Photos by Diane Kubicke and Phil Hutchison

Racing is close to being finished at Maple Grove at the annual Memorial Day event in the hills outside Philadelphia PA.

The Alcohol Classes were completed with pererenial favorives Frank Manzo and Bill Reichert winning Alcohol Funny Car and Dragster respectively.

Manzo over Gill

Manzo, who had lots of problems, got his Al Anabi Monte Carlo to settle down after nothing but tire chatter over the ’09 Mustang of Paul Gill as Gill had his problems too slowing to a 6.704 to Manzo’s 5.883

One heck of a final in T/AD with Reichert over Shields

In T/AD it was the current and former champs squaring off against each other. Duane Shields was up against forever champ Bill Reichert. In what was a great final both cars left together and were welded as one going thru the lights with Reichert’s 5.452 edging out Shield’s 5.457

Next up, Sportsman finals…film at 11..check back later today

Jay McHugh from Commack NY won his first round in Top Sportsman Saturday night before the rain came

After one round of Alcohol and most of the Sportsman racers had their first round, rain hit the Maple Grove area cancelling the evening’s events that was to have included fireworks and two jet cars. Bad weather surrounded the area all day and to be honest, we were lucky to get as much racing in as was deserved.

Mike Kosky who had the only blown car in the T/AD field popped the blower on the burnout ending his day early

Racing resumes tomorrow at 8:30 starting with Stock. Before the rain hit, the Alcohol racers were in the lanes when the rains hit sending the fans and the racers scurrying to keep dry as a big time rain hit the area.

The stands were packed to see what would have been one of the best NED Lucas races before the rain. Two jet cars were scheduled to run. Here the Beast from the East puts the fans on their feet.

Before the bad weather, the racing was hot and heavy with upsets in the Alcohol classes and Sportsman classes.

Rich McPhillips smoked the tires in the first round

#3 qualifier Rich McPhillips lost to #6 qualifier Bill Reichert as Rich boiled the tires at the hit ending his day. Earlier in the round Dan Page driving the Art Gallant A/FD lost to the lower qualified car of Lucas World Champ Duane Shields in a great side by side race as Shields laid down a 5.427 268.60 to Page’s close 5.455 @ 264.08 MPH.

Veney’s Monte Carlo slowed from qualifying

Manzo over Tigges in round 1

Over in Alcohol Funny Car Todd Veney behind the wheel of the Follow a Dream Chevy lost to Dan Pomponio’s Monte Carlo as Veney slowed from his qualifying time of 5.70 to a 5.87 as Pomponio ran a 5.774 for the win.

Photos by Diane Kubicke and Phil Hutchison

#4 Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifierJohn Anderika puts the silk out as Frank Manzo (far lane) puts down a 5.61 to lead the Funny Cars

Great weather and track conditions made the first day of qualifying a bit of ying and yang as some of the best Alcohol racers in the USA were in, and then out as qualifying progressed throughout the day.

For the second NED race in a row, in 2012,  defending T/AD champ Karen Stalba did not make the field.

On the outside after qualifying in T/AD was completed, was defending NED champ Karen Stalba. Stalba, after two shots down the Maple Grove quarter mile could only muster a best of 5.75 was sitting back in the trailer thinking about what could have been. Joining Stalba in the DNQ column was Jackie Fricke behind the wheel of the Cantrell dragster. After it was all said and done, having run a best of 5.55, which at most events would have her solidly in the field, had the travel agent on the trailer, but this is Maple Grove and racers come to play at the Pennsylvania track.

Bourke is the man in T/AD leading the quick field with a 5.311

Leading the quick T/AD field was New Jersey racer Richard Bourke grabbing top spot with a 5.311 to pace the field. Qualifying was fast and furious as 16 dragsters were on hand for one of the best fields in NED history. First round is tomorrow afternoon and the field shook down like this.

Dan Pomponio had a great chance to make the TA/FC show but slowed in the final qualifying session and will have to sit out tomorrow’s eliminations

Alcohol Funny Car was not quite so dramatic as the usual players made the field with little or no upsets Taking Low Qualifier was to no one’s surprise was defending Lucas Oil Champ Frank Manzo with a 5.61 in a session that most thought would bring some stellar times but the humidity played a part in the action and slowed the blown cars. The same weather is expected throughout the weekend making it at hot and sticky LODRS for the fans and racers.  The Top Alcohol Funny Car field for tomorrow is:

First time low qualifier in Super Stock was the sharp Chevy of Rich Diorio

The fields in Stock and Super Stock are again, great with over a hundred cars in Stock and 83 cars in Super Stock. Leading Stock after two shots was the CC/SA Challenger of 2011 MG runner up David Barton from nearby Robesonia PA with a 9.583 which was 1.017under the index. In Super Stock it was the 1955 Chevy of Rich Diorio from East Brunswick laying down a 1.097 under 11.553 to hold down the provisional low qualifier spot.

