SHRA Rocks Thunder Valley Raceway Park
July 16th, 2016 - Noble, Oklahoma
The Southwest Heritage Racing Association, presented by MalloryPrint.com, filled the pits at Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble, Oklahoma for the 2nd Annual Summer Nationals presented by Mears Mazda-Volvo. This marked the first appearance for the SHRA series at this historic drag strip located just south of Oklahoma City. Four classes were set for battle as Nostalgia Eliminator 1 - 2 - 3 and Nostalgia Super Stock teams got warmed up and ready for the first of two qualifying sessions. Weather conditions were hot and humid as crew chiefs and drivers made their final adjustments looking to hit their magic numbers.
(Drivers Meeting)
- NOSTLAGIA ELIMINATOR 1 -
In the 4.65 index Nostalgia Eliminator 1 class, first time SHRA racer Scott Demaro wheeled his blown big block Chevy powered altered to the top spot with a 4.67 and had number two qualifier Tommy Drozd nipping at his heels with a 4.68 time slip. Andy Mears, Steve Dunkin and Clay Cunningham rounded out the top five of the eleven car field.
(Scott Demaro)
Demaro carried his top qualifying effort through round one and two to meet Andy Mears' "Dragon Slayer" 1957 Chevy Funny Car in the semi-finals. Both drivers were on their game at the starting line, but at the hit Demaro had problems and Mears blasted to a 4.69 at 145 mph to take the win and move into the finals. Clay Cunningham and the "Still Crazy Racing" blown Fiat team from Dumas, TX enjoyed a 4.63 at 148 mph bye run in the semi-finals after defeating Jason O'Neill and Tommy Drozd to join Mears in the NE 1 final round.
(Andy Mears)
(Clay Cunningham)
It was a powerhouse final round as defending series Champion Cunningham was set to take on the Lubbock, Texas based Mears, both packing several NE 1 event wins on their resume. At the drop of amber, Cunningham launched off the line with a stellar .003 reaction time and carried that lead to the stripe, tripping the clocks with a 4.67 at 138 mph to Mears' close 4.71 at 149 mph. It was a great side by side bout that resulted in Cunningham's first win of the season.
(Clay Cunningham - NE 1 Winner)
Despite a second round loss, Chris Graves took over the points lead in NE 1, but has no room for error as Richard Brady, Steve Dunkin, Carl Johnson and Jason O'Neill round out the top five and are separated by just twenty five points from the top. With four events remaining, the battle in NE 1 is heating up and should come down to the wire!
(Click To Enlarge)
- NOSTLAGIA ELIMINATOR 2 -
The 5.00 index Nostalgia Eliminator 2 category, Thomas Hixson's "One Wild Ride" injected slingshot dragster shot to the top of the pack in qualifying with a 5.02 at 137 mph followed by points leader Jason Scott's 5.07. Defending class Champion Bruce Dodson scored the third position with a 5.14 as the seven car field was paired and set for eliminations.
(Thomas Hixson)
The top four qualified cars were the four left standing entering the semi-final round and first up was the current points leader Scott taking on last year's champ Dodson. The cars were almost dead event at the hit of the throttle but at the stripe Scott's 5.05 at 134 mph took the win light over Dodson's 5.16 at 132 mph. In the next pair, Hixson found himself lined up with first time SHRA racer Garry Wheeler Jr in an all front engine dragster match up. Wheeler jumped the tree with a -.008 reaction time and could do nothing but watch as Hixson advanced with a 5.36 at 128 mph to take on Scott in the NE 2 final round.
(Jason Scott)
(Garry Wheeler Jr)
The red lights kept coming, this time for Hixson as his -.022 reaction time in the final gave the win to Jason Scott who posted a great 5.03 at 136 mph to score his second win of the year and extend his points lead to twenty six points over Dodson. Ron Muncy, Thomas Hixson and Jeff Cameron round out the top five as the SHRA heads into the second half of the 2016 racing season. Congratulations to Jason Scott on the Thunder Valley victory.
(Jason Scott - NE 2 Winner)
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- NOSTLAGIA ELIMINATOR 3 -
The SHRA series set an attendance record with fifteen cars in 5.50 index Nostalgia Eliminator 3 competition. An extremely tough field of 5.50 hitters were in the house and a victory at Thunder Valley would certainly have to be earned in this class. Gary Mitchell's "Makin' Magic" altered blasted to the top of the pack with a 5.501 followed closely behind by James Armstrong's 5.502 in the "Leprechaun Racing" injected altered. Joey Myrick, Dusty Rose and Tim Cruce rounded out the top five heading into first round of eliminations.
(Gary Mitchell)
After two intense rounds, the first pair of the semi-finals brought points leader Josh Moseley to the lineup against defending class Champion and hometown favorite Dusty Rose. Rose jumped the green with a -.007 red light and Moseley moved into his third final round of the season with a 5.63 at 120 mph. Bobby Bates was in just his second SHRA event and had defeated Tim Cruce and Gary Mitchell to meet Doug Morrison in the semi-finals. In a double breakout, Bates' 5.49 at 114 held off Morrison's 5.47 at 119 mph as Bates was headed to his first series final round against Moseley.
(Bobby Bates)
(Josh Moseley)
In a wicked turn of events, Moseley broke the rear end in his altered on the burnout of the final round, obviously ending his hopes of a second win on the season. Bobby Bates had a solo shot to his first SHRA event victory and his 6.26 at 122 mph took the win. Bates moved into the number eight spot in points and Moseley kept his spot at the top with a healthy lead over Dustin Bradford and Dusty Rose who round out the top three in the NE 3 points standings.
(Bobby Bates - NE 3 Winner)
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- NOSTLAGIA SUPER STOCK -
In Nostalgia Super Stock action, Tony Smith entered the event in Noble, OK atop the points standings by a very slim margin over Doug Watkins. David Ardoin scored the top qualifying spot in the eight car field of NSS entries. Highlighting the first round was a powerhouse match up between points leader Smith and defending class Champion Vic Corlett. Corlett put Smith on the trailer which opened the door for Watkins to make a move to the top of the points battle.
(Vic Corlett)
The semi-finals kicked off with Corlett lining up against Damon Kuhn. Kuhn jumped the green with a -.104 red light and Corlett was final round bound for the first time this season with a 7.07 on a 7.05 dial. The second half of the semis brought Doug Watkins and James Durham to the line. Durham was also bit by the red bulb with a -.060 reaction time giving the win to Watkins who went 6.56 on a 6.41 dial to move into the finals to take on Corlett.
(Doug Watkins)
Corlett was the lethal threat in 2015 with three wins and five final round appearances, yet this was just his first final round bout of 2016. Watkins was in his third final round appearance of the season and looking for win number two and possibly the points lead leaving Noble. At the drop of the ambers, Corlett was out first and his 7.09 on a 7.05 was enough to hold off Watkins' 6.45 on a 6.41 as Corlett scored his first class win of the year. With a strong runner up finish, Watkins was able to steal the points lead leaving Noble and now enjoys a sixteen point lead over Tony Smith. Corlett moved into third as the points battle in Nostalgia Super Stock continues to intensify as the SHRA has just four event remaining.
(Vic Corlett - NSS Winner)
The next stop on the tour will bring the series back to Ardmore Dragway on Saturday, August 13th to make up the rained out White Walls and Drags originally scheduled for May. The SHRA staff and racers would like to thank Larry Croft, Nick Duty and the entire staff at Thunder Valley Raceway Park for a spectacular night of racing. A great crowd was on hand for a full evening of nostalgia drag racing action and a great time was had by all. Until next time, we'll see you at the drags!
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