NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Preview | Recap

ATCO, N.J. – Shayne Beck, Matt Ricchezza, Faith Warner and Don Hookway each grabbed big wins at the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals and will now head to Pomona, Calif., and the Summit National Championship. Racers from host track Atco Dragway racked up 60 points to take the Team Championship 
 
Jim Larro, Vineland, N.J., had a near perfect .002 second reaction time on Beck out of Narvon, Pa., and Maple Grove Raceway but Beck was better at the top end in the Super Pro final to take the win in his ’99 dragster. Beck clocked in at 7.937 seconds, 157.23 mph to Larro’s 7.966 at 170.64.
 
In Pro ET it was Ricchezza out of the gate first with the holeshot on Chris Cassidy as Ricchezza crossed the strip ahead of Cassidy in his ’93 Mustang. Ricchezza’s 10.031, 130.76 took out Cassidy’s 10.091, 132.10 and his ‘86 Monte Carlo.
 
Warner and Hookway hoisted the NHRA Wally trophies in Street and Motorcycle respectively. Warner, running for Mason-Dixon Dragway, had a great .006 second reaction time then held on for the win over Jonathan Northrop of Numidia Dragway running 12.219, 101.65 to the quicker 11.608, 112.38.
 
Hookway went 9.585 at 144.75 on his victory lap went Barry Stephens Sr. turned on the red light by just .002 seconds. Hookway, Flanders, N.J., was running for Island Dragway as was Stephens from Lafayette, N.J.
 
In the High School competition it was Steve Dustin III, Westminster, Md., and Mason-Dixon Dragway upending Josephine Mallow, Beallsville, Md., and South Mountain Dragway. Dustin went 16.126 at 73.60 mph for the win over Mallow’s 13.225, 105.21.
 
Atco Dragway racers gathered up 60 points in the Team Championship and held off Maple Grove Raceway who finished second at 57 followed by Island Dragway and Lebanon Valley Dragway at 44 and 43.
 
In Friday’s Race of Champions competition Nelson Belot Jr. and Aaron Vittorini both won close final rounds in Pro and Motorcycle respectively. Rich Pennington, Barto, Pa., was out first on Belot, Dalton, Mass., but Belot chased him down for the win by just 5 inches running 9.048, 145.52 to Pennington’s 9.598, 140.96. 
 
Austin Youndt, Stevens, Pa., took the early lead on Vittorini, Pennsville, N.J., only to watch Vittorini come by for the win in 8.804 seconds at 153 mph on his ZX 14 to Youndt’s 9.012, 143.75 on an ’05 Suzuki.
 
Ray Knight took the Race of Champions Super Pro trophy home to Fall River, Mass., and New England Dragway with a pass of 9.687 at 138.69 in his ’93 Mustang after Roger Lewis, Bunker Hill, W.V., fouled at the start.
 
In the Street ROC final Jonathan Gagnon, Pleasant Valley, Conn., was better at both ends of the track in beating out Ray Williams Jr. Gagnon running for Lebanon Valley Dragway clocked in at 12.026 on the 12.02 dial while Williams of Cecil County Dragway tripped the clocks at 11.905, 111.95 for his runner-up finish.
 
The following are the final results from the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals at Atco Dragway:
 
SUPER PRO
Shayne Beck, Narvon, Pa., '99 Precision, 7.937, 157.23 def. Jim Larro, Vineland, N.J., Grand Prix, 7.966, 170.64. 
 
PRO ET
Matt Ricchezza, '93 Mustang, 10.031, 130.76 def. Chris Cassidy, Ringoes, N.J., '86 Monte Carlo, 10.091, 132.10. 
 
SPORTSMAN
Faith Warner, Keymar, Md., Mustang, 12.219, 101.65 def. Jonathan Northrop, Perkasie, Pa., Camaro, 11.608, 112.38. 
 
ET MOTORCYCLE
Don Hookway, Flanders, N.J., '07 Hyabusa, 9.585, 144.75 def. Barry Stephens Sr., Lafayette, N.J., '85 Suzuki, foul. 
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Steve Dustin III, Westminster, Md., Grand Am, 16.126, 73.60 def. Josephine Mallow, Beallsville, Md., ’94 Camaro, 13.225, 105.21
 
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Atco Dragway: 60
Maple Grove Raceway:   57
Island Dragway:   44
Lebanon Valley Dragway  43
Numidia Dragway:  41
Mason-Dixon Dragway:  41
Cecil County Dragway:   41
Alternates Team:  38
New England Dragway:  37
Esta Safety Park:  27
South Mountain Dragway 18
Team Canada:  5
 
The following are Friday's final results from the 2018 NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Race of Champions:
 
SUPER PRO
Ray Knight, Fall River, Mass., '93 Ford Mustang, 9.687, 138.68 def. Roger Lewis, Bunker Hill, W.V., Chevelle, foul. 
 
PRO ET
Nelson Belot Jr., Dalton, Mass., Cutlass, 9.048, 145.52 def. Rich Pennington, Barto, Pa., '68 PLY, 9.598, 140.96. 
 
STREET ET
Jonathan Gagnon, Pleasant Valley, Conn., Dart, 12.026, 109.04 def. Ray Williams Jr., Reistertown, Md., '95 Camaro, 11.905, 111.95. 
 
ET MOTORCYCLE
Aaron Vittorini, Pennsville, N.J., ZX14, 8.804, 153.00 def. Austin Youndt, Stevens, Pa., '05 Suzuki, 9.012, 143.75. 

PREVIEW

ATCO, N.J. – NHRA’s top drag racers from tracks across the Northeast division will be at Atco Dragway to square off in head-to-head competition at the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals, Sept. 20-22. Top points earning drivers in five classes will be on hand to compete for team and individual honors. Racers in Super Pro, Pro, Street, Bike/Sled and High School will compete in the event. 

Friday’s action will feature the Race of Champions where top point earners from each track will face off in a best of the best battle in Super Pro, Pro, Street and Bike/Sled.  Event eliminations kick off on Saturday with more than 500 racers competing for top honors and a chance to compete for the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship in California at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in November. Saturday’s winners in Super Pro, Pro, Street, Bike/Sled will advance to Pomona, along with the winner in the Pro Race of Champions via a wild card drawing earlier this year. 

Gates at Atco Dragway will open at 7 a.m. each day. Time trials will start Thursday morning at 9 a.m. and continue Friday at 9 a.m. The first round of eliminations for the Race of Champions starts at 4 p.m. Friday. Final eliminations for all classes begin Saturday at 9 a.m. 

Atco Dragway is located at 1000 Jackson Road, Atco, N.J., 08004 For more information, please go to atcodragway.rocks or call 856-768-2167 and press 1.