Sun, 13 Jan 2002, 06:04 PM 2001 Season Northeast Division Awards Banquet

Welcome to the 35th Annual NHRA Northeast Division Awards Banquet. We celebrate the champions and give special recognition to other deserving people. We would like to thank the racers and their families, sponsors, member tracks and their employees, and the certification team who made this year such a tremendous success. We would like to extend our welcome to our special guest Len Imbrogno Director of Sportsman Racing and Member Tracks.

Special Awards

4th Annual Northeast Division Distinguished Service Award – Northeast Division Certification Crew This award is to be presented to the person whose devotion to the sport is unparalleled. This year’s recipient of the annual Northeast Division Distinguished Service Award is Tony Romano.

Special Awards – 20 Year Service – Northeast Division Certification Crew

Larry Wiggins and Ryck Campbell celebrate 20 fabulous years of camaraderie, working for the Northeast Division Certification Team.

Image of Youth Award -- presented for exemplary achievement by a second-generation racer, and is sponsored by PHILADELPHIA RACING ENGINES. We think of drag racing as being a family sport and this year's winner is part of a drag racing family. The 2001 winner of the “Image of Youth Award” is Doug Doll, Jr..

2001 National Dragster Contributor Award -- Each year the staff at National Dragster selects a track reporter from each of the 7 divisions who has shown journalistic superiority to receive this award. The award for 2001 goes to Pete DeSalvo from ESTA Safety Park.

2001 Management Excellence Award -- At this time we would like to present Tim & Kyle Barletta and Glenn Grow of Lebanon Valley Dragway the Management Excellence Award for 2001.

National Dragster’s “Be a Winner/Be a Member” program has been very successful since its inception. Each year an award is given to the track in each division that had the most winners who were also NHRA Members. This year the recipient also had more winners/members than any other NHRA Member Track in all seven divisions. The winner is Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

NHRA Castrol JDRL Eastern Conference Finals

The 2001 National Junior Drag Racing League Championships were well attended by racers from the Northeast Division. This year the Northeast Division was well represented in the Winner’s Circle.

Timmy DiIorio – 8-9 yr. Old – Repeat Winner
John Ciccarone – 12 Yr. Old
Bobby Spence – 13 Yr. Old

2001 Northeast Division Jr. Dragster Divisional Championships 

This year's event was held at Mason-Dixon Dragway in Hagerstown, MD. The event has grown each year, with this year's being the largest to date. All attending the event had a great time at Friday Nights Barbecue across the street at the Sports Complex and showed real sportsmanship on Saturday during eliminations. Each winner of their respective class will receive the following: Jr. Drag Racing League Trophy, NHRA Gold Card, and JDRL Division Champion Jacket.

8-9 Yr. Old – Holly Goldman – Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park
10-11 Yr. Old – Eric Peterka – Maple Grove Raceway
12-13 Yr. Old – Mandi Markward – Maple Grove Raceway
14-17 Yr. Old – Zeph Mull – Cecil County Dragway

NED Summit ET Finals Awards 

2001 marked the 26th year for the NHRA Summit ET Series in the Northeast Division. We would like to thank the sponsors, Member Tracks, and Summit Racing Products for making it all happen. The series is a point’s chase that lasts all season long for the right to represent your team at the Bracket Finals. This year each track sent forty-five entries to the event. The race was held at US 13 Dragway in Delmar, DE where entrants were racing for the opportunity to become Division Champion in their respective class as well as the overall Team Championship. With 17 tracks participating in the program, and over 800 entries racing, winning was... well, let’ s just say less than easy.

Race of Champions
Street Winner – Bill Kirpens
Bike Winner – Jerry Heil
Heavy Winner – Bob Green
Super Winner – Terry Sinke

Luzerne County Community College Scholarship Awards Two $500 Scholarships to the LCCC Motorsports Program are being presented this evening. One in the name of the NHRA Northeast Division and one in the Memory of Al Brown.

Presented to: Jim Stack and Tommy Roth.

