BELLE ROSE, La. - Austin Williams collected his second trophy in as many days when he captured the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals Super Gas title after winning the NHRA Moser Sportsman Shootout the day before at No Problem Raceway Park, and Anthony Bertozzi won from both the driver's seat and as a car owner for a double victory of his own.
Williams, of Burleson, Texas, held on in a close one to beat local racer Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., of Donaldsonville, La., in Stock eliminator, covering the quarter-mile in 10.778 seconds in his '72 Duster less than 24 hours after he beat Jeff Lopez in the Moser Shootout.
Defending event champion Bertozzi, of Ashland, Va., picked up where he left off a year ago, working his way through eliminations before defeating Mark Jones, of Marrero, La., in the division's Sunset Racecraft Top Dragster class, 6.789, 174.84 to 6.745, 202.33. He then watched as John Labbous knocked out Lopez in the Super Gas final driving Bertozzi's '66 Corvette. Labbous, of White House, Tenn., went 9.902 seconds on the 9.90 index for the win and the trophy.
David Rampy raced to his 83rd NHRA national event win in his familiar '32 roadster. The Piedmont, Ala., racer went 7.866 seconds against Justin Rosen, of Harahan, La., who left early with a red-light.
Greg Parsons picked up his second national event win with a .010 package, combining a .002-second reaction time with a 10.908 run against Marvin Allemand, of Raceland, La. Parsons is the only active three-time defending South Central Division champion.
John Brener and Randal Guitreau made sure that some of the hardware stayed in the home state by winning in Super Comp and Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley-Davidson. Brener, of Bush, La., beat out fellow Louisiana racer Jackson Collier, of West Monroe, and Guitreau, of Prairieville, La., held on to win against Mike Voss on his '00 Kawasaki.
Harvey Emmons III and Vince Hoda rounded out the list of winners. Emmons, of Friendswood, Texas, knocked out Brandon Bakies, of Alexander, La., in Super Stock in the last final of the day, and Hoda, of Diamondhead, Miss., outran Joe Pigford, 6.938, 196.44 to 7.013, 196.47, in the Orteq Top Sportsman final.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals event at No Problem Raceway Park:
COMP
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.866, 127.46 def.
Justin Rosen, Harahan, La., dragster, J/D, foul
SUPER STOCK
Harvey Emmons III, Friendswood, Texas, '05 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.332, 139.47 def.
Brandon Bakies, Alexandria, La., '14 Camaro, SS/CA, 9.401, 141.25
STOCK
Austin Williams, Burleson, Texas, '72 Duster, F/SA, 10.778, 120.66 def.
Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Donaldsonville, La., '04 GTO, F/SA, 10.756, 121.81
SUPER COMP
John Brener, Bush, La., dragster, 9.008, 157.85 def.
Jackson Collier, W. Monroe, La., dragster, foul.
SUPER GAS
John Labbous Jr., White House, Tenn., '66 Corvette, 9.902, 159.21 def.
Jeff Lopez, Bedford, Texas, '63 Corvette, 9.899, 158.82
SUPER STREET
Greg Parsons, Whitehouse, Texas, '77 Nova, 10.908, 137.20 def.
Marvin Allemand, Raceland, La., '05 Cavalier, 10.891, 130.59
TOP DRAGSTER
Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., dragster, 6.789, 174.84 def.
Mark Jones, Marrero, La., dragster, 6.745, 202.33
TOP SPORTSMAN
Vince Hoda, Diamondhead, Miss., '00 Firebird, 6.938, 196.44 def.
Joe Pigford, Pasadena, Texas, '13 Camaro, 7.013, 196.47
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE PRESENTED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Randal Guitreau, Prairieville, La., '00 Kawasaki, 9.322, 135.17 def.
Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '10 ZX-14, 9.280, 132.09
STOCK/SUPER STOCK CIC
Slate Cummings, Ponchatoula, La., '00 Corvette, B/SA, 10.138, 129.10 def.
Larry Stewart, Clinton, Miss., '10 Challenger, SS/IA, foul
KING OF THE BAYOU RUNOFF - Kade Albarado .123-second package
KING OF THE BAYOU SUPER COMP
Ryan Herem, Canyon Country, Calif., dragster, 8.903, 170.43 def.
Jonathan Robin, Luling, La., dragster, 8.911, 169.38
KING OF THE BAYOU SUPER GAS
Wes Neely, Florence, Miss., '67 Camaro, 10.010, 125.95 def.
Mark Skipper Jr., Transylvania, La., '70 Nova, 14.949, 103.95.
KING OF THE BAYOU SUPER STREET
Kade Albarado, Pierre Port, La., '99 Camaro, 10.725, 131.31 def.
Meyrl Dufrene Jr., Gheens, La., '96 Camaro, foul
KING OF THE BAYOU TOP SPORTSMAN
Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '12 GXP, 6.650, 210.57 def.
Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '68 Camaro, 7.577, 163.12
KING OF THE BAYOU TOP DRAGSTER
Samuel Patrick, Plaquemine, La., dragster, 6.779, 193.90 def.
