TNT
COUNTDOWN to a Championship – Chris VanBaalen – 2017 TNT Super Series THIRD PLACE
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – In third place in the 2017 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series points chase is Chris VanBaalen from Wellandport, Ontario.
He earned it with a consistent run in 2017 both in qualifying and going rounds. At 532 points, he was only six points ahead of fourth place and only 18 points out of second. This is VanBaalen’s fourth time in the top five in the past six seasons.
“I have to thank my parents (Pete and Sherry) along with Matt and Sherri Devries at Matts Auto Service,” said VanBaalen. “And all the sponsors who make the TNT series the best sportsman series around.”
COUNTDOWN to a Championship – Jim Thomson & Ryan Boniferro – 2017 TNT Super Series FOURTH PLACE
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – It was a pair of familiar faces earning a fourth place finish in the 2017 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series points chase, the team of Jim Thomson and Ryan Boniferro.
Both drivers are former Rookie of the Year winners and Thomson was last year’s series champion so it’s no surprise to see them in the top five. The 2017 season saw them top the field with two number one qualifiers and only one first round loss all season. They were deep in eliminations at most races.
The points battle was so tight this year, these guys only finished two points ahead of fifth place and only six points behind third.
COUNTDOWN to a Championship
Jarrod Kolne – 2017 TNT Super Series FIFTH PLACE
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Southern Ontario’s Jarrod Kolne had an outstanding start to his class racing career. Not only did he finish in fifth place in this year’s Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series points chase, he also took home Rookie of the Year honours.
The Cayuga, Ontario based racer has had lots of success in the bracket racing ranks. In 2017, he set his sights on 10.90 index racing and found himself competing at the top of the field.
Along with earning a number one qualifier this year, Kolne was seen deep into eliminations many times and ended the season with his first TNTSS final round appearance, earning a runner-up to veteran Harry Phelps.
TNT Super Series Hosts LAST RACE of 2017 This FRIDAY at LANCASTER
Sam LoVetro Automotive presents points chase season finale!
LANCASTER, NY – The Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series visits Lancaster Dragway this Friday September 29th for its re-scheduled season finale event.
Presented by Sam LoVetro Automotive, the event was originally set for earlier this month but got rained out. This week looks to bring some of the toughest sportsman drag racers together to crown the 2017 TNTSS Champion.
Leading the championship points is Tom Coonly. He has a 55 point lead against second place Steve McCarrick. Another 18 points back is Chris VanBaalen and then only 6 more back is the team of Jim Thomson/Ryan Boniferro followed by Rookie contender Jarrod Kolne only another 2 points back in fifth place. With over 130 points available on any given raceday including qualifying points, this championship chase is far from over.
Harry Phelps Tops 30 Car Field and Wins TNT Super Series at Empire Dragway
Rain forces one race to be re-scheduled to September 29!
LEICESTER, NY – Championship weekend for the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series turned into a single race when rain forced Friday’s event at Lancaster to be postponed to September 29. Empire’s race on Saturday turned out to be a great day with Harry Phelps from Newark, New York taking the win over the 30 car field.
First, he used the tree to defeat Kirk Parry in round one. Then he was behind at the hit in round two but used the stripe to steal second round from Chris VanBaalen by pushing him under the 10.90 index.
Third round saw a tree malfunction so a re-run was called. There he overcame a starting line disadvantage and pushed Ryan Boniferro under to a 10.894.
TNT Super Series Championship Weekend DOUBLE Kicks Off This Friday
Sam LoVetro Automotive presents final weekend with no points fee for new racers!
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Season eleven in the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series will crown a champion this weekend as it heads to Lancaster Dragway on Friday night and then Empire Dragway on Saturday. Sam LoVetro Automotive once again presents championship weekend where the teams go from 1/8 mile racing to 1/4 mile racing in the same weekend.
The points battle is extremely tight with first through fifth only separated by 75 points. Including qualifying points, there are over 130 points available on any given TNTSS race day so this is truly anyone’s championship.
Ben Priester Wins PERFECT RUN Award at Rain-Shortened TNT Super Series 5K Race
$5000/win race cut short with 7 of 64 cars remaining!
LEICESTER, NY – The Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series held its second annual $5K on Friday, August 18th at Empire Dragway’s IHRA SSNC weekend and 64 cars made the call for round one. Presented by Roy & Tara Lister, the TNTSS 5K is a high dollar sportsman drag race based on the popular IHRA Hot Rod class.
Competition was fierce with many drivers going for broke as they chased the big check. One of those drivers was Ben Priester from Twinsburg, Ohio who made a perfect run in second round of eliminations – He was trip zip on the tree and ran 7.000 through the lights to take the win.
According to Joe Boniferro, this is the first time in the series’ eleven-year history that this has happened. “You’d think with the competition as tight as it is in this series, we would get this all the time but this is the first,” he said. Priester receives $200 cash thanks to Boniferro Speed and Custom for his efforts.
Surmatchewski, Stirk, Coonly Are All Winners in TNT Super Series at Toronto
Coonly moves solidly into first place with 3 races remaining!
CAYUGA, ON – Sunny skies and hot temperatures finally arrived for the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series double at Toronto Motorsports Park this past weekend July 29-30. In the end, it was David Surmatchewski winning Saturday’s main event including the $1000 purse AND the Wally, Andrew Stirk took home top honours in the REVS Full Throttle RACE of CHAMPIONS and Tom Coonly settled into top spot in the points chase with a win on Sunday.
Saturday Results
Past TNTSS champion David Surmatchewski from Oakland, Ontario won Saturday’s main event and proceeded to win the NHRA Wally in the “best package” run-off of all the day’s class winners.
TNT Super Series Double plus RACE OF CHAMPIONS this weekend at Toronto Motorsports Park
Saturday will be $1000/WIN guaranteed and a Wally Run-off!
CAYUGA, ON – The Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series rolls into Toronto Motorsports Park this weekend July 29-30. Presented by DSE Automotive, the popular sportsman drag racing series will host a double event with races on both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday’s race will have the added bonus of $1000 to win GUARANTEED and the winner will go into a run-off with other bracket winners that day for an NHRA Wally based on best package.
Also this weekend will be the REVS Full Throttle Powersports RACE OF CHAMPIONS. This free event is open to all past winners in the TNTSS and will pay $1200 to the winner. There are 36 eligible drivers for this year’s ROC.
Pete Maduri Jr Wins TNT Super Series BONUS Race at Lancaster
Past TNTSS champion makes it look easy!
LANCASTER, NY – North Tonawanda, New York’s Pete Maduri Jr won the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series BONUS Race last Friday at Lancaster Dragway. The 2010 TNTSS Champion bested the 33 cars that rolled into the beams for first round in a very tough qualified field. If you weren’t better than 7.011, you were qualified outside of the top ten.
The BONUS Race was a joint effort presented by both Steve’s Electric and Jan-Cen Motorsports combining two previous rainouts into one ‘give it all away’ race. And while Maduri took home $1000 for the win, lots of racers went home with extra cash and prizes.
In eliminations, Maduri used the tree to get past Alex Lepp in round one. Then Tyler Halleen had starting line advantage in round two but broke out by .006.