There were only two Lucas Oil Sportsman Drag Racing Series categories in action Monday during the rain-delayed NHRA Great Lakes Nationals, but the storylines they delivered were enough for a full complement of classes.
Greg Hunter showed up at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park as a substitute driver and left with his first NHRA national event victory in his first final round. Curt Fredrich returned to a track where his Camaro debuted 17 years ago, won his second national event of the season and walked away as the new Top Sportsman points leader.
Not bad for a Monday makeup show.
Hunter was filling in for Alan Bradshaw in Les Davenport’s Top Alcohol Dragster, and there was nothing temporary about the way he handled the assignment. He qualified third with a 5.231 at 277.61 mph and worked through four rounds before meeting John Paul Gutierrez in the final.
Gutierrez never gave himself a chance, leaving .025-second too soon. Hunter was clean with a .068 reaction time and finished the job with a 5.221 at 275.40 mph.
It gave Hunter his first Wally in his first final-round appearance and made him the first Sportsman national event winner crowned at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park during NHRA’s inaugural Great Lakes Nationals.
“Man, it’s an absolute honor,” Hunter said. “It’s an absolute honor to be at this racetrack and be with this team.”
The moment hit Hunter hard before he gathered himself and made sure the people responsible for getting him into the car shared the victory.
“I have to thank my wife, Stacy. She’s been with me all through this craziness and comes with me,” Hunter said. “I have to thank Doug for giving me the call to fill in this weekend, and Ken Murray, Les Davenport, Wayne, Roger and Dennis.
“Everybody that I’ve ever raced with, I feel is a part of this through my whole career. Man, I’m just going to soak it in tonight. We’re just loving it. I’m so happy. Thank you.”
Hunter’s road to the final included victories over Mitch Kalitta, Julie Noonan and Jared Dreher. He ran between 5.218 and 5.274 during eliminations, saving one of his quickest runs of the weekend for the final.
Fredrich’s Top Sportsman victory came with considerably larger championship implications.
The Wisconsin racer entered the event fourth in points and left Martin at the top after defeating Bob Mandell III in the final.
Fredrich grabbed a .031-to-.065 starting-line advantage and ran 6.529 on his 6.52 dial to beat Mandell’s 6.299 on a 6.25 dial.
It was Fredrich’s fifth career national event victory, his second this season and continued a stretch in which he has won three of his last four races.
“Oh, this is amazing. We’ve won three of the last four races out,” Fredrich said. “We are just so blessed. I don’t even begin to know what to say anymore.”
The setting supplied another layer to Fredrich’s victory.
His Camaro made its competition debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park 17 years ago during the IHRA Northern Nationals. The same car returned Monday and won the inaugural NHRA national event at the facility, with Fredrich taking the championship lead in the process.
“We raced one of our best friends here in the final. Man, it’s just crazy stuff going on,” Fredrich said. “Bob and Bob and Jeff, Bob’s Profab, Vince at VRN, Charlie at ATD, all excellent people that help us.
“And my wife for sure. She’s standing here trying to get my attention. You ought to see all the work she does. Thank you so much to everyone.
“And Larry, I wish you were here, my friend.”
The rain-delayed weekend still isn’t completely finished for two other Sportsman categories.
Top Alcohol Funny Car is on hold until the NHRA Texas FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex, where Sean Bellemeur will race Phil Esz for the title. Factory Stock Showdown, which made it down to four cars at Martin, will finish during the NHRA Midwest Nationals in two weeks at St. Louis.