Edmond Ritchie from Collegeville PA put the Atco Open Best Engineered dragster in the field with a 7.198

In Comp nearly 40 cars went down the track with perennial favorite David Rampy from Piedmont AL putting his A/EA Bantam in the #1 spot with a  -0.548 under pass to grab the #1 spot with two shots to go tomorrow.

After two sessions with one more to go, 2011 winner John Prime from Thomastown has his ’68 Camaro on the pole of Top Sportsman with a 6.551

Stay tuned, as there is so much more to come over the course of the Memorial Day weekend.

Photos by Diane Kubicke and Phil Hutchison

The fireworks at the end of Saturday’s racing get summer off to a great start in the NED

The NHRA Northeast Division Lucas Oil Divisional series makes it second stop in 2012 at the annual Memorial Day race in Reading PA. As usual, one of the biggest fields of the year is expected as the event will be the third race in the Eastern Region for the Alcohol classes and Reading always brings in the best when it comes to the Alcohol racers.

Ray Thurston (far lane) and Glenn Teets during Saturday night qualifying in Top Sportsman

The event will feature all the NHRA Sportsman classes including Top Dragster and Top Sportsman presented by MX Industrial/Magnaflux and Select Performance. Plus fireworks on Saturday after the end of racing, and a special Saturday Night ticket price of $25 per carload is available after 3 p.m. for the spectator side of the track..

Vonnie Mills’ Top Sportsman Chevy wound up with Best Appearing Crew at the 2011 race

Northeast Drag Review will be covering the event starting with Friday’s qualifying until the final pair to go down the track on Sunday and the winners are crowned. Check back regularly for updates and photos. For detailed qualifying and round by round results go to Dragracecentral.com where Jim Samuel will be posting all weekend.

Todd Veney had a great weekend in 2011 taking the Follow A Dream TA/FC to the finals

The following is a recap of last year’s event courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing

After it was all said and done, last year’s  MG winners Duane Shields and Frank Manzo were also crowned 2011 Lucas Oil World champs in both Alcohol classes.

Duane Shields and Frank Manzo each took home wins and the trophies for this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Maple Grove Raceway. Shield made the trip from Boulder City, Nev., and ran 5.30′s throughout eliminations beating Daniel Page and John Finke on his way to a final round match up with Dan Mercier, LaPrairie, Quebec, CAN., in Top Alcohol Dragster. Shields’ 5.374 second pass at 265.85 mph was enough to hold off Mercier’s 5.398, 266.90, which was his best pass of eliminations.

Manzo continued his dominance in Top Alcohol Funny Car posting low elapsed time in each round of eliminations. The Morganville, N.J., racer faced Todd Veney in the final round running a 5.590 second lap at 260.01 mph to Veney’s 5.716 at 255.05 mph. The win is Manzo’s first divisional win of the year to go along with two national event victories including one last weekend in Topeka, Kan.

The Comp finals in 2011 was a bit of a staged event as R/U David Yediny’s Opel could not “fire” for the finals giving his teammate Charlie Greco the win but for the sake of a photo, both cars were moved into the beams.

Four Pennsylvania racers also made the trip to winner’s circle led by Charlie Greco of Paoli, Pa., in Comp Eliminator who took out David Yediny, Nazareth, Pa., in his ’10 Cobalt. Joining Creco was Don Garbinski, Philadelphia, in Super Street holding off George Forster, Gerrncastle, Pa., Steve Szupka, Willow Grove, Pa., driving an ’85 Camaro in Stock over David Barton, Robesonia, Pa., and Shawn Harp, Schwenkville, Pa., in Super Gas.

The finals of Super Street had long time NED racer Don Garbinski beating eventual 2011 D1 champ George Forster

Bo Kenney from Centreville VA put his ’08 Cobalt on the pole in Super Stock

Super Gas finals

Szupka over Barton in Stock at the 2011 event

It was all Antonette in the Super Stock winner’s circle

In Super Stock it was James Antonette, New Hyde Park, N.Y., winning over Dan Fletcher while Shawn Fricke of Flemington, N.J., outran Chris DePascale, Parlin, N.J., in Super Comp.

