Defending NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion Bill Reichert reset both ends
of the national record in a dominating win at this past weekend's O'Reilly
Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Reichert, in his Rislone Engine
Treatment sponsored A/Fuel Dragster ran the quickest pass in the history of the
class with a 5.103 second pass in the semifinals, then followed that with the
fastest pass in class history with a 284.75 mph blast in the final.
Reichert, from Owosso, Mich., qualified No. 1 with
a 5.230 at 278.17 mph. In round one, he took out Vitali Kazakevich wit ha 5.258
at 282.01 mph, which reset the national speed record at the time. He then
avenged a recent final round loss to Randy Meyer in Gainesville by taking him
out in the second round with a 5.258 at 268.01 mph. He then fired a shot heard
around the Top Alcohol Dragster world with a stunning 5.103 at 281.54 mph in
defeating Duane Shields in the semifinals.
Reichert's final round opponent would be Spencer
Massey, who finished third in the nation last season. In what was a rematch of
last year's season-closing final in Pomona turned the same result as Reichert
thundered to a 5.153 at 284.75 mph to defeat Massey's 5.330 at 264.13 mph.
Reichert also won this event last season.