Phil Unruh arrived at the NHRA Summit Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, chasing one Wally trophy. He left the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event carrying two, making history in the process.
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Unruh became the 31st driver in NHRA history to double up at a national event, winning both Super Comp and Super Gas. The accomplishment also made him the first driver to claim victories in two categories during NHRA’s 75th-anniversary season, featuring the Diamond Wally trophies.
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The double wasn’t easy for him. In Super Comp, Unruh overcame Howie Smith in the final round after Smith held the starting-line advantage but gave up too much finish-line margin. The victory was the 10th national event title of Unruh’s career.
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A few rounds later, Unruh completed the sweep by defeating Raymond Miller in the Super Gas final. This time, Unruh won both ends of the racetrack, leaving first and driving to his 11th career Wally.
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The achievement marked just the 47th double-up in NHRA national event history, placing Unruh in one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs.
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While Unruh made history, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series delivered another memorable storyline.
Top Alcohol Funny Car veteran Doug Gordon defeated Sean Bellemeur in the final round to earn his second victory of the season and the 28th national event title of his career. Bellemeur smoked the tires almost immediately, allowing Gordon to drive straight down the groove while, later in the afternoon, daughter Maddi Gordon advanced to the Top Fuel final in professional competition.
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For years, Gordon was known as one of Top Alcohol Funny Car’s toughest competitors. On Sunday, he added another chapter to a family legacy already making headlines across the NHRA tour.
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Top Alcohol Dragster produced another veteran winner.
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Matthew Cummings defeated Jamie Noonan to earn his first victory of the season and the ninth national event title of his career. Cummings gained a slight starting-line advantage and never trailed, reversing a winless record against Noonan entering the final.
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One of the day’s most popular victories belonged to Sadie Glenn.
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Known by many around the pits as the social media force behind KB Titan Racing and the wife of Pro Stock standout Dallas Glenn, Sadie Glenn earned her first NHRA national event victory by capturing the Top Dragster title. Glenn reached her first final round and claimed the victory when Kenny Carson fouled at the starting line.
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The emotional win came after two seasons spent sorting out the combination.
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“I’m exhausted, but in a good way,” Glenn said. “These are all a lot heavier than I expected.”
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“I was bummed about Dallas having the fuel leak, and I was like, ‘Uh-oh, it’s all on me. Don’t mess us up too bad,'” Glenn added. “We struggled the first two years with this car and we kind of just decided to stop reinventing the wheel and go basic with it. It’s run great ever since.”
Factory Stock Showdown added another chapter to the Dietsch family’s Norwalk weekend.
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After Jason Dietsch claimed the No. 1 qualifying position, Taylor Dietsch delivered on race day, defeating points leader Jonathan Allegrucci to secure his third national event victory and first of the season with a starting-line advantage that proved decisive.
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Competition Eliminator belonged to Peter D’Agnolo, who earned his seventh career national event victory when Al Ackerman fouled in the final round.
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Brenda Grubbs added her fifth career Wally in Super Stock after Ron Richards left the line early, while Matt Antrobius celebrated the biggest victory of his career in Stock Eliminator by winning his first national event in his first final-round appearance.
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Two more first-time finalists left Norwalk with Wally trophies.
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Alex Miller earned his first national event victory in Top Sportsman after Glenn Butcher was unable to answer the call for the final round. Victor Marqua closed out the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action by winning Super Street in his first career final round, driving dead-on his dial-in to defeat Phil Smida.
