The movie Field of Dreams has a very close association to Yellowstone Drag Strip. The line “If you build it they will come” is synonymous with this facility. Located in Acton, Montana, which is in the southeastern portion of the state, outside of Billings on the high plains carved into a huge wheat field.
The track’s only drawback is the fact that half of the three-mile drive off Montana Highway 3 to the facility is a gravel road. However, it is the same for everybody, and the gravel portion of the road is maintained fairly well.
However, the upsides to the place overshadow that drawback. The pits are nice, there are excellent amenities to the track, and the track takes great care to show everyone who comes to their events, some good old Montana hospitality.
Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Brian Hough said it best after the event. “These people really care about us coming to their track. Every morning somebody from the track has come by and asked if we needed anything, is everything ok. We pull into the staging lanes and staff are thanking us for being here.”
The physical track is well done, and has a very long smooth shutdown area. Many of the top sportsman and top dragster racers rarely use their parachutes stopping from a 200 mile per hour run.
Nevertheless, the reason for everybody heading to Big Sky Country was for the racing.
Top Alcohol Dragster
Eight cars made the trip to Acton, and after qualifying it was Shawn Cowie in his Norm Grimes tuned dragster leading the charge at 5.39-269.62. Next was Oregon’s Joey Severance at 5.49-260.46. Brandon Greco who made the trip from Roscoe, PA. at 5.51-250.55. Kim Parker rounded out the top half of the field at 5.58-255.63. Christine Chambless made the journey from Davenport, IA, was fifth at 5.60-245.32. Nick Januik was sixth at 5.62-256.11, followed by Casey Grisel at 5.75-232.95. Rounding out the eight-car show was Medford, Oregon’s Mike Austin at 5.90-240.51.
In round one there were not upsets and all the higher placed cars went to round two.
In round two it was Severance and Cowie winning their respective match ups and making it to the final round. However in Severance’s victory over Brandon Greco the engine suffered some major damage, and which precluded Severance from making the necessary repairs before the final.
Never one to be shy, Cowie’s crew chief Norm Grimes decided to take a shot and swing for the fences. At the green the Mundie’s Towing and Recovery dragster, left like a rocket however when it got to sixty feet it went into shake forcing Cowie to shut the car off and coast for the win.
Top Alcohol Funny Car
Seven cars showed up in Montana for Top Alcohol Funny Car. What was lacking in quantity was made up for in quality. Of those seven cars five were in the top seven in the world last year. This was gonna be a dog fight.
Leading the group was Annie Whiteley and her YNOT Racing Camaro from Grand Junction, Colorado, at 5.63-263.26. At number two was Brian Hough at 5.65-256.70. Making the trip from Paso Robles, Ca was Doug Gordon in his brand-new ride at 5.69 259.36. Chris Marshall rounded out the top four with a 5.74-253.18. The bottom half started with Wyoming’s Kris Kool at 5.75-251.18. In the sixth position was Utah’s Steve Macklyn with a 5.82-251.39 and rounding out the field was another Colorado racer Doug Schneider at 5.94-243.63.
In round one there were no upsets but there was one surprise. In her first round single due to the odd number of cars, Annie Whiteley’s Yenko Camaro inspired flopper didn’t get ten feet before it blew the tires off resulting in a 15.75-65.27-time slip, however it was a win none the less.
Round two played out as Hough took care of a very determined Doug Gordon 5.68-255.63 to cover the Californian’s trailing 5.77-257.28. the other half pitted Whiteley and Marshall. At the green it was Marshall who moved first, and once again Whiteley’s car made it a very short ways and squared the tires off again. Marshall streaked to a 5.72-254.66 win, and a berth in the finals.
In the final as the sun was starting to set in the western horizon it was Martin who took a hundredth at the starting line but by sixty feet Hough had reeled him in and was starting to pull away. At about half-track Marshall car made a big move to the left and got him right up against the left guard wall, and he wisely threw in the towel. Hough took a well-deserved win 5.68-257.14 to Marshall’s 6.02-198.88.
In closing it was interesting to hear that many of the racers who attended the event in Acton, liked the doubleheader aspect of the event. Having a Friday race and Saturday race allowing for Sunday to travel home or rest, whatever. One top sportsman racer stated that he would rather have three doubleheaders than six divisional events. Less expense and time away from home.
