Melanie Johnson earned her first NHRA national event victory, Justin Picillo clinched the Super Stock championship, and Ed Olpin collected his 12th career Wally as the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals completed six of seven scheduled sportsman finals over Sunday and Monday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Sunday’s program produced victories in Stock Eliminator and Super Comp before high winds and falling temperatures forced NHRA officials to stop racing with Super Stock next on the schedule. Four additional categories crowned winners Monday, while the Top Alcohol Funny Car final between Sean Bellemeur and Annie Whiteley was postponed until the upcoming NHRA Division 7 event in Las Vegas.
Johnson defeated Jackie Fricke in the Top Alcohol Dragster final with a 5.201-second pass at 274.50 mph, the quickest run of the event. Both drivers posted identical .060 reaction times, but Johnson took the lead early and never trailed.
The victory gave Johnson her first national event Wally in her second career final-round appearance. She qualified No. 1 with a 5.205 at 273.55 mph before defeating Angelle Sampey, Randy Eakins and Nicky Januik to reach the final.
“This win feels so special. My guys have been working incredibly hard all year to get this car where it’s at right now,” Johnson said. “It felt like it was only a matter of time before it all came together. And despite running the final on Monday, it’s still a double-up with my dad and Doug (Kalitta)! I will definitely remember this first National event win forever!”
Picillo had more than an event trophy riding on his Super Stock final against Carl Youngstrom. He left Las Vegas with his third career national event victory and the Super Stock championship after taking the starting-line advantage.
Picillo reacted in .012 seconds and ran 9.526 at 133.99 mph on a 9.52 dial-in, finishing just .006 over. Youngstrom posted a .029 reaction time but broke out with a 9.338 at 143.31 mph on a 9.35 dial.
Picillo qualified 59th before working through Brad Sherwood, Brian Worner, Don Thomas, Kevin Mozeris and Scott Burton. His championship-clinching victory came from one of the lower qualifying positions in the field.
Olpin collected his 12th national event victory in Top Sportsman, defeating Aaron Steinkey with a .025 reaction time and a 6.993 at 189.55 mph on a 6.93 dial. Steinkey reacted in .035 seconds and ran 6.436 at 224.85 mph on a 6.15 dial, leaving Olpin with the better package.
Olpin qualified 21st and defeated Fred Rodrigues, Mark Austin and Bryan Warr during eliminations. A second-round bye also helped carry him into the final.
Nick Alejandre earned his second career national event victory in Super Gas when Jordan Pratt broke out in the final. Pratt left first with a .013 reaction to Alejandre’s .024 but ran 10.044 at 164.67 mph, slipping .006 under the 10.05 index.
Alejandre stayed above the index with a 10.066 at 131.08 mph, finishing .016 over. The victory completed a seven-round eliminations schedule for the No. 7 qualifier.
Before Sunday’s weather shutdown, Jeff Adkinson collected his seventh career national event victory in Stock Eliminator, defeating Justin Lamb in a final decided by dial-in accuracy. Adkinson ran 9.437 at 138.91 mph on a 9.42 dial, while Lamb posted a 9.625 at 128.21 mph on a 9.59 dial.
Toby Payne also completed his Super Comp final Sunday, earning his first national event Wally in his first final-round appearance. Payne ran 9.086 at 158.76 mph against the 9.05 index to defeat Blu Hayball, who posted a 9.196 at 155.19 mph.
By the time Adkinson won Sunday’s Stock final, the temperature was down to 56 degrees and the wind wasn’t letting up. Super Stock was next, but NHRA called it a day and brought the remaining finalists back Monday, except for Sean Bellemeur and Annie Whiteley, whose Top Alcohol Funny Car final was moved to the Division 7 event as well as Mike Dahl and Chris Lane whose Comp Eliminator final will be run there as well.
