NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 30th annual NHRA SpringNationals was in full effect this past weekend at Royal Purple Raceway. Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., and Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., led the winner’s circle for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Fans in attendance were treated to a special champions battle in the Top Alcohol Dragster final round, featuring 2016 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national champions, Joey Severance and Mia Tedesco, Murrysville, Pa. Tedesco took home the 2016 LODRS Super Gas crown; Severance the Top Alcohol Dragster title. Severance had the better reaction time at .014 and never let up, earning the win at 5.203 seconds, 275.39 mph. Tedesco tripped the clocks at 5.445 seconds, 264.70 mph.

California drivers, Doug Gordon and Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., squared off in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final round. Gordon grabbed the starting-line advantage, and Payne had issues from the start. Gordon recorded his career quickest and fastest pass, along with the quickest and fastest pass of the weekend for the win; 5.428 seconds, 272.12 mph. Payne finished at 11.171 seconds, 66.34 mph.

Kevin Helms, Schriver, La., nearly doubled up, winning the Stock Eliminator final round against Austin Ford, Spring, Texas, by running 10.096, 121.74. But Helms fell short in Super Stock against Norvell Bowers, Sulphur Springs, Texas. Bowers recorded his winning pass at 10.587, 124.18 vs. Helms’ 9.383, 130.15.

Alan Savage, Mexia, Texas, and Britt Cummings, Hammond, La., collided in the final round of Super Comp. Savage had the better light and took home the national event Wally trophy, running 8.888, 182.01. Cummings finished at 8.876, 166.23.

The Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs final round featured a battle for Texas bragging rights when J.R. Baxter, Waxahachie, and William Kruse of Alvin, squared off. Kruse went red at the line, getting off too early by just .004-second, giving the Baxter the win and third in a row in Top Dragster at the SpringNationals. Baxter finished at 6.130, 227.31. Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., grabbed the lead and the winning pass at 6.479, 195.68, to defeat Vince Hoda, D’Iberville, Miss., 6.851, 198.93; in the Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs championship round.

Jay Turner, Julian, N.C., continued his strong defense of his 2016 NHRA Top Fuel Harley championship, recording a pass of 6.219, 222.47 to defeat Bob Malloy, Glen Mills, Pa., who clocked a 6.312, 209.88.

The other drivers visiting the winner’s circle were Steve Collier in Super Gas and Chris Vang in Super Street.

The following are the final results from the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Joey Severance, 5.203, 275.39 def.
Mia Tedesco, 5.445, 264.70

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Doug Gordon, ’15 Camaro, 5.428, 272.12 def.
Jay Payne, ’17 Camaro, 11.171, 66.34

SUPER STOCK
Norvell Bowers, ’83 Firebird, 10.587 124.18 def.
Kevin Helms, ’10 Challenger, 9.383, 130.15

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Kevin Helms, ’13 Challenger, 10.096, 121.74 def.
Austin Ford, ’16 Mustang, 9.632, 131.56

SUPER COMP
Alan Savage, 8.888, 182.01 def.
Britt Cummings, 8.876, 166.23

SUPER GAS
Steve Collier, ’72 Vega, 9.900, 167.66 def.
Roger Warren, ’63 Corvette, 9.899, 162.00

SUPER STREET
Chris Vang, ’67 Chevelle, 10.834, 137.72 def.
Val Harmon, ’67 Nova, 10.876, 152.99

TOP SPORTSMAN
Keith Raftery, ’68 Camaro, 6.479, 195.68 def.
Vince Hoda, ’68 Camaro, 6.851, 198.93

TOP DRAGSTER
J.R. Baxter, 6.130, 227.31 def.
William Kruse, foul

TOP FUEL HARLEY
Jay Turner, ’17 Triple J, 6.219, 222.47 def.
Bob Malloy, ’04 Buell, 6.312, 209.88