Speaking of Divisional, here are the winners from day two at Acton:
Competition Eliminator
Super Stock
Stock Eliminator
Super Comp
Super Gas
Top Dragster
Top Sportsman
Sportsman Motorcycle
Super Pro
Pro ET
Sportsman
Junior Lightning
Junior Thunder
Jason McCary 12.41-52.89 defeats Chase McHenry 14.34-47.58
FIELDS SET FOR WESTERN REGIONAL
The following are Saturday’s final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northwest Division event at Yellowstone Drag Strip:
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Derek Menholt, Billings, Mont., ’68 Camaro, AA/PM, 5.985 seconds, -0.725 (under index)
2) Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., ’05 Plant, D/DA, 7.656, -0.614
3) Cody Lane, North Bend, Wash., ’10 Cobalt, B/SMA, 8.331, -0.579
4) Ralph Van Paepeghem, Garden Valley, Idaho, ’32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.549, -0.531
5) John Edwards, Nampa, Idaho, ’19 Camaro, C/AA, 7.697, -0.513
SUPER STOCK
1) Cody Lane, Seattle, Wash., ’05 Cavalier, SS/BS, 8.977 seconds, -1.023 (under index)
2) Neal Rhodes, Elizabeth, Colo., ’08 Cobra JET, FGT/J, 10.032, -0.948
3) Rod Stults, Marysville, Wash., ’97 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.334, -0.856
4) Justin Jenkins, Beatrice, Neb., ’08 Cobalt, GT/GA, 9.925, -0.855
5) Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., ’91 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.050, -0.830
6) Gary Coe, Portland, Ore., ’19 Ford, FSS/B, 8.730, -0.800
7) Dan Zrust, Maple Grove, Minn., ’68 Barracuda, GT/AA, 9.273, -0.777
8) Larry McLanahan, Kennewick, Wash., ’16 Cobra JET, FSS/C, 9.241, -0.759
9) Bob Reynolds, Fromberg, Mont., ’69 Mustang, SS/FA, 10.076, -0.754
10) Steve Hahn, Yakima, Wash., ’70 Cuda, SS/CA, 9.685, -0.725
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Rachelle Thibert, Louisburg, Kan., ’81 Malibu, K/SA, 12.127 seconds, -0.983 (under index)
2) Bob Swan, Belle Fourche, S.D., ’67 Shelby, C/SA, 10.841, -0.969
3) Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., ’19 Cobra JET, FS/AA, 8.776, -0.964
4) Jeff Johnson, Strasburg, Colo., ’67 Mustang, D/SA, 11.013, -0.957
5) Chris Hall, Brigham City, Utah, ’70 Camaro, B/SA, 10.714, -0.946
6) Stephen Hagberg, Berthoud, Colo., ’67 Belvedere, A/SA, 10.471, -0.929
7) Donald Morris, Golden, Colo., ’66 Coronet, A/SA, 10.480, -0.920
8) Larry McLanahan, Kennewick, Wash., ’19 Cobra JET, FS/AA, 8.821, -0.919
9) Norman Warling, Golden, Colo., ’62 Catalina, M/SA, 12.429, -0.891
10) Patrick McCue, Bothell, Wash., ’18 Camaro, FS/B, 9.474, -0.886
TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Jake Neibauer, Billings, Mont., ’63 Corvette, 6.990 seconds, 196.19 mph
2) Ken Ratzloff, Idaho Falls, Idaho, ’53 Studebaker, 7.153, 191.05
3) Bryan Warr, Riverton, Utah, ’69 Camaro, 7.217, 192.71
4) Ed Olpin, Plesant Grove, Calif., ’68 Camaro, 7.261, 190.32
5) Shawn Herbst, Selah, Wash., ’68 Firebird, 7.319, 191.10
6) Patrick Warr, Erda, Utah, ’19 Corvette, 7.387, 186.05
7) Richard Okerman, Torrance, Calif., ’89 Chevrolet, 7.413, 186.36
8) Benji Martin, Yakima, Wash., ’63 Corvette, 7.715, 179.11
TOP DRAGSTER
1) Casey Tehle, Billings, Mont., ’05 Don Davis, 6.148 seconds, 201.79 mph
2) Anita Strasburg, Mapleton, Utah, ’19 Neil & Parks, 6.227, 236.59
3) Jamie Caudill, Parker, Colo., ’18 Bakx, 6.272, 219.86
4) Bradley Johnson, Morrison, Colo., ’13 M&M, 6.290, 217.07
5) Ross Gregory, Brighton, Colo., ’18 Dragster, 6.431, 174.82
6) Taylor Vetter, Henderson, Nev., ’06 Spitzer, 6.477, 216.34
7) Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, Colo., ’05 Don Davis, 6.619, 203.92
8) Victoria Johnson, Arvada, Colo., ’01 Cameron, 6.675, 198.96
9) Dawn Barth, Greeley, Colo., ’16 Bos Dragster, 6.724, 200.65
