MASON FIX TAKES TWO ON BIG RIG NIGHT AT LANCASTER

Cleveland, Pepi, Kerl & Nearhoof score victories

LANCASTER, NY – Lancaster National Dragway hosted its popular Big Rig Night on Friday. Over 45 semi trucks, dump trucks and pick-up trucks were part of the 200 vehicles in competition for the Franco’s Pizza IHRA Drag Racing program.

Mason Fix of Amherst, N.Y. scored victories in both Tread City Street and the special Pick-Up Truck class sponsored by Halleen’s Automotive. Fix beat Scott Baron for his third win of the year in Street, and then defeated Meg Grzekiewicz in the Pick-Up Truck final for his second win of the evening. Fix had a chance to go for a hat trick in McGard Mod, but lost in the semifinals.

In Top 8 Eliminator, Wayne Cleveland of Williamsville, N.Y. went to victory lane for the second time in 2018. Cleveland got the win after Bill Bigham triggered the red light in the finals. Fran Pepi of Lancaster got his first win of the season Top ET. Pepi edged Tony Galuzzi in his final run of the night to pick up the win.

Jeff Kerl of Cheektowaga, N.Y. got his second McGard Mod ET win of the season. Kerl started the night tied for the class points lead as he and teammate Keith Banas are in a tight three-way battle for the championship. He took down Ray Thurston IV in the Mod final for the victory.

Mike Nearhoof of Youngstown, N.Y. continued the trend of two-time winners as he earned win #2 in Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds. Nearhoof won despite having to wait four seconds at the starting line after his opponent, Gerry Vaughan, left the line due to the differences in their dial-ins.

Sean Lindsley of Amherst won the Semi Truck class after finishing runner-up in 2017. Kevin Tarbox of Gasport, N.Y. was the Dump Truck winner as part of the Big Rig Night festivities.

There are two big IHRA Drag Racing events on tap this coming week at Lancaster. Tuesday night is the 29th annual Ironman Race of Champions, which open to former track champions and former race winners from the past year. Both the Box and No-Box winners will earn an IHRA Ironman trophy. Friday night the Supercharged Bounty Hunters help kick off the holiday weekend along with a full card of racing.

About Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway: Founded in 1959, Lancaster National Speedway and Dragway, WNY’s Premier Motorsports and Event Facility, is a multi-use facility located on 77 acres just outside of metropolitan Buffalo, N.Y. The facility features a 1/8-mile drag strip, a 1/2-mile oval track and hosts several non-motorsports events such as car shows and concerts. For the latest information on Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway check out our website www.lancasternationalspeedway.com. Additional information for racers and fans can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LancasterSpeedway) and on Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy).

RESULTS (Driver, hometown, vehicle, reaction time, dial-in, elapsed time and top speed)

Top 8 Eliminator

Winner: Wayne Cleveland (Williamsville, N.Y.) 1923 Ford T-Bucket .517 6.14 6.135 seconds, 116.87 mph

Runner-up: Bill Bigham (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Altered .488 FOUL

Top ET

Winner: Fran Pepi (Lancaster, N.Y.) 1968 Oldsmobile .514 6.68 6.682 seconds, 101.97 mph

Runner-up: Tony Galuzzi (Orchard Park, N.Y.) 1978 Chevrolet Camaro .504 6.99 7.019 seconds, 100.44 mph

McGard Mod ET

Winner: Jeff Kerl (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) 1968 Chevrolet Camaro .532 6.44 6.456 seconds, 106.18 mph

Runner-up: Ray Thurston IV (Middleport, N.Y.) 1966 Plymouth .508 6.97 6.959 seconds, 96.98 mph

Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds

Winner: Mike Nearhoof (Youngstown, N.Y.) 2006 Kawasaki .539 5.43 5.445 seconds, 113.96 mph

Runner-up: Gerry Vaughan (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) 1981 Yamaha .595 9.35 9.371 seconds, 75.50 mph

Tread City Tire Street ET

Winner: Mason Fix (Amherst, N.Y.) 1966 Plymouth Fury III .547 8.67 8.647 seconds, 76.65 mph

Runner-up: Scott Baron (Lackawanna, N.Y.) .578 11.72 11.670 seconds, 61.45 mph

Halleen’s Automotive Pick-Up Trucks

Winner: Mason Fix (Amherst, N.Y.) 1985 Chevrolet S-10 .561 8.84 8.799 seconds, 73.51 mph

Runner-up: Meg Grzekiewicz (Colden, N.Y.) 1984 GMC .504 10.68 10.637 seconds, 63.74 mph

Semi Trucks

Winner: Sean Lindsley (Amherst, N.Y.) 1.035 15.20 15.610 seconds, 46.82 mph

Runner-up: Joe Hanuz (Cattaragus, N.Y.) 1.750 15.30 15.968 seconds 47.66 mph

Dump Trucks

Winner: Kevin Tarbox (Gasport, N.Y.) .687 17.00 17.017 seconds, 44.52 mph

Runner-up: Greg Lloyd (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) .876 15.50 15.584 seconds, 46.77 mph