Luzerne County Community College High School Challenge

In 2001, the Northeast Division was pleased to announce the signing of Luzerne County Community College as the sponsor of the High School Program at the Summit ET Finals.

High School Champion – Joe Santangelo II – Lebanon Valley Dragway

Joe receives a $1000 Bond and his school also receives a $1000 check, presented by LCCC and the NED Track Operators.

Eliminator Winners Each receive NHRA Trophy, Gold Card, Jacket, and Specially designed ring. The winners were also eligible to go to the AAA of Southern CA NHRA Finals. All the winners went to the Event with the exception of Super Pro winner, Brian Crump, who was unable to attend. Jacob Meinert of Keystone Raceway took his place and scored a semi-final finish. In Motorcycle, Jack Podkowka scored a semi-final finish as well. The Heavy winner, Mike Larose, continued his success by taking home the National Pro Title. Dennis Parisan scored a runner-up in the Sportsman category to finish off his sensational rookie season.

Motorcycle Champion – Jack Podkowka – Lebanon Valley Dragway
Street Eliminator Champion – Dennis Parisan – Maple Grove Raceway
Heavy Eliminator Champion – Mike LaRose – ESTA Safety Park
Super Eliminator Champion – Brian Crump – Maple Grove Raceway
2001 Team Champion -- Maple Grove Raceway
2001 Team Spirit Award – Capitol Raceway

2001 Northeast Division Open Series

2001 marked the 2nd year in which points were accumulated towards championships at
the Northeast Division Open Series Events.  For 2002, we are excited to announce the
growth of the series to four events.  Lebanon Valley Dragway joins the fray with an
Open Series Event in May of 2002.
The Champions for 2001 are:
Super Street –  Steve Feller    Runner-up -- Earl Nichols
Super Gas – Burt Burtis         Runner-up -- George Stack
Super Comp – Ken Moses          Runner-up –- Mike Mitchell
Stock – Bob Horgan              Runner-up –- Lori Jewell
Super Stock – George Taylor     Runner-up –- Michael Barsky
Comp – Jonathan Aloisio         Runner-up –- Jim Pursglove

Northeast Division Annual Awards

The following awards are the balloted awards that you, the racer “elect." There is no higher honor than to be voted the best by your peers.

Best Supporting Sponsor – Media Camping Center, Fairless Hills, PA.
Northeast Division Person of the Year – George Stack
Sportsman of the Year – Don Garbinski
Wrench of the Year – Bub Whitaker
ET Driver of the Year – Mike LaRose
NED Driver of the Year – Joe DeMarzo
Dragstrip of the Year – Maple Grove Raceway

Hall of Fame

The Northeast Division Hall of Fame is open to racers, officials, promoters, and all persons involved in the sport of NHRA Drag Racing in the Northeast Division. Exemplary accomplishments and longevity are some of the qualifications needed, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. A permanent plaque is on display in the Northeast Division Office of all current members of the Hall of Fame. Circus Custom Paints present this honor.

The first inductee is Joe Gerdelmann. After being drafted in 1956 for a two-year stint in the Army, he built his first Chassis Research Dragster in 1958. Ran the car until 1962.

Held various track records at:
Vineland Speedway
Atco Dragway
Island Dragway
Vargo Dragway
Capital Raceway
1961 Daytona Beach Speed Week – @176 MPH
First Car on East Coast to use Parachute
1962 built Chassis Research Dragster and installed 2 Hemi engines in it.  Won best
Appearance and Performance.

1962 bought Connie Kalitta Bounty Hunter
Records – 15 Track records in 63-64 from Orange, MA. To Miami, FL.
ET – 8.21 @ 191 MPH
Ran car until 1965

1968 Bought Ken Fuller Chassis and installed Supercharged 426 Hemi. Ran 11 Dragster circuit with Eric Fooder as Driver. Raced from Canada to Florida held record of 7.6 @200 MPH.

The second inductee is Biddy Winward. William “Biddy” Winward’s career in Drag Racing began in the Late 1950’s and lasted into the 1970’s. Biddy became well known for his engine skill up and down the East Coast. He owned and operated several Speed and Machine Shops.