10) Nick Axtman Jr, Silverdale, Wash., ’19 TNT, 6.776, 201.49
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Michael Voss, Maplewood, Minn., dragster, SMC, 0.000 seconds reaction time
2) Alex Barmettler, Maplewood, Minn., ’78 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.013
3) Don Depeel, Gladstone, Ore., ’74 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.015
4) Larry Mota, Orem, Utah, ’95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.016
5) Bruce Sampson, Forest Lake, Minn., ’99 Suzuki, SMC, 0.036
6) David Olsen, Littleton, Colo., ’07 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.041
7) Donnie Durenberger, Dayton, Minn., ’81 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.044
8) Felicia Olsen, Littleton, Colo., ’88 Ninja, SMC, 1.128
9) Kahea Woods, North Las Vegas, Nev., ’95 Suzuki, SMC, -0.002
10) Craig Jensen, Chubback, Idaho, ’00 Polaris, SMC, -0.007
JR LIGHTNING
1) Keylee Wolff, Acton, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.001 seconds reaction time
2) Cort Huet, Billings, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.013
3) Ayden Blevins, Billings, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.014
4) Beaudy Peralta, Bozeman, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.033
5) Bryce Townsend, , , dragster, JL, 0.037
6) Xavier Gregory, Brighton, Colo., dragster, JL, 0.039
7) Corbin Kettleson, Billings, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.056
8) Karee Garmann, Watford City, N.D., dragster, JL, 0.071
9) Caden Menholt, Billings, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.088
10) Beau Coburn, Billings, Mont., dragster, JL, 0.089
JR THUNDER
1) Jason McCary, Billings, Mont., dragster, JT, 0.037 seconds reaction time
2) Calvin Campbell, Shepherd, Mont., dragster, JT, 0.039
3) Deagan Liedtke, Watford City, N.D., dragster, JT, 0.044
4) Chase McHenry, Billings, Mont., dragster, JT, 0.098
5) Dayne Peralta, Bozeman, Mont., dragster, JT, 0.141
6) Cora Wittman, Billings, Mont., dragster, JT, 0.436
7) Izzie Parker, Billings, Mont., dragster, JT, 0.525
FRIDAY – COWIE, WHITELEY PACE DAY ONE OF MONTANA NHRA REGIONAL
Shawn Cowie leads the way in TAD with a very nice 5.32, 269.62 lap. This was done in the high plains of South Eastern Montana on a 90-degree day. Joey Severance is number 2 at 5.49, 260.46, and rounding out the top three is Brandon Greco at 5.51-250.55. Rounding out the eight-car show is Mike Austin in the former YNOT Racing dragster at 5.90-240.51. Eliminations are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
In TAFC it was Annie Whiteley’s 5.63, 263.26 that led the flopper group. Number two is Brian Hough at 5.65-256.70. Rounding out the top three is Doug Gordon at 5.69, 259.36. Rounding out the short seven car field is Doug Schneider at 5.94, 243.63.
While the plastic fantastics are one car short of a full field, it makes up for it with strength. This is going to be a dog fight as five of the seven cars have single-digit car numbers. Numbers 2,4,5,6 and 7 came to Montana to race. As with the dragsters, eliminations will be run Saturday.
The results for day one of the twin bill on the Division side of the world.
Cody Lane took the win in Comp Eliminator. In Super Stock, it was the machine of Kyle Rizzoli taking the win.
Jim Hughes of Grand Junction, Colorado took home the hardware in Stock Eliminator. In Top Dragster, it was “Dead on Zero” Paul Nero with the win. In Top Sportsman, it was Pleasant Grove, Utah’s Ed Olpin with the win.
In the Super “Classes it was Evan Kowalski taking Super Comp, In Super Gas it was Brian Preszler taking home another win, and in Super Street, it is Sean Staffer with the win.
Saturday will once again see racers try their luck again for another chance at a Wally.