The Fricke gang in the Super Comp winner’s circle

Rounding out the winner’s were the division’s Top Sportsman and Top Dragster class with John Prime, Thomastown, Conn., running 6.718 seconds at 202.06 mph in beating Jeff Brooks in Top Sportsman. Brooks went 6.859 at 201.22 in his ’51 Henry J. Scott Luken, Perry Hall, Md., won in Top Dragster against James Bridge with a lap of 7.092 seconds at 190.03 mph.

John Prime took his quick Camaro to a win in Top Sportsman in 2011

Scott Luken who would represent the NED at the Jeg’s Allstars in Chicago later in 2011, put his unique Altered in the winner’s circle over James Bridge

John Kakalecik’s super nice Cuda took Best Engineered in 2011

COMP ELIMINATOR

Charlie Greco, Paoli, Pa., ’10 Cobalt, No Time def.

David Yediny, Nazareth, Pa., ’71 Opel, No Time

SUPER STOCK

James Antonette, New Hyde Park, N.Y., ’98 Grand Am, 9.700, 135.05 def.

Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., ’69 Camaro, 9.536, 139.66

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Steve Szupka, Willow Grove, Pa., ’85 Camaro, 11.783, 111.62 def.

David Barton, Robesonia, Pa., ’65 Coronet, 10.207, 127.25

SUPER COMP

Shawn Fricke, Flemington, N.J., dragster, 8.923, 165.86 def.

Chris DePascale, Parlin, N.J., dragster, 8.932, 159.06.

TOP SPORTSMAN

John Prime, Thomastown, Conn., ’68 Camaro, 6.718, 202.06  def.

Jeff Brooks, Fredericksburg, Va., ’51 Henry J, 6.859, 201.22.

SUPER GAS

Shawn Harp, Schwenksville, Pa., ’57 Bel Air, 9.864, 155.78 def.

Alan Kenny, Kutztown, Pa., ’03 Corvette, 9.863, 155.56.

TOP DRAGSTER

Scott Luken, Perry Hall, Md., dragster, 7.092, 190.03 def.

James Bridge, Napanee, Ont., dragster, 6.893, 187.36.

SUPER STREET

Don Garbinski, Philadelphia, ’71 Challenger, 10.944, 133.78 def.

George Forster, Greencastle, Pa., ’65 Chevy II, 10.940, 141.50.

For more information call Maple Grove Raceway, (610) 856-9200, or visit www.MapleGroveRaceway.com.

Story by Diane Kubicke; Photos by Diane Kubicke & Dana Loffredo

The 2012 Atco National Open sponsored by P. C. Richard & Son began on Friday, May 4th with time trials and qualifying for all car classes.  The day started with a the first car going down the track in memory of Ron Harple, known as “Uncle Buck” who recently passed away.  Family and friends lined up along the starting area in honor of him.  He will be missed very much.

Driver, Dennis Allen was okay after his Super Gas car crossed over into the right lane during his time trial session making contact with the wall.  According to Dennis, most of it was cosmetic damage and he and his team plan on getting the car repaired and ready for the next race.

On Friday, racing was put on hold twice due to the extreme pollen dust clouds that were blowing on the track, and everything else for that matter, from the surrounding trees.  The Atco and Northeast Division 1 crews stayed on top of the track conditions to make it safe and race ready.  The day concluded with everyone getting their two time runs in.

Number one qualifiers for the event were:

Special awards went to Top Sportsman driver, Tony Arcuni, for Royal Pet Cremation sponsored “Best Appearing” and the Hoopes Fire Prevention sponsored “Best Engineered” went to Ted Ritchie in the Top Dragster class.

On Saturday morning, May 5th, the foggy weather made its presence delaying the start time of the first time trial.  With that, you were able to see the yellow swirls of pollen residue on the pavement leftover from the day before. The weather would stay cloudy for most of the day.

First round eliminations began with Stock, the largest car count class of the weekend.  Dave Mitchell of Fallsington, PA, drove his 1973 Duster through six rounds to earning him the champion trophy. He raced Bob Medeiros of Dighton, MA in the final winning on a ET of 11.124 on a 11.13 dial (R/T 0.53).  Unfortunately, Bob began the race with a foul, giving the automatic win to Dave.