During that time period, Biddy had a string of Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars. They were all known as Brief Encounter. He had four Don Garlits Chassis’,a Don Long Chassis, and a Woody Gilmore Chassis. After great success in Top Fuel, Biddy switched to Funny Car. He bought the Tasca Ford SOHC Mustang, which was later destroyed by fire. He then bought Big John Mazmanian’s Funny Car, which he campaigned for several years, winning many races.

Biddy’s list of drivers included Don Garlits, Bob Cassiday, Walt Kinsley, Ray Marsh, and Joe Jacono. In 1963 Biddy & Bob Cassiday bought a front engine Top Gas Dragster from Don Garlits. Don drove the car for them at the US National at Indy winning the Class.

In 1964, Biddy’s dragster was the Eastern Drag News Mr. Top Dog Eliminator, which was presented at the Drag Racing Banquet in Washington, D.C. In 1966 Biddy was awarded the National Point Champion NO. 1 Eliminator Mechanic Trophy.

In 1989, Biddy, who could not stay away from racing teamed up with B & F Racing to field a Sprint Car.

His accomplishments in United Racing Club included:

4 URC Championships
41 Feature wins
1991 Checkered Fan Club Mechanic of the Year
1991, 1992, 1994 URC Mechanic of the Year.

Biddy retired from active racing after 1995. He still builds motors for several Sprint Car Teams.

AL Brown

Al passed away on Sunday, August 12, 2001. He lost a hard battle with cancer. Even up to his last hours, Al was hoping to get back to the races with us and of course attend his traditional race at Indy.

To Al the BIG GO was a way of life. He began this trip with the first running of the NHRA Nationals in Great Bend Kansas. In that first event Al competed in the Open Dragster class with a Harley-Davidson powered, chain driven ‘35 Crosley. He competed in that one and every one since – until this year. He is the only driver in NHRA history who attended all 46 events. This year his wife Phyllis and stepdaughter Stephanie made the trip to Indy in Al’s honor to continue the tradition.

Al was born 67 years ago in Rochester, NH. He later moved to New Jersey and then on to Maryland. He was retired from the U.S. Army Civilian Technician after 35 years of service. A charter member of the National Hot Rod Association for 50 years. He was a past technical director for the Good Guys Vintage Racing Association.

Al worked with the NHRA Northeast Division and the National Event staffs for many years. He was part of the committee that set up the first Motorsports Education program at Luzerne County Community College. He taught classes there in Motorsports Safety and worked many Youth and Education days at National Events for the NHRA. He was asked to help produce the first few of the California Hot Rod Reunions – a task he took to with great relish.

Al also was instrumental in the building and the operation of Island Dragway. From the first stages of planning he was involved. Making trips to the town board meeting and helping to lay out the plans. He was there to begin construction and helped with managing the track and even ran his car there in shows. His ISLAND DRAGWAY famous corvair Funny Car is currently being restored by Bruce Larson.

His latest venture was helping to provide many of our racers with chassis certification. He traveled all over the Northeast trying to help get this enormous job done. He worked most of the Northeast Division events and many NHRA National events. He would staff shows to promote NHRA Drag Racing and loved the trip annually to the PRI show. Al was a real people person and a very kind man, always ready with a kind word or to just share in a story.

He could be seen along the tracks taking video as he also produced the annual Northeast Division Year in Review video played at the banquets. He spent unknown hours splicing and editing for the enjoyment of those attending the affair and celebrating their championships. Behind the scenes he would work with the DJ’s and the production staff from the facilities to make every detail appropriate for the participants.

Over the years he has made many friends along the way and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.

E-Town co-founder Richard Napp Sr. dies 12/27/2001

Richard Napp Sr., who along with his late brother, Vinnie, helped create the success story that is Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, passed away in the early hours of Dec. 27. Napp, 63, died just 14 months after his brother, of the same exact form of deadly cancer.