THURSDAY: MENHOLT, LANE, COOPER LEAD QUALIFYING
The following are Thursday’s qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northwest Division event at Yellowstone Drag Strip:
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Derek Menholt, Billings, Mont., ’68 Camaro, AA/PM, 6.092 seconds, -0.618 (under index)
2) Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., ’05 Plant, D/DA, 7.682, -0.588
3) John Edwards, Nampa, Idaho, ’19 Camaro, C/AA, 7.674, -0.536
4) Ralph Van Paepeghem, Garden Valley, Idaho, ’32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.554, -0.526
5) Cody Lane, North Bend, Wash., ’10 Cobalt, B/SMA, 8.398, -0.512
SUPER STOCK
1) Cody Lane, Seattle, Wash., ’05 Cavalier, SS/BS, 8.890 seconds, -1.110 (under index)
2) Neal Rhodes, Elizabeth, Colo., ’08 Cobra JET, FGT/J, 10.078, -0.902
3) Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., ’91 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.067, -0.813
4) Dan Zrust, Maple Grove, Minn., ’68 Barracuda, GT/AA, 9.263, -0.787
5) Gary Coe, Portland, Ore., ’19 Ford, FSS/B, 8.746, -0.784
6) Larry McLanahan, Kennewick, Wash., ’16 Cobra JET, FSS/C, 9.240, -0.760
7) Bob Reynolds, Fromberg, Mont., ’69 Mustang, SS/FA, 10.080, -0.750
8) Steve Hahn, Yakima, Wash., ’70 Cuda, SS/CA, 9.688, -0.722
9) Justin Jenkins, Beatrice, Neb., ’08 Cobalt, GT/GA, 10.070, -0.710
10) Bill Jenkins, Marysville, Kan., ’02 Cavalier, GT/EA, 9.774, -0.696
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) John Cooper, LaPorte, Colo., ’10 Mustang, FS/E, 10.320 seconds, -1.030 (under index)
2) Jeff Johnson, Strasburg, Colo., ’76 Mustang, D/SA, 10.992, -0.978
3) Norman Warling, Golden, Colo., ’62 Catalina, M/SA, 12.356, -0.964
4) Rachelle Thibert, Louisburg, Kan., ’81 Malibu, K/SA, 12.162, -0.948
5) Stephen Hagberg, Berthoud, Colo., ’67 Plymouth, A/SA, 10.454, -0.946
6) Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., ’19 Cobra JET, FS/AA, 8.824, -0.916
7) Donald Morris, Golden, Colo., ’66 Dodge, A/SA, 10.490, -0.910
8) Brent Kopejtka, Norfolk, Neb., ’86 Charger, EF/S, 17.187, -0.903
9) Bob Swan, Belle Fourche, S.D., ’67 Shelby, C/SA, 10.922, -0.888
10) Mike Rezny, Denver, Colo., ’10 Challenger, FS/D, 10.094, -0.886
TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Jake Neibauer, Billings, Mont., ’63 Corvette, 6.976 seconds, 196.27 mph
2) Bryan Warr, Riverton, Utah, ’69 Camaro, 7.133, 193.71
3) Ken Ratzloff, Idaho Falls, Idaho, ’53 Studebaker, 7.154, 192.08
4) Ed Olpin, Plesant Grove, Calif., ’68 Camaro, 7.233, 190.27
5) Shawn Herbst, Selah, Wash., ’68 Firebird, 7.302, 191.87
6) Richard Okerman, Torrance, Calif., ’89 Chevrolet, 7.396, 186.38
7) Peyton Farnsworth, Billings, Mont., ’01 S10, 7.556, 141.80
8) Benji Martin, Yakima, Wash., ’63 Corvette, 7.656, 180.21
9) Patrick Warr, Erda, Utah, ’19 Corvette, 7.842, 183.59
TOP DRAGSTER
1) Ross Gregory, Brighton, Colo., ’18 Dragster, 6.144 seconds, 230.37 mph
2) Anita Strasburg, Mapleton, Utah, ’19 Neil & Parks, 6.183, 236.01
3) Chad Robertson, Belgrade, Mont., ’13 Undercover, 6.236, 221.85
4) Jamie Caudill, Parker, Colo., ’18 Bakx, 6.246, 220.73
5) Bradley Johnson, Morrison, Colo., ’13 M&M, 6.262, 217.28
6) Bryant Farnsworth, Billings, Mont., ’15 Spitzer, 6.393, 206.76
7) Victoria Johnson, Arvada, Colo., ’15 BOS, 6.434, 212.16
8) Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, Colo., ’05 Don Davis, 6.604, 204.29
9) Dawn Barth, Greeley, Colo., ’16 Bos Dragster, 6.740, 199.40
10) Nick Axtman Jr, Silverdale, Wash., ’19 TNT, 6.749, 202.48
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Leonard Fox, Aurora, Colo., ’00 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.002 seconds reaction time
2) Felicia Olsen, Littleton, Colo., ’88 Ninja, SMC, 0.003
3) Larry Mota, Orem, Utah, ’95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.010
4) Michael Voss, Maplewood, Minn., dragster, SMC, 0.010
5) Craig Jensen, Chubback, Idaho, ’00 Polaris, SMC, 0.023
6) Bruce Sampson, Forest Lake, Minn., ’99 Suzuki, SMC, 0.024
7) Alex Barmettler, Maplewood, Minn., ’78 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.030
8) Kahea Woods, North Las Vegas, Nev., ’95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.034
9) Don Depeel, Gladstone, Ore., ’74 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.035
10) Cameron Belisle, Columbus, Minn., ’00 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.040
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— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) August 28, 2020