Angelo Di Tocco of Mahopac, NY, became the Super Stock class champion maneuvering through six rounds of competition.  He won with an ET of 9.59 on a 9.58 dial (R/T .017) racing against Russ Linke of Old Bridge, NJ who ran a 10.07 on a 10.10 dial (R/T 0.63).

Super Comp brought in five rounds of competition with John Martin of Cream Ridge, NJ, ultimately taking the close final round win.  He and Mike Robilotto of Albany, NY faced each other as John dialed in an 8.90 and ran dead on with an 8.90 (R/T 0.12) while Mike ran an 8.91 on an 8.90 dial (0.10).

Dover, Pennsylvania’s Donald Miller took the Super Gas Champion win against Kelli Barbato of West Chester, PA.  After four rounds of Super Gas racing action, the two drivers met in round five to decide the final winner.  Both were dialed for a 9.90 pass as Donald ran a 13.75 ET (R/T 0.13), knowing that Kelli had fouled at the line and ran a 9.87 ET.

Eddie Brooks of Deer Park, NY took home the Super Street champion trophy in his P.C. Richard & Son sponsored 1982 Camaro.  He faced Robert Derr of Rosedale, MD, who drove his 1980 Grand Prix to a 10.897 ET on a 8.90 dial (R/T 0.28).  Eddie crossed the stripe with a 10.913 ET (R/T .004).

Tony Arcuni, of Babylon, NY, found himself taking home two trophies this weekend. After receiving the Best Appearing Award in the morning for his 1995 Cutlass, he had his hands on the Top Sportsman Champion trophy in the winner’s circle in the early evening.  He and Ronald Riegel of Fairless Hills, PA came together in the final round.  Tony dialed a 6.96 and ran a 8.01 ET (R/T 0.13) as Ronald just missed the green on the tree, giving the win to Tony.

In the Top Dragster class, Kevin Sway of Atco, NJ received the final round win against Laura Zeffiro of Winchester Center, CT.  The two battled their Top Dragsters through five rounds to decided who came home with the trophy.  Kevin dialed a 6.92 and ran a 6.92 ET (R/T 0.20) to Laura’s dial of 7.06 as she ran just under with a 7.049 ET (R/T 0.26).

Congratulations to everyone and we look forward to seeing you at the next LODRS Northeast Division 1 race at Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, PA on May 25-27, 2012.

If you are interested in Winner’s Circle photos any of the Division 1 photos, please click on the Photo Gallery tab at the top of this home page.

Story and Photos by NHRA Northeast Division Photographer Phil Hutchison

Eventual runner up, Burton Auxier (far lane) had to get around the always tough Jim Halsey in round 2 of Pro Nitrous.

Pro Extreme racer Mick Snyder from Demotte IN took his Powersource Transportation’63 Corvette to a win at the second annual ADRL event at the Pennsylvania facility.

Pro Extreme winner Mick Snyder

Starting from the pole with a 3.64 Snyder was never out of the 3.60 range throughout eliminations running as quick as a 3.636 in the quarterfinals.

Tommy D’Aprile’s sharp Corvette went all the way to the finals losing to Snyder

Snyder defeated the blown 2005 Corvette of Tommy D’Aprile in the finals running a 3.648 @ 207.46 MPH to D’Aprile’s close 3.690 204.57 MPH.

This year’s edition of the race fell on Cinco de Mayo. Corona anyone?

Also taking home the gold were:

Robert Patrick Jr. (Pro Nitrous)

Robert Patrick is getting used to Pro Nitrous after years of NHRA and IHRA style Pro Stock

Pro Nitrous runner up Burton Auxier slows down after his first round win

Billy Glidden (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5)

Billy Glidden won for the first time in 2012 with his Mickey Thompson sponsored Mustang

All day long hole shots were the norm and  the finals of Extreme 10.5 were no different as Chuck Ulsch’s blown Camaro got stung by Billy Glidden’s 3.862 to the 3.855 of Ulsch

Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle)

Dean Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock)

Dean Goforth came from the #4 qualifying spot to take Extreme Pro Stock in his Pontiac

Former IHRA Pro Stock champ Brian Gahm’s Ford was runner up in Extreme Pro Stock

Mike Castellana (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified)

Mike Castellana is three for three in Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified in 2012 running a 3.847 at 195.42 mph to beat the blown Mustang of Mike Janis in the finals

After a horrific Pro Mod crash in Gainesville during the Gators, Mike Janis bounced back with a runner up at Maple Grove

Chip Forman (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman)

Chip Forman took the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman title , running a 4.155 at 174.05 mph to beat Ray Bamond in the finals

Ray Baymond’s Camaro

Chris Holbrook (SuperCar Showdown)

Chris Holbrook won the SuperCar Showdown in his 2012 Mustang

Bo Butner SuperCar Runner Up

Pro Junior Dragster, Morgan Benfield defeated Jackson Core with a 7.94 at 77.21 mph.

