NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Devin Isenhower, Jeff Hefler, Joe McLaughlin, and Don Depeel claimed National Championships in the Summit Racing Series at the Dodge NHRA Finals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Division 4’s Hefler won the National Championship for the third time, adding to the titles he won in 2013 and 2016. The former Stock eliminator world champ, making his ninth appearance at the Summit shootout, drove brother Jeromy’s Chevy II to a final-round victory over Division 3’s Derick Adams, using a better starting-lien reaction to collect the win.

Isenhower, the 2018 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world champion in Super Gas, made the trip from Lebanon, Ind., worthwhile, driving his dragster to the Super Pro title after Division 6’s Ken Sweo red-lighted by .001-second in the final round.

Joe McLaughlin made a long tow from Pottstown, Pa. pay off by winning the Sportsman championship in his ’80 Nova, beating Division 4’s Justin Cervantes and his Texas-based ‘76 Camaro. McLaughlin was just .003-second over his 13.53 prediction to take the win.

Gladstone, Ore.’s Don Depeel took a stunning victory in the Motorcycle class with his ’74 Kawasaki after a tardy reaction time that gave Division 2’s Robert Meeks a seemingly unbeatable lead, but Meeks broke out with a 9.23 on his 9.32 dial in to allow Meeks to win the title.

Each of the 2020 national champions will receive $5,000, an NHRA Gold Card, a champion’s trophy, and a jacket.