Wed, 08 Sep 2021, 22:02 PM Comella Drives '68 Cuda to Victory at 20th Anniversary Dodge HEMI® Challenge

Courtesy of Pat Caporali Photo copyright 2021 Auto Imagery, Inc.

Video Courtesy - NHRA Social Media

• No.1 qualifier Steve Comella drove his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda to the winner's circle after a dominant performance in the 20th anniversary edition of the Dodge HEMI® Challenge at Lucas Oil Raceway during the 2021 Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals
• Comella followed up his runner-up finish at last year's event with his first career win in the longest running, continuous, specialty race in NHRA history showcasing HEMI-powered Super Stock 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas in head-to-head battles
• Comella defeated Jim Daniels Jr., a four-time Dodge HEMI Challenge winner, in an exciting final elimination battle to earn the uniquely crafted 42.5 lb. Dodge HEMI Challenge trophy and $15,000 winner's prize
• Defending winner Stephen Yantus III earned the NHRA's special award for "Best Appearing Car" at the 67th annual the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals

Steve Comella defeated Jim Daniels Jr.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- The 20th anniversary edition of the Dodge HEMI® Challenge saw a new winner crowned at Lucas Oil Raceway as a determined Steve Comella drove his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda from a runner-up finish in last year's event to earn his first victory at longest running, continuous, specialty race in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) history.

Comella earned the victory at the fan-favorite classic muscle car competition from the No. 1 qualifier position with a dominant performance through eliminations to advance to an exciting final where he defeated Jim Daniels Jr., four-time (2016-2019) Dodge HEMI Challenge winner. He drove his iconic Super Stock '68 Cuda to an elapsed timed (E.T.) run of 8.364 seconds at 161.17 mph to beat his opponent's 8.423 sec/ 158.02 mph pass under the lights at Lucas Oil Raceway in a late night showdown during the 67th annual Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals on Friday.

On his drive to the winner's circle, Comella battled head-to-head against Steve Kent and inaugural event winner Bucky Hess, and had a semifinal solo run when defending event winner Stephen Yantus III wasn't able to make the start due to a mechanical issue. In the final against Daniels and his vintage '68 Dodge Dart, Comella overcame his opponent's early lead by chasing him down and turning on the win lights with a 0.0202-second margin of victory.

Steve Comella celebrates his first HEMI® Challenge win.

Highlights of Comella's performance through five elimination rounds included a lightning 0.001-second reaction time and a trio of 8.3-second runs, the last of which gave him low E.T. and top speed of the event. His efforts were rewarded with the coveted custom-made 42.6-lb. trophy crafted from a 426 HEMI cylinder head, a $15,000 award, and the immense satisfaction that comes with a first career win.

"At the moment I'm exhausted, but this means a lot," said Comella, who finished runner-up to Yantus in last year's edition of the Dodge HEMI Challenge and has previously earned two runner-up finishes in overall NHRA Super Stock competition. "We've been chasing this for a while. Last year kind of felt like a stone in the shoe all year, so we decided to really kind of put everything into [this race] this year. It was a lot of work and here it (the trophy) is."

Stephen Yantus

While last year's winner Yantus saw his efforts to defend his title come to an end in the semifinals, his '68 Barracuda came away from the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals as a winner after being presented with NHRA's special award for "Best Appearing Car".

Round 1:

Stephen Yantus, Charleston SC, '68 Barracuda, Left lane, (0.101) 8.410 159.32 def. Richard Locker,
North Royalton OH, '68 Barracuda, (0.031) 8.591 154.26

Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill WV, '68 Barracuda, Right lane, (0.143) 8.447 157.82 def. Russ Campbell,
Springfield MO, '68 Barracuda, (-0.042) DQ-Centerline

James Daniels, Yardley PA, '68 Dart, Left lane, (0.044) 8.380 159.38 def. Rick Johnson, Wayzata MN,
'68 Baracuda, (0.059) 8.605 155.02

Gary Wolkwitz, Whitehouse Station NJ, '68 Dart, Left lane, (0.097) 8.579 156.52 def. Harold Leiter,
Troy OH, '68 Barracuda, (0.101) 9.275 148.44

Jim Pancake, Cardington OH, '68 Dart, Right lane, (0.027) 8.586 155.97 def. Stephen Hebert, Westlake
LA, '68 Barracuda, (0.114) 20.150 39.66

Eldon Baum, Wellsville PA, '68 Dart, Right lane, (0.086) 8.477 157.52 def. Marlin Bogner, Kearney NE,
'68 Barracuda, (0.036) 8.895 148.35

Eric Bell, Chandler AZ, '64 Barracuda, Right lane, (0.059) 8.553 154.40 def. Jack Peterson, Hartford
SD, '68 Barrcuda, (0.088) 9.190 149.28

Steve Comella, Webster NY, '68 Baraacuda, Left lane, (0.045) 8.399 161.21 def. Steve Kent, Belle Rose
LA, '68 Barracuda, (0.055) 8.693 154.86

Tony DePillo, Dayton OH, '68 Barracuda, Right lane, (0.002) 8.531 157.01 def. Benny Kimberly,
Springfield LA, '68 Barracuda, NT-No Show


Round 2:

S Yantus, Left lane, (0.062) 8.423 158.97 def. E Baum, (0.119) 8.474 157.78

B Hess, Left lane, (0.078) 8.441 157.87 def. T DePillo, (-0.102 foul) 8.571 156.70

J Pancake, Right lane, (0.020) 8.561 156.19 def. G Wolkwitz, (0.078) 8.529 156.01

J Daniels, Left lane, (0.077) 8.412 158.09 def. E Bell, (0.051) 8.581 153.06

S Comella, Left lane, (0.054) 8.588 157.19 was unopposed


Round 3:

S Yantus, Left lane, (-0.007) 8.426 159.19 was unopposed

S Comella, Right lane, (0.069) 8.525 158.71 def. B Hess, (0.016) 8.696 157.28

J Daniels, Left lane, (0.050) 8.400 158.89 def. J Pancake, (0.033) 8.917 140.15


Round 4:

J Daniels, Right lane, (-0.068) 8.413 158.35 was unopposed

S Comella, Left lane, (0.001) 8.386 160.59 def. S Yantus, NT-No Show


Round 5:

S Comella, Left lane, (0.079) 8.364 161.17 def. J Daniels, (0.040) 8.423 158.02

 Low ET:    Steve Comella 8.364 seconds
 Top Speed: Steve Comella 161.21 MPH