Pro Jr Dragster champ Morgan Benfield

Jackson Core got beat on a hole shot in the finals Jr Dragster

For complete round by round results go to: dragracecentral.com/

New Orleans racer Richie Stevens Jr has his ’09 Mustang #10 in Extreme Pro Stock with a 4.123 174.19

Story by Phil Hutchison

Photos by Geoff Sculley and Phil Hutchison

After a bad start to his 2012 ADRL season, Dickinson TX racer Frankie Taylor got the demons off his back with a quick 3.653 at 207.85 miles per hour pass in his 2005 Jeffers Pro Cars  Corvette.

Following two races trying out a new  turbocharger combination in Pro Extreme, Taylor switched back to his tried and true blower set up and took the #1 spot during Friday’s second qualifying session

Todd Tutterow

Right behind Taylor in qualifying is the blown Mustang of Todd Tutterow with a 3.672  206.42

When not behind the wheel of his NHRA Lucas Oil World Championship Alcohol Funny Car, NED racer Frank Manzo turns the wrenches on the Al Anabi Pro Extreme Camaro

Ray Commisso was just along for the ride after losing control of his blown Camaro in round 1 of Pro Mod qualifying

Friday’s action got off to a wild start with veteran Pro Mod racer Ray Commisso getting sideways in his blown Camaro taking a hard left into the concrete barrier. The impact destroyed the barrier and took the timing equipment out too causing a near two hour delay in the action to replace the wall and the electronics.

Commisso walked away from the crash but the Camaro will need a lot of chassis work before it sees that race track any time soon.

Local racer Kevin McCurdy from Hamburg PA is currently in the #5 spot in Pro Mod in the Hard Racing ’68 Camaro

Rain hit the Pennsylvania facility after the second qualifying round cancelling the third session. Qualifying will resume at noon today.

Story by Phil Hutchison and ADRL

Photos by NHRA Division One Photographer Phil Hutchison 

Former NHRA Top Fuel racer JR Todd was at the 2011 event in a blown ’57 Chevy

In 2011 the American Drag Racing League made its first ever stop at Maple Grove Dragway. The much anticipated event brought some of the fastest door slammers in the USA to the Pennsylvania facility. Expectations were high and a large crowd was on hand to see drag racing history. And there was history.

The primered Nitro Fish Corvette of Frankie Taylor set the world on its ear with a 3.581 blast

Frankie Taylor from Dickinson TX set a new world record with a 1/8-mile pass of 3.581 in his Pro Extreme Corvette, making it the quickest 1/8-mile ever in the United States. Khalid Al-Balooshi also piloted the first nitrous car in drag racing history to go 200 miles per hour in an 1/8-mile race in his Speedtech Camaro.

Rain’s a coming

But the 2011 edition will be mostly remembered by what did not happen.  Due to rain, a curfew, and the rule book, the only recognized winner at the 2011 event was Pro Junior Dragster champ Eric Bardekoff beating Morgan Benfield with an 8.00.

Richie Stevens put his Mustang in the #9 spot of Extreme Pro Stock

Persistent rains during Saturday’s eliminations killed any chance of completing the event on schedule and the ADRL rule book that was in place in 2011 stated “That if an event is not finished as scheduled the event is considered complete and competitors will be awarded purse and points up to the finished point in the race”.

With rain clouds as a backdrop, Frankie Taylor races Billy Glidden in the first round of Extreme 10.5. Frankie won the round after Glidden shook the tires in his Mustang

So the Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock champs were not decided. Nobody was happy with the outcome including the ADRL and changes in 2012 would  tweak the rulebook.

Veteran racer Steve Vick had the crowd on their feet with a sideways pass in his Camaro

In 2012 the ADRL will “Do everything possible to complete the event in a timely manner. In the event of adverse conditions beyond our control , the ADRL reserves the right to finish the event whatever it takes including early start times, running late into the evening, cancelling a qualifying session(s),or finishing the event the following day(s)”.

