Wed, 18 Nov 2015, 14:24 PM Piper, Steffen, Hastings and Schwalm Earn Summit National Championships

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing

GLENDORA, Calif. - Todd Piper, Robert Steffen, Nick Hastings and Mark Schwalm each scored NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championships at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. This year marks the 16th season that NHRA and Summit Racing Equipment have crowned national champions.

Jim Greenleaf, Todd Piper , Robert Steffen Nick Hastings Mark Schwalm and Don Lower

Piper out of Wamego, Kan., and S.R.C.A. Dragstrip took the early lead in his Super Pro final round match up with Chris Bear and held on for the win running 179.04 mph in 7.182 seconds as Bear clocked in at 7.449, 181.25. Piper's dad Larry competed in the first Summit National Championship back in 2000.

Todd Piper and crew celebrate win.

Olympia, Wash., and Bremerton Raceway racer Steffen used a .016 second reaction time to get his '78 Nova out front on Brock Moshier, then ran 10.564 on the 10.56 dial for the win in Pro. Steffen's holeshot start forced Moshier to break out, running too quick with a 9.107 on his 9.12 dial in his '71 Vega.

Robert Steffen and crew celebrate win.

The Sportsman championship went to Nick Hastings representing Summit Motorsports Park. The Shelby, Ohio, resident had a nice .011 second reaction time combined with a lap of 12.874 seconds at 80.84 mph in his '83 Mustang to defeat Adam Tabor who left early with a red light foul start.

Nick Hastings and crew celebrate win.

The final Summit championship went to Mark Schwalm in the Motorcycle class as Schwalm covered the famed quarter-mile in 7.714 seconds at 167.51 mph on his '85 Kawasaki. Schwalm ran down Rick Poole and his '01 Suzuki that clocked in at 8.393, 149.83 mph. Schwalm also recorded a perfect ..000 reaction time in his semifinal run to end Tom Klemme's winning streak here at the Summit Championship having won three national championships (2008, 2011-2012).

Mark Schwalm and crew celebrate win.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Summit Drag Racing Series National Championship at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:

SUMMIT SUPER PRO
Todd Piper, Wamego, Kan., (S.R.C.A. Dragstrip) Dragster, 7.182, 179.04 def. Chris Bear, Northwood, Ohio, (Summit Motorsports Park), Dragster, 7.449, 181.25.

SUMMIT PRO
Robert Steffen, Olympia, Wash., (Bremerton Raceway) Chevy Nova, 10.564, 125.30 def. Brock Moshier, Lititz, Pa., (Cecil County Dragway) Chevy Vega, 9.107, 137.18.

SUMMIT SPORTSMAN
Nick Hastings, Shelby, Ohio, (Summit Motorsports Park) Ford Mustang, 12.874, 80.84 def. Adam Tabor, Vancouver, Wash., (Portland Int'l Raceway) Chevy Nova, foul.

SUMMIT MOTORCYCLE
Mark Schwalm, New Ringgold, Pa., (Numidia Raceway) Kawasaki, 7.714, 167.51 def. Rick Poole, New Franklin, Ohio, (Summit Motorsports Park) Suzuki, 8.393, 149.83.