Photos by Robert Richard, Todd Dziadosz
THURSDAY QUALIFYING – NEFF, BARTON, ANTROBIUS, ELROD LEAD IN THURSDAY NORWALK NHRA NATIONALS QUALIFYING
Cali Neff raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot in Competition eliminator with a strong 6.603-second run on a 7.28 index, leading Thursday’s qualifying sessions at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event.
Neff’s performance in her Clack-powered A/ED machine outpaced the 34-car field by over a tenth of a second under the index. Her -.677 performance was followed by Doug Engels D/DA dragster, posting a 7.411 on a 7.99 index, good for a .579 under and second overall. Brian Browell secured third with a .562 under pass in his D/D MR2-Chevy, running 7.178 on a 7.74 index.
Rodger Brogdon ran his A/SR ’34 Roadster to fourth with a 7.873 on an 8.42 index. Rounding out the top five was Scott Linder with a 6.617 pass in his 7.16 index in A/A.
In Super Stock, David Barton delivered the standout performance of the day with a 1.010-second under pass, running 8.890 on a 9.90 FSS/D index.
David Dupps clocked in second at 0.928 under in SS/BS trim, driving his ’06 Cobalt to an 8.722 ET on a 9.65 index. Donald Belles rounded out the top three with a .905 under in FSS/D, piloting a 2020 Camaro to an 8.995.
Other strong efforts came from Nick Morris at .883 under and Troy Huntzberry with a .868 pass, both breaking well into the under-index territory. The top ten included Herbie Null, Fred Allen, Alex Anderson, Bobby Rashid, and Scott Libersher, all under by more than eight-tenths.
In Stock eliminator, Matthew Antrobius laid down a dominant 11.144 on a 12.15 index. Driving his ’89 Camaro out of Centerville, Ohio, Antrobius edged out Patrick Downing, who recorded a .907 under in his ’10 Mustang.
Kevin Mitchell’s 9.156 on a 10.00 FS/B index slotted him third, followed by Mike Delahanty in A/SA with a .829 under run. Consistency across the class marked a deep field, with the top ten all within .789 to 1.006 seconds under their respective indexes.
Top Dragster competition saw Tony Elrod of Howell, Mich., claim the No. 1 qualifying position with a 6.098-second, 226.47 mph blast in his American chassis. Elrod led a field of high-powered dragsters as speeds approached 230 mph.
Blake Peavler followed with a 6.177-second pass at 226.09 mph, barely edging out Prescott Dean’s 6.195 at 222.80 mph for second place. Darian Boesch, Dane Ward, and Tom Martino filled out the top six, all running within hundredths of one another.
Veterans Al Peavler and Jim Prevo turned in passes of 6.211 and 6.215, respectively, with average speeds over 224 mph. The final two in the top ten, Pat Forster and Frank Carpinelli, rounded out the list with 6.226 and 6.229 times.
Glenn Butcher set the pace in Top Sportsman qualifying with a 6.263-second run at 225.45 mph in his ’69 Camaro. Darian Boesch posted the fastest speed of the session at 226.77 mph in his 2018 Camaro to take second.
Scott Wasko ran a 6.536 at 213.37 mph for third, followed by Jeff Brooks and Ronnie Proctor. Wesley Goddard, Belva Brinegar, and Jerry Albert rounded out a competitive top ten with passes all in the mid-6.60s.
Rain ended Thursday’s qualifying early, with more sessions scheduled for 8 AM, EST on Friday.
