CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN PRELUDE TO THE GATORS
GAINESVILLE, FL -Duane Shield, Sean Bellemeur, and Greg Kamplain celebrated with their teams in winner’s circle 
this past weekend at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division, Prelude to the Gators in Gainesville Raceway.
In the Top Alcohol Dragster final round, Jeff Veale, Stoney Creek, Ont., left the starting line first mounting a lead, a peaking out 5.346 seconds, 280.89 mph. However, Shields of Boulder City, Nev., erased the deficit, chasing down his Canadian adversary for the final round victory, running 5.279 seconds, 274.78 mph.
Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., attained a small starting line advantage and maintained it throughout the entire pass, beating out Kris Hool, Evansville, Wyo., for the Top Alcohol Funny Car Wally trophy. Bellemeur won his ninth Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Wally, hitting a full stride at 5.427 seconds, 270.81 mph. Hool runner upped at 5.748 seconds, 233.08 mph.
Van Puckett, Monroe, Ga., took the starting line but was unable to hold off a charging Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., who took home the Comp Eliminator Wally after the dust settled. The champion peaked out at 6.816 seconds, 193.46 mph.
A battle of North vs. South Carolina ensued in the STOTTS FORD Top Sportsman final round. Jackie Robison, Greer, S.C., registered a near perfect light (.001) but was unable to hold off Sandy Wilkins, Mount Ulla, N.C. Wilkins upended Robison in a close race, hitting 6.726 seconds, 205.85 mph in his Camaro. Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., earned his 20th Lucas Oil Wally this past weekend, running 6.211 seconds, 185.87 mph to defeat Frederick Perkins, Higganum, Conn., in the Hickory Enclosed Top Dragster final round.
The other drivers visiting the winner’s circle were Jeff Adkinson in Super Stock; Jeff Strickland in Stock; Ray Miller III in Super Comp; Michelle Furr in Super Gas; Chris DePascale in Super Street; Mattie Case Vlokman in Junior Dragsgter 13-17; Logan Westmoreland in Junior Dragster 10-12; and Dylan MacNicol in Junior Dragster 6-9.
The following are Sunday’s final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division Prelude to the Gators:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.279, 274.78 def. Jeff Veale, Stoney Creek, Ont., 5.346, 280.89.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Sean Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., ’17 Camaro, 5.427, 270.81 def. Kris Hool, Evansville, Wyo., ’16 Camaro, 5.748, 233.08.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., ’14 dragster, B/ED, 6.816, 193.46 def. Van Puckett, Monroe, Ga.,
’05 Cavalier, G/AA, 8.262, 164.61.
SUPER STOCK
Jeff Adkinson, Damascus, Ga., ’05 Sunfire, GT/GA, 9.558, 126.85 def. Brad Zaskowski, Belding, Mich., ’87 Camaro, GT/L, 10.062, 127.91.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’18 Copo, FS/C, 9.421, 137.53 def. Steve Szupka, Northampton, Pa.,
’84 Camaro, H/SA, 11.420, 111.37.
SUPER COMP
Ray Miller III, Spring Hill, Tenn., ’16 Miller, 8.899, 179.80 def. Thomas Coleman, Tallassee, Ala., ’13 Dragster, 8.880, 156.21.
SUPER GAS
Michelle Furr, Galax, Va., ’17 Corvette, 9.917, 162.25 def. Larry Bernshausen, Manito, Ill., ’77 Vega SW, 9.893, 150.08.
SUPER STREET
Chris DePascale, Parlin, N.J., ’74 Chevy, 10.892, 145.39 def. Colby Fuller, Savannah, Ga., ’68 Camaro SS, 10.885, 140.63.
TOP SPORTSMAN
Sandy Wilkins, Mount Ulla, N.C., ’69 Camaro, 6.726, 205.85 def. Jackie Robison, Greer, S.C., ’66 Chevy II, 6.888, 196.70.
TOP DRAGSTER
Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., ’16 Race Tech, 6.211, 185.87 def. Frederick Perkins, Higganum, Conn., ’16 Maddox, 6.161, 222.66.
JUNIOR DRAGSTER 13-17
Mattie Case Vlokman, Campobello, S.C., dragster, 7.928, 81.56 def. Katrina Carpenter, St Petersburg, Fla., dragster, 7.929, 82.24.
JUNIOR DRAGSTER 10-12
Logan Westmoreland, Greenwood, S.C., dragster, 8.955, 70.87 def. Alyson Reynolds, W Melbourne, Fla., dragster, 8.917, 72.49.
JUNIOR DRAGSTER 6-9
Dylan MacNicol, N Port, Fla., dragster, 12.052, 52.26 def. Cody Cumming, Milton, N.H., dragster, 14.431, 43.79.
