NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

David Kramer may be best known throughout NHRA circles as the father of current Pro Stock championship contender Deric Kramer, but he’s also got a lengthy resumé of his own including the Comp title at the 2002 Denver race. David is now a winner in the SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown after driving his COPO Camaro to a final round win over Arthur Kohn at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. Kramer left the starting line with a perfect .000 reaction time and ran an 8.022 to hold off Kohn’s quicker 8.013.

“This all started out when [Pro Stock racers] Jason Line and Greg Anderson and I talked about trying to get one of these Factory Showdown cars; they said it would be something fun to do between rounds of Pro Stock,” said Kramer. “Originally, we got it for my daughter, Daria. She graduated from college this year and she’s racing our other COPO [Camaro] in Stock. I decided I’d just get in it and pilot it for a while.

“It’s a handful but it’s so darn much fun, they’re going to have a hard time getting me out of it. Actually, I guess I’m pretty good at it, it looks like. I cut some .20 and teen [lights] and a trip zip in the final. Jason and Greg did a great job on the motor. Mike Hiner, our crew chief on the Pro Stock car has been involved and Chris Vang, our clutch guy has also helped out along with my daughter, Daria, who always works on the car. She got to work on my car this weekend since her Stocker is sitting at home. It’s been pretty exciting. I can tell you that for sure.”

Kramer, didn’t qualify in his Factory Stock debut in Topeka, but he’s been competitive in his two other appearances in Norwalk and Indy. During qualifying in St. Louis, Kramer was eighth-quickest with a 7.98. Kramer kicked off eliminations with wins over David Janac, and Topeka winner Stephen Bell. Kramer left first with a sharp .012 light against semifinal opponent Jesse Alexandra and held on for an 8.019 to 7.999 holeshot win.

Kohn, a runner-up in Topeka and Indianapolis, was the third-quickest qualifier in his Stanfield-powered COPO Camaro and made his way to the final with wins against David Barton, reigning series champ Leah Pritchett, and low qualifier Drew Skillman. Kohn not only left first against Skillman’s Cobra Jet Mustang, but also outran him ,7.9988 to 7.996. Despite the loss, Skillman has all but mathematically locked up the 2019 SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock championship. He needs only to make a qualifying attempt at the next race in Dallas to make it official.