COMPETITION (Q1)
1 5900 A/ED Cali Neff, Westminster CO, Clack-Ford 6.603 7.28 -0.677
2 5212 D/DA Doug Engels, Watertown SD, Dragster 7.411 7.99 -0.579
3 330 D/D Brian Browell, Lafayette IN, MR2-Chevy 7.178 7.74 -0.562
4 3 B/SR Rodger Brogdon, Tomball TX, ’34 Roadster 7.873 8.42 -0.547
5 510U A/A Scott Linder, Hedrick IA, ’04 Gran Am 6.617 7.16 -0.543
6 56 E/DA Patrick Nahan, Sartell MN, Parks 7.459 7.98 -0.521
7 277 A/SM Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange TN, ’09 Sunfi 7.912 8.43 -0.518
8 4011 B/AA Royce Freeman, Lindsey OK, ’16 Camaro 7.034 7.55 -0.516
9 394 D/DA Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg IN, Spitzer 7.052 7.55 -0.498
10 3530 C/EA David Dupps, Germantown OH, ’06 GTO 8.202 8.70 -0.498
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
SUPER STOCK (FINAL)
1 1990 FSS/D David Barton, Sinking Spring PA, ’14 Must 8.890 9.90 -1.010
2 3530 SS/BS David Dupps, Germantown OH, ’06 Cobalt 8.722 9.65 -0.928
3 1737 FSS/D Donald Belles, Collegeville PA, ’20 Camaro 8.995 9.90 -0.905
4 3718 FGT/I Nick Morris, Louisville KY, ’03 Mustang 9.617 10.50 -0.883
5 23 SS/IA Troy Huntzberry, Hagerstown MD, ’87 Camaro 9.832 10.70 -0.868
6 177 SS/JA Herbie Null, Greencastle PA, ’90 Camaro 10.135 11.00 -0.865
7 368 SS/TB Fred Allen, Winemac IN, ’03 S-10 9.052 9.90 -0.848
8 A362 FSS/F Alex Anderson, Wilmington IL, ’15 Camaro 9.361 10.20 -0.839
9 3992 GT/GA Bobby Rashid, Grosse Pte Woods MI, ’05 Ca 9.584 10.40 -0.816
10 3662 FSS/D Scott Libersher, Wilmington IL, ’23 Camaro 9.092 9.90 -0.808
STOCK (FInal)
1 39 H/SA Matthew Antrobius, Centerville OH, ’89 Ca 11.144 12.15 -1.006
2 3569 FS/I Patrick Downing, Petersburg MI, ’10 Musta 10.743 11.65 -0.907
3 336 FS/B Kevin Mitchell, Marco Island FL, ’17 Cama 9.156 10.00 -0.844
4 3807 A/SA Mike Delahanty, Novi MI, ’64 Belvedere 10.171 11.00 -0.829
5 2030 H/SA Corkey Welfel, Goodlettsville TN, ’83 Cam 11.326 12.15 -0.824
6 34 FS/B Briana Splingaire, Minooka IL, ’22 Camaro 9.176 10.00 -0.824
7 28 FS/D Marion Stephenson, Williamsport IN, ’15 C 9.786 10.60 -0.814
8 4313 L/SA Anne Candies, Des Allemands LA, ’83 Malib 11.892 12.70 -0.808
9 L177 FS/B Lenny Lottig, Meyersdale PA, ’19 Camaro 9.208 10.00 -0.792
10 29 F/SA Nick Reiter, Warminster PA, ’68 Barracuda 11.061 11.85 -0.789
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
TOP DRAGSTER (FINAL)
1 3536 Tony Elrod, Howell MI, American-Chevy 6.098 226.47 226.47
2 5 Blake Peavler, Olney IL, American-Chevy 6.177 198.61 226.09
3 584 Prescott Dean, Olathe KS, Mullis-Chevy 6.195 222.80 222.80
4 4 Darian Boesch, Kenner LA, Racecraft-Chevy 6.197 229.27 229.27
5 4358 Dane Ward, Mena AR, Racecraft-Chevy 6.209 223.65 223.65
6 316 Tom Martino, Youngstown OH, Maddox-Chevy 6.210 221.60 221.85
7 9 Al Peavler, Olny IL, Dragster-Chevy 6.211 224.47 224.47
8 3505 Jim Prevo, Mundelein IL, VRN-REHE 6.215 223.43 224.21
9 3537 Pat Forster, Pittsburg PA, American-Chevy 6.226 224.02 224.02
10 3230 Frank Carpinelli, Dover OH, Undercover-Chevy 6.229 224.06 224.06
TOP SPORTSMAN (Q1)
1 3190 Glenn Butcher, Doylestown OH, ’69 Camaro 6.263 225.45 225.45
2 4911 Darian Boesch, Kenner LA, ’18 Camaro 6.327 226.77 226.77
3 3477 Scott Wasko, Columbia Station OH, ’11 GXP 6.536 213.37 213.37
4 1929 Jeff Brooks, Fredericksburg VA, ’51 Henry J 6.545 214.96 214.96
5 193 Ronnie Proctor, Hedgesville WV, ’09 Mustang 6.573 210.44 210.44
6 1777 Wesley Goddard, Ariss ON, ’58 Metropolian 6.611 222.66 222.66
7 3218 Belva Brinegar, Middletown OH, ’03 Mustang 6.627 209.39 209.39
8 3211 Jerry Albert, Avon OH, ’97 Camaro 6.692 206.64 206.64
9 5 Curt Fredrich, Burlington WI, ’68 Camaro 6.694 208.71 208.71
10 3377 Chris Osborn, Oakland MI, ’69 Camaro 6.736 204.08 204.08