Jeff Holloway, West Monroe, La., dragster, 6.521, 214.55
KING OF THE BAYOU MOTORCYCLE
Peter Pollet, Paulina, La., '88 Harley, 11.538, 112.98 def.
Richard LeBlanc, Prairieville, La., '00 GSX-R, broke
Friday
Williams scores Moser Shootout; Westcott takes Hemi 'Chootout'
BELLE ROSE, La. - Austin Williams took home the honors in the NHRA Moser Sportsman Shootout, and Charlie Westcott captured the inaugural Tim Hebert 'Chootout' in Friday's action for the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park.
Williams, of Burleson, Texas, qualified for the Moser Shootout specialty race in not one but two classes, running in both Stock eliminator and Super Comp. Williams defeated David Latino in the round-one Stock pairing but fell to former NHRA Lucas Oil world champion Jeff Lopez in the round-one Super Comp pairing. Lopez was also pulling double duty but lost to Jimmy Lewis in Super Gas round one.
Williams and Lopez were on opposite sides of the 16-car ladder and would both win their second- and third-round matches, setting up the final-round rematch, with Williams getting a second chance at Lopez. Williams was determined not to lose to Lopez a second time, taking the win in his '72 Duster with a 6.924 on his 6.91 dial.
Westcott, of Parma, Mich., outran Schriever, La., racer Joe Teuton as Westcott's War Fish '68 Barracuda went 8.314 seconds at 160.16 mph to Teuton's 8.461, 157.36 in his King Cuda '68 Barracuda. The event was held to honor Tim Hebert, who passed away suddenly last June at the age of 53 and was a regular at Hemi Shootouts across the country.
Leading qualifying today for the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals was Lake Charles, La., racer Keith Raftery in Orteq Top Sportsman with a lap of 6.351 seconds at 217.39 mph, followed by Earl Folse, of Raceland, La., in the No. 2 spot at 6.408, 219.04.
Kevin Self and Richard Edwards are on top in Comp eliminator and Sunset Racecraft Top Dragster, respectively. Self, of Caddo, Okla., went 7.656 seconds in his '32 roadster, and Edwards, of Terre Haute, Ind., covered the quarter-mile in 6.036 at 229.98 mph.
In Super Stock, Richard Rodgers, of Dearborn Heights, Mich., qualified No. 1 in his '12 Mustang, and Paul Candies, of Des Allemands, La., led more than 100 entries in Stock, running 9.817 seconds in his '10 Challenger.
With an unfavorable weather forecast for Sunday, NHRA and track officials have shifted the weekend's schedule, moving eliminations for this weekend's JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals to Saturday morning. Any new entries will be placed at the bottom of the class ladder for incomplete fields.
The annual specialty fun races conducted during the JEGS SPORTSnationals will be held Sunday as weather permits. These events include the King of the Bayou, Stock/Super Stock CIC race, and the Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Shootouts.
The following are Friday's final qualifying results from the 11th annual JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La.:
COMP
1) Kevin Self, Caddo, Okla., '32 Bantam, F/EA, 7.656 seconds, -0.764 (under index)
2) Justin Rosen, Harahan, La., dragster, J/D, 7.461, -0.749
3) Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '10 Cobalt, A/SMA, 7.802, -0.688
4) Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., dragster, F/ED, 7.954, -0.676
5) Ray Skillman, Greenwood, Ind., '14 Mustang, C/AA, 7.235, -0.675
6) Drew Skillman, Greenwood, Ind., '06 Cobalt, E/SMA, 8.310, -0.650
7) Steve Szupka, Willow Grove, Pa., '32 Bantam, G/EA, 8.106, -0.634
8) Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, J/AA, 7.725, -0.625
9) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.229, -0.611
10) Duane Robison, Gardner, Kan., '09 GXP, C/A, 7.284, -0.606
SUPER STOCK
1) Rick Rodgers, Dearborn Heights, Mich., '12 Mustang, SS/BA, 8.727 seconds, -1.173 (under index)
2) Bill Skillman, Greenwood, Ind., '12 Mustang, SS/BA, 8.735, -1.165
3) Jeff Colvert, Arkadelphia, Ark., '69 Mustang, SS/F, 9.200, -1.150
4) Brett Candies, Thibodaux, La., '10 Mustang, SS/DA, 9.066, -1.134
5) Jarod Granier, Labadieville, La., '66 Chevy II, SS/F, 9.278, -1.072
6) Kevin Helms, Schriever, La., '11 Challenger, SS/DA, 9.148, -1.052
7) Marion Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind., '90 Sunbird, GT/GA, 9.855, -1.045
8) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '05 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.383, -1.017
9) Mike Bryant, New Orleans, La., '08 G5, GT/FA, 9.798, -1.002
10) Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City, La., '82 Camaro, GT/FA, 9.800, -1.000
STOCK
1) Billy Lynn, McRae, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.405 seconds, -1.245 (under index)
2) Dean Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.453, -1.197
3) Paul Candies, Des Allemands, La., '10 Challenger, A/SA, 9.817, -1.183
4) Brian Massingill, Houston, '14 Camaro, CC/SA, 9.476, -1.124
5) Kevin Helms, Schriever, La., '10 Challenger, BB/SA, 9.191, -1.109
6) Wade Owens, Cape Girardeau, Mo., '66 Chevelle, N/SA, 11.914, -1.086
7) Patrick Courts, New Iberia, La., '87 Trans Am, N/SA, 11.954, -1.046
8) Ronald Temento, Westwego, La., '01 Firebird, N/SA, 11.969, -1.031
9) Brett Candies, Thibodaux, La., '12 Camaro, BB/SA, 9.277, -1.023