NorthEastDragReview’s Diane Kubicke and the Nobile family enjoy the 2011 show at the Grove

This was good news to competitors and fans alike and in addition to these changes; the ADRL has added the highly-anticipated SuperCar Showdown. The ADRL SuperCar Showdown will showcase the latest factory-produced, dealership-available automobiles in all-out drag racing with no handicap starts or performance restrictions, adding even more excitement to the ADRL’s fast-paced show. Expect some of the quickest Mustangs, Camaros, and Dodge Challengers in the US to be on hand to see who has the baddest Stocker on the planet.

Run as an exhibition class in 2011, for 2012 it’s a real eliminator. Unfortunately the Mustang of Ronnie Proctor will not be racing as he totaled the Ford in Charlotte a few weeks back.

And that’s not all, showcased in 2011 as an exhibition class; Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman will be a real eliminator at this year’s event and promises to be a crowd favorite.

Dave Vantine had his bike in the #7 spot for Saturday’s eliminations but went out in round two to Eric McKinney

Dean Goforth had his Pontiac on the pole in Extreme Pro Stock. Dean lost to his son Cary in the semis before the rain hit.

NED racer Todd Fontana came oh so close in Pro Nitrous running a 4.082 which did not make the 4.023 bump

The event at Maple Grove comes on the heels of a highly successful event at Bristol TN a few weeks ago with the following winners.

Pro Extreme — Jason Scruggs, Chevy Corvette, 3.675, 205.72 def. Tommy D’Aprile, Corvette, 3.692, 203.46.

Pro Nitrous — Rickie Jones, Chevy Camaro, 3.823, 194.27 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, broke.

Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 — Alan Pittman, Ford Mustang, 3.858, 197.45 def. Brad Brand, Mustang, 6.226, 93.00.

Pro Extreme Motorcycle — Japel Heard, Suzuki, 4.160, 163.91 def. Casey Stemper, Suzuki Hayabusa, 4.189, 167.80.

Extreme Pro Stock — Cary Goforth, Pontiac GXP, 4.091, 175.57 def. Richie Stevens Jr, Ford Mustang, 5.527, 87.53.

Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified — Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 3.885, 193.43 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 3.941, 191.00.

Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman — Aaron Glaser, Chevy Camaro, 4.235, 163.33 def. Dylan Stott, Ford Mustang, 4.677, 143.55.

SuperCar Showdown — Bo Butner, Ford Mustang, 5.880, 109.48 def. Ray Skillman, Mustang, 6.033, 115.25.

Pro Junior Dragster — Codie Nye, Junior, 7.903, 81.41 def. Jackson Core, Junior, 7.885, 81.58.

Story and photos by NHRA NED Photographer Phil Hutchison

Nice Saturday crowd saw some great racing at VMP

The NHRA Northeast Division  is on. The Virginia Motorsport Park Lucas Oil event was completed under unexpected sunny skies. After the forecast for Saturday looked like a late afternoon rain, Division One director Bob Lang decided to skip the morning time trials and go directly into eliminations.

Getting all the winners together is like herding kittens

For the exception of a few sprinkles during eliminations, the rain held off and the entire event was completed by 6:00 pm.

2011 NED Top Sportsman champ Ryan Ondrejko debuted his 2012 Camaro at VMP and was awarded Best Engineered. The team had the Chevy qualified in the #4 spot with 6.743 but broke the motor and could not make the first round call

Shields and Kosky get the silk out after their semifinal clash

The race at VMP would be the debut of NHRA Lucas Regional in Division One. Defending Lucas Oil 2011 Top Alcohol Dragster champ Duane Shields shook the first round monkey off his back with a win over Pennsylvania racer Rich McPhillips in an all A/FD final.

Todd Veney won his first TA/FC in 2012  over the surprising DJ Cox.  Veney had his hands full in the final as Cox, racing out of Whiteford Maryland, was off the line first and Veney had to drive around Cox’s Monte Carlo for the win.

It was Veney (far lane) over DJ Cox in a close final 5.667 to Cox’s 5.697

Follow a Dream team owner Jay Blake and his driver Todd Veney celebrate their win at VMP

As expected the TAD field at VMP was a shootout with Regional implications already in the works. Defending NED TAD champ Karen Stalba had a fuel leak before her last qualifying pass and never made the field. The non-qualifier will force the Hammonton NJ team to travel out of the East to claim enough points to make a run for the 2012 title. Also not making the field was Dan Page in the Arthur Gallant A/FD which will make the Massachusetts team  rethink their 2012 plans if they want to continue to be a player in the very tough Lucas T/AD points chase.