Since opening in July of 1965, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, then known as Madison Township Raceway Park, has been one of drag racing's premier facilities. Conceived by Vincent and Louis Napoliello and Vincent's sons, Vincent Jr. and Richard, the facility introduced major-league drag racing to the New York metropolitan area.

The track hosted the NHRA Springnationals for one season, in 1968, and in 1971 the NHRA awarded Raceway Park the NHRA Summernationals. Fan response the first year was tremendous with more than 85,000 people jamming the track for the record setting event. The rest is history as the Mopar Parts Summernationals continued to grow, as did Raceway Park. So much so that the Summernationals were moved to May to accommodate race fans with more pleasant spring weather. The event was also renamed the Matco Tools Spring SuperNationals.

Despite the untimely passing of Vincent in December 1969 and Louis in September 1983, the enthusiasm born in 1965 continued with each passing season as the brothers elevated the facility to legendary status.

Napp is survived by his children, Richard, Michael, James, Robert, and Laura, and four grandchildren.

Northeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Top Ten

Numbers 4 through 10 finishers in each category contested at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series of the Northeast Division.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
10  Ken Winward
9   Bruce Insinger
8   Dave DeAngelis
7   Karen Benkovich
6   Bruce Horner
5   Rich McPhillips
4   Steven Cantrell

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
10  James Libby
9   Craig English
8   Darrel Cox
7   Eric Lourie
6   Bruce Peterson, Jr.
5   Bruce Mullins
4   Paul Lee

Comp Eliminator
10  Michele Costa
9   Al Ackerman
8   Greg Kozera
7   Pat Ross
6   Jim Pursglove
5   Jonathan Aloisio
4   Richard Schonberger

Super Stock
10  Norm Hall
9   Steve Kipp
8   Bucky Hess
7   Tom Sheehan
6   Michael Iacono
5   Denny Steward
4   Sal Biondo

Stock
10   Bill Leber
10   Peter Biondo
9    Sterling Simmons
8    John Gray
7    Wallace Dent
6    Robert Pare
5    Mark Dickerson
4    Brian VanPoppel

Super Comp
10  Michael Mitchell
9   Tony Iacono
8   Bob Kodadek
7   Jason Kenny
6   Michael Robilotto
5   Tom Hunter
4   Doug Doll, Jr.

Super Gas
10  Jim Morrison
9   Steve Drummond
8   Frank Maiolo
7   Bob Madden
6   Lance Felver
5   Raymond Sawyer
4   Tom Stalba

Super Street
10  Jeff McMillen
9   Scott Gardner
8   Steve Feller
7   Don Garbinski
6   Dave Terrizzi
5   Lynn Hoosigian
4   John Smith

Federal-Mogul Top Three

Federal-Mogul’s involvement with the NHRA Sportsman classes includes bonuses to the top three individuals in their respective class. Each Champion receives: Trophy, Gold Card, Jacket, and Bonus Money

Super Street
3   Earl Nichols
2   Keith Bowers
1   Michael Giuliano

Giuliano’s 3rd Consecutive Super Street Crown

Super Gas
3   Ed Alessi, Jr.
2   Dan Northrop
1   John Michaels

Super Comp
3   Bryan Sorce
2   Dan Northrop
1   Tom Stalba

Stalba’s 2nd Consecutive Super Comp Crown – 4 points separated top 4

Stock
3   Bob Horgan
2   Lee Zane
1   Joe DeMarzo

Super Stock
3   James Harrington
2   Lincoln Morehead
1   Pete Biondo

Biondo’s 8th Division Championship (ET and FMDRS)

Comp Eliminator
3   Jeff Taylor
2   Frank Aragona, Jr.
1   Don Stratton, Jr.

Stratton – World Champion and 2nd Consecutive Comp Div Championship

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
3   Paul Gill
2   Bob Newberry
1   Frank Manzo

Manzo – 6th World Championship and 11th Div Championship – 6th Consecutive

Federal-Mogul Dragster
3   Tim Slagle
2   Billy Gibson
1   Cliff Bozzelli

Bozzelli – 3rd Division Championship