10) Eddie Brooks, Deer Park, N.Y., '10 Mustang, D/SA, 10.553, -0.997
TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '68 Camaro, 6.351 seconds, 217.39 mph
2) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., '68 Camaro, 6.408, 219.04
3) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '68 Camaro, 6.530, 211.46
4) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '06 Cobalt, 6.540, 210.60
5) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '13 Camaro, 6.627, 210.01
6) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '12 GXP, 6.629, 214.14
7) Ronnie Foret, Lafayette, La., '69 Camaro, 6.691, 204.82
8) Mario Boesch, Kenner, La., '03 Grand Am, 6.698, 210.83
9) Royce Freeman, Lindsay, Okla., '10 GXP, 6.738, 211.43
10) Curt Fredrich, Burlington, Wis., '68 Camaro, 6.768, 205.13
TOP DRAGSTER
1) Richard Edwards, Terre Haute, Ind., dragster, 6.036 seconds, 229.98 mph
2) Jenifer White, Conroe, Texas, dragster, 6.251, 212.76
3) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.256, 216.86
4) Don Aydelott, Vernon, Texas, dragster, 6.260, 223.84
5) Chase Murray, Orange, Texas, dragster, 6.269, 220.76
6) Fletcher LeJeune, Lafayette, La., dragster, 6.337, 213.91
7) Jeff Holloway, West Monroe, La., dragster, 6.430, 217.00
8) Richard Prince, Metairie, La., dragster, 6.452, 216.65
9) Michelle LeBleu, Lake Charles, La., dragster, 6.473, 210.77
10) Rob Moser, Portland, Ind., dragster, 6.500, 209.65
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE PRESENTED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON
1) Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '10 ZX-14, ETMX, 0.002-second reaction time
2) Derek Dorey, Kingswood, Texas, '03 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.003
3) Micheal Nash, Texarkana, Texas, '12 Koenig, ETMX, 0.005
4) Jason Clampit, Lind Lakes, Minn., '97 Buell, ETMX, 0.005
5) Joshua Guitreau, Prairieville, La., '96 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.006
6) Dean LeBlanc, New Iberia, La., '09 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.014
7) Robert Sanders, Katy, Texas, '82 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.019
8) Peter Pollet, Paulina, La., '88 Harley, ETMX, 0.020
9) Ronnie Harris, Metairie, La., '03 Harley, ETMX, 0.021
10) Randal Guitreau, Prairieville, La., '00 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.028
Preview
The 11th annual JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals heads to No Problem Raceway Park at Circuit Grand Bayou for the first of three JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals in 2014. Designed to showcase the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors, the program is slated for March 21-23, featuring drivers in nine categories who will vie for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships.
'We're glad to be able to offer our premier Sportsman racers a national event to call their own,' said Eric Lotz, NHRA director of field marketing and contingency programs. 'The three JEGS SPORTSnationals events are an opportunity for NHRA and some of our member tracks to put the spotlight on the dedicated men and women who make up our Sportsman ranks. That's also why JEGS makes the perfect partner for these events. They know and understand these racers and what goes into fielding a car week in and week out.'
Former SPORTSnationals winners include Darrell Gwynn, Dale Armstrong, Ken Veney, Frank Manzo, Mike Coughlin, and Jeg Coughlin Jr., along with Peter Biondo, Tommy Phillips, and Steve Szupka, who each doubled up, winning in two classes at the same SPORTSnationals event. Szupka did it last year in Comp and Stock.
The NHRA JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals boasts a guaranteed purse of more than $50,000, and competing classes include Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. The event will also include the division's popular Sunset Racecraft Top Dragster and Orteq Top Sportsman categories as well as Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley-Davidson.
While the focus of the event will be on competition in the core NHRA classes, other special attractions include Super Stock and Stock class eliminations, including SS/AH, featuring '68 Hemi Barracudas and Dodge Darts as well at the NHRA Moser Sportsman Shootout.
NHRA reintroduced the SPORTSnationals 11 years ago at No Problem Raceway Park to rave reviews from racers and spectators. Prior to that, NHRA hosted the SPORTSnationals from 1974 to 1986 at a trio of tracks: Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky. (1974-80; 1985-86), the old Houston Int'l Raceway (1981-82), and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (1983-84).
This season, NHRA will host three SPORTSnationals events: the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals, the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus in September; and the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals in Las Vegas in October.
TICKETS: General-admission tickets for the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals are $20 each day, $50 for a three-day pass, and $35 for a two-day ticket. For ticket information, call No Problem Raceway Park, 985-369-3692. For more information about the event, log on toNHRA.com or www.NoProblemRaceway.com.