Dan Page is off to a slow start with a DNQ at the opening NED event at VMP.

Hamilton ON racer Jeff Veale and Aaron Tatum from Oklahoma City slow after their qualifying runs. Tatum made the tough field in the #5 spot. Veale failed to qualify

It was all Team Aragona in Competition Eliminator as former Lucas World champ Frank Aragona Jr won the title over teammate Steve Szupka after the G/EA Bantam of Szupka could not answer the bell for the finals.

Team Aragona off to a great start in 2012

Earlier in the day during the first round of Comp it got a little scary when Bill Griffin Jr’s G/AA Pontiac crossed in front of the E/AA of Tony Terry right past the finish line and both cars tangled. Griffin’s car suffered the worse of the damage as he struck both walls before sliding to a halt. Terry’s brand new Cobalt will require a trip back to Dave Hunt’s shop but according to the team, the chassis did not suffer too much damage.

This is not the way to head back to the pits

The MX Industrial/Magnaflux and Select Performance Top Dragster win went to Massachusetts’s racer Bill Russell over defending 2011 champ Jason Hoff in one of the closest races of the day. Both drivers had nearly identical RTs and at the stripe Russell ran a 6.786 on his 6.76 dial to Hoff’s close 6.885 on his 6.86 dial in.

Massachusetts racer Bill Russell won Top Dragster

The Top Sportsman final was just as close as Top Dragster with Virginia driver Mark Payne putting his Cobalt in front of the Dodge truck of John Taylor. Taylor was first off the line with a 0.036 light to Payne’s 0.043 but ran a 0.013 over 7.543 to Mark’s 0.006 over 7.026. Two close finals in the MX Industrial/Magnaflux and Select Performance classes.

Top Sportsman winner Mark Payne with Super Gas champ Kevin Maupin

John Taylor from Naples FL, put his '99 Dakota in the RU spot

Super Stock went to the wheel standing GT/GA Camaro of Lincoln Morehead over Byron Worner’s SS/IA Camaro. Both drivers broke out but Lincoln was the lesser offender and got the win. Two rounds earlier it was brother vs. bother as Byron Worner took out his twin brother Bryan’s GT/EA Camaro in another double breakout with Byron getting the win and a bye to the finals against Morehead.

Lincoln Morehead, Super Stock champ

Worner over Worner in the quarterfinals of Super Stock

In Stock Eliminator it was a familiar face as Don Pires Jr from Somerset MA took the win in his H/SA Nova over the red lighting D/SA Camaro of Sterling Simmons from nearby Chesterfield VA.

Don Pires picks up the wheels on his way to a win in Stock Eliminator

Stock R/U Sterling Simmons

Other winners at VMP were:

Tom Cable won his first ever Wally driving the Anthony Bertozzi owned car

Super Comp went to Tom Cable driving Anthony Bertozzi’s dragster over Division 5 racer Ken Griffiths.

Also winning his first Wally was Virginia racer Kevin Maupin

Super Gas went to another Virginia racer Kevin Maupin over multi time winner Mike Sawyer. Maupin got a perfect 0.000 light forcing Sawyer to break out in the loss.

Brian Lee Baker came back from shearing the rear slick off the car in round one of Super Street to the winners circle in his Merc

The Super Street winner was Brian Lee Baker’s Mercury over the Camaro of two time NED winner Jay Neville. Baker’s win was very unexpected to say the least after the first round . During round 1,  the rear left slick sheared off Baker’s car after his competition fouled. As he had taken the green , Baker got the win and the team took the car back to the pits, did the repairs, and ended up with the win. Strange

WTF?

Pro Stock Snowmobile went to Scott Marsh over Ed Armstrong

Pro Stock Snowmobile winner Scott Marsh

Best Appearing Car went to Melinda Green-King from Norfolk VA

Michael Gerber's Top Sportsman team took home Best Appearing Crew

For round by round details, go to www.dragracecentral.com.

Check the Northeast Division web site at http://www.nhradiv1.com in a few days for all the photos from the event at VMP.

Next NED Lucas Oil event. Memorial Day weekend at Maple Grove Dragway.

