Cowie, Sorenson score championship-critical wins in Las Vegas
With his milestone 25th career win, Shawn Cowie jumped into the favorite’s role to win the Top Alcohol Dragster world championship, completing his race weekend with a final-round victory over outgoing world champ Julie Nataas, who lost traction early.
Sean Bellemeur defeated Maddi Gordon in the delayed final of the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. The final took place in round two of the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals where, by happenstance, they also were paired. Both cars shook the tires at the start, but Bellemeur was able to recover more quickly to post a 5.59 victory.
A day after runner-upping in the RoofTec Comp Clash, Taylor Chomiski went the distance in the main event, wheeling his Cip1 Cobalt to an easy final-round win, his first in national event competition, after Scott Linder fouled.
Brett Speer won his sixth national event title, and his first outside of Brainerd, when he stopped championship contender Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. in the delayed final round. Speer made his best run in the final with a .003 light and a 10.306 on his 10.29 dial.
Joe Sorensen scored a clutch win that may well lead to the world championship in Stock after he defeated Chad Langdon in a heads-up F/SA final, 11.161 to 11.267. Sorenson has won three events in six finals this season and has topped the 700-point threshold.
Michael Handras collected his third career win and his first west of the Mississippi when he defeated third-generation racer Toby Payne in the final round, which was contested a week later at the Division 7 finale in Las Vegas.
Josh Dalrymple scored his first win in Super Gas and the second of his career, winning a double-breakout bout with Rodger Sauder, 10.019 to 10.008 on the 10.05 altitude index.