he bested Rick Brown in the final. Driving Arnie Martel's B/SR '34 Ford, Santangelo posted a (-.51) 7.83 to turn on the win light over Brown's (-.49) 8.29.

Joe Santangelo and crew

Former Comp world champion Bruno Massel picked up his first national event win in Stock, and he did so in fashion, giving the COPO Camaro its first win as well. Massel won the all-COPO final over Joey Wilkes, 8.82 (8.79 dial) to 9.97 (9.97). Nick Morris made his first national event win a big one, scoring in Indy. Morris got the automatic nod in the Super Stock final when Gary Richard fouled by .011-second.

Nick Morris and crew

Ty Davis was able to achieve the unusual feat of wheeling a non-dragster to victory in Super Comp. Davis used a starting-line advantage to drive his Bantam roadster past Jimmy Lewis' dragster, 8.932 to 8.927, to claim the U.S. Nationals title Troy Coughlin Jr. picked up his second U.S. Nationals Wally when he outlasted Jeff Weets in the Super Gas final. Coughlin, the event's 2010 Super Comp winner, ran a dead-on 9.900 to stop Weets' breakout 9.867.

Bruno Massel and crew

The following are the final results from the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Ty Davis and crew

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.801, 261.42 def. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., foul.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 5.705, 241.45 def. Todd Robertson, Harrison Township, Mich., Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.171, 164.03.

Troy Coughlin Jr. and crew

COMP ELIMINATOR
Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., Chevy Roadster, 7.835, 168.20 def. Rick Brown, Lebanon, Ohio, Chevy S-10, 8.294, 161.67.

SUPER STOCK
Nick Morris, Bardstown, Ky., Ford Mustang, 10.121, 114.62 def. Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., Mustang, foul.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Bruno Massel, Woodridge, Ill., Chevy Camaro, 8.825, 143.34 def. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, Camaro, 9.978, 128.77.

SUPER COMP
Ty Davis, Mooresville, Ind., Bantam Roadster, 8.932, 163.69 def. Jimmy Lewis, Forney, Texas, Dragster, 8.927, 167.22.

SUPER GAS
Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, Chevy Corvette, 9.900, 166.01 def. Jeffrey Weets, Morrison, Ill., Plymouth Barracuda, 9.867, 141.15.