Photos and Story by NHRA Division 1 Photographer Phil Hutchison

2011 NED Top Sportsman champ Ryan Ondrejko's brand new Camaro is in the #4 spot with a 6.743

Qualifying is over at the Lucas Oil Divisional at Virginia Motorsport Park. if the hoopla about how tight the Top Alcohol Dragster field was going to be was overstated, it wasn’t.  With 17 cars attempting to get into a 8 car field it was far from routine. After two sessions down the Virginia track, nine Alcohol Dragster teams were on the outside looking in and the list included quite a lot of surprises.

Rich McPhillips from Phoenixville PA set the tone in T/AD at the NED kickoff with a 5.318 to pace the field for tomorrow’s first round. Others were not so lucky

Not making the show was 2011 NED Champ Karen Stalba after a leak was discovered in her Stalba Motorsports A/FD before her last shot at getting into the show. Also joining the “Did Not Get In Club” was 2011 Lebanon Valley winner Dan Page. Dan driving the Arthur Gallant A/FD blew the tires off in the first session and then could only muster a 5.60 in the final session. One other notable non-qualifier was 2011 Top Ten racer Ryan Copeland from Texas who was hoping to use Richmond to get back in the hunt after a lackluster start for 2012. Copeland ran a big speed 271 MPH coupled with a 5.49 but was not good enough to crack the 5.46 bump held down by NY racer and former NED champ John Finke. For Top Alcohol Dragster devotees, the VMP show was one for the books.

#10 in 2011, Copland driving the Gene Snow owned A/FD had nothing but bad luck in his two qualifying passes, just missing the bump with a 5.49 ET

Leading the T/AD parade was Phoenixville PA racer Rich McPhillips who put down two 5.30 runs with a 5.318 holding up for the #1 spot.

Watch for Jackie Frick to go a few rounds as her 5.460 @262.69 MPH was good enough for the #7 spot. The TAD show at Richmond was one of the best in quite some time with a who's who in the Alcohol Dragster world.

Right behind McPhillips was Lucas Oil World champ Duane Shields at a 5.355 with the blown car of Cuddy PA’s Mike Kosky sliding into the #3 spot with a 5.368. Kosky blew the tires off in the first session but the team quieted (?) the car down enough to get it down the track and get in the top part of the field. The the top 8 qualifiers for tomorrows first round are:

Alcohol Funny Car was not quite as dramatic but still had it’s share of drama as 2011 Lucas World champ Frank Manzo a no show. Manzo was reported to be at the ADRL event  at Bristol. Stepping into the spot of Low Qualifier was Todd Veney in the Follow a Dream Monte Carlo of Jay Blake. After a lackluster first pass, Veney made the TA/FC pass of the day  with a 5.600 pass to grab the #1 spot. Right behind Veney was Charlotte R/U Dan Pomponio with a 5.656 and DJ Cox from Maryland getting into #3 with a great 5.662.

Low Qualifier in TA/FC. Todd Veney put down a 5.60 to move the Blake Chevy from the bump spot the #1 spot for the final eliminations.

Norfolk VA racer Melinda Green-King holds down the bump with a 5.837.

Records in the Sportsman classes took a beating with the great air and track conditions, which allowed a slew of records in Competition Eliminator to be set.

The F/ED of Frank Aragona from Freehold NJ was low qualifier in Comp with a 8.035

Russell Joly from Louisa VA set the C/AA record with 7.253 in his Chevy Cobalt

One of the other records to fall, Greg Mannix set the B/ED record at a 7.014

Low qualifiers in both Stock and Super Stock set new NHRA standards for their classes as Guy DesJardins from St. Bruno PQ qualified low for Super Stock with a 9.433 which set the NHRA SS/FA record and Adam Keir’s A/SA Nova’s 9.893 pacing the Stock field.

Adam Keir in the teardown area after setting the record

Jacques Blais from Tolland CT is #2 in Super Stock with his '98 Mustang GT/EA 9.747.

The very green 2010 Mopar Challenger CC/SA of Michelle Chiles from Reedville VA currently sits in the #32 spot in Stock Eliminator

Ronnie Proctor had a bad crash at Charlotte but good friend and fellow racer John Benoit lent him his 2010 Pontiac GXP for the Richmond event. Proctor put the car in the Top Sportsman field with a 7.098

With the impending rain forecast for late tomorrow afternoon and even gloomier weather for the Sunday, NHRA Division Director Bob Lang announced that racing would commence at 9:00 am on Saturday with no time shots.