NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Reigning and now two-time Top Alcohol Dragster champion Megan Meyer and outgoing Top Alcohol Funny Car title holder Sean Bellemeur wrapped up the 2020 season with victories at the Dodge NHRA Finals presented by Pennzoil. Alcohol racing’s dynamic duo shared the spotlight in Las Vegas with fellow race winners Cody Lane (Comp), Terry Emmons (Super Stock), Justin Lamb (Stock), Marko Perivolaris (Super Comp), Mike Boehner (Super Gas), Don Meziere (Top Sportsman), and Bradley Johnson (Top Dragster). 

Meyer, who earlier this season announced her retirement from active competition, won for the 13th time in her Top Alcohol Dragster career and third this season when she beat four-time champion Joey Severance in the final round. Meyer opened eliminations with a 5.15, the quickest run of the event, in her win against Johnny Ahten, and then settled into a comfortable 5.2-seocnd pace for the remainder of the race. In what may well be the final race of her career, Meyer drove to a 5.200 at 281.07 mph to outrun Severance, who grabbed a huge lead at the start thanks to a .015 light, but quickly fell off the pace. [video]

Bellemeur now has an even 20 Top Alcohol Funny Car wins since his first in 2015 following his final-round win over Bob McCosh. Bellemeur drove the Bartone Bros/Hussey Performance Camaro to a 5.500 for the win, scoring on a slight holeshot against McCosh’s 5.499. Earlier, Bellemeur ran low elapsed time of the race with a 5.45 and he’s now won the last three fall events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. [video]

Another driver who has enjoyed a fair amount of success in Las Vegas is Comp winner Lane, who’s now got four victories at the famed Strip. Lane, a Vegas winner in 2013, 2016, and 2019, put his E/SMA Cavalier into the winner’s circle following a final round win against Doug Engels. Lane powered to a (-.526) 8.504 following a .009 light to best Engels (-.491) 7.279. Lane got to the final round with his index intact after his first three opponents all red-lighted while Engels lost .16-hundredths to earlier CIC penalties. [video]

Terry Emmons won the Denso U.S. Nationals earlier this season to score his first national event victory since the 2012 season. His most recent win came much more quickly after he put his Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest.com entry into the Super Stock winner’s circle following a win against newly crowned world champ Bryan Worner. The final ended quickly after Worner red-lighted with a -.010 light. Emmons also left early but by then the race was over. Emmons now has eight national event wins to his credit. [video]

Although he ultimately came up short, Lamb kept his hopes for a sixth Stock world title intact when he won his 27th national event title and seventh in Las Vegas. In the final round, Lamb drove his COPO Camaro to a coasting 10.20 on his 10.05 dial after Mike Cotten missed his dial. A round earlier, Lamb defeated Comp winner Cody Lane, preventing a potential double victory. Lamb also flirted with a perfect run in his quarterfinal win against John McLaughlin. [video]

Perivolaris successfully defended his 2019 Las Vegas title in Super Comp when he stopped Steve Casner in the final round. Perivolaris got a free ride after Casner fouled and then highlighted the win with a 9.052 on the 9.05 index. Perivolaris also cut a .004 light in the quarterfinals and a .001 in the semifinals in his wins against Bradley Johnson and Dylan Hough. [video]

Reigning Division 7 Super Gas champ Boehner picked up his national event win by driving his Camaro past Roger Kato in the final. Kato fouled, ending the race early while Boehner drove to a 10.01 on the 10.05 index for the win. Boehner also defeated newly crowned world champ Rick Cates and veteran Larry Scarth on his way to the title. [video]

The final round in Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers went to Don Meziere after a solid performance against Bryan Warr. Meziere, the winner of the Pomona event at the start of the season, coupled a .010 light with a 6.960 on his 6.93 dial for the win after Warr missed the Tree slightly with a .043, negating his perfect 7.007 on his 7.00 dial. A round earlier, Meziere downed Darian Boesch, who had earlier locked up the world championship. [video]

After previous wins in Super Gas and Super Comp, Johnson is now a victor in Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers after driving past Al Kenny in the final round. Johnson, a leading contender for the world championship, won with a 6.31 on his 6.21 dial after Kenny slowed. Johnson reached the final after wins against Art Hoover and Jeff Koron. [video]