SEVERANCE, GORDON WIN BIG IN HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, TX – The 30th annual NHRA SpringNationals were in full effect this past weekend at Royal Purple Raceway. Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., and Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., led the winner’s circle for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Fans in attendance were treated to a special champions battle in the Top Alcohol Dragster final round. 2016 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series World Champions, Joey Severance and Mia Tedesco, Murrysville, Pa., clashed in the final rounds. Tedesco took home the 2016 LODRS Super Gas crown, Severance the Top Alcohol Dragster title. Severance had the better reaction time at .014 and never let up earning the win light at 5.203 seconds, 275.39 mph. Tedesco, tripped the clocks at 5.445 seconds, 264.70 mph.

California drivers, Doug Gordon and Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., squared off in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final round. Gordon grabbed the starting line advantage, as Payne had issues from the start. Gordon recorded his career quickest and fastest pass, along with the quickest and fastest pass of the weekend for the win; 5.428 seconds, 272.12 mph. Jay Payne finished at 11.171 seconds, 66.34 mph.

Kevin Helms. Schriver, La., nearly doubled up, winning the Stock Eliminator final round against Austin Ford, Spring, Texas; running 10.096, 121.74. But fell short in Super Stock against Norvell Bowers, Sulphur Springs, Texas. Bowers recorded his winning pass at 10.587, 124.18, Helms came in at 9.383, 130.15.

Alan Savage, Mexia, Texas, and Britt Cummings, Hammond, La., collided in the final round of Super Comp. Savage took the better light, taking home the national event Wally trophy, running 8.888, 182.01. Cummings finished at 8.876, 166.23.

The Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs final round featured a battle for Texas bragging rights. J.R. Baxter, Waxahachie, and William Kruse of Alvin, took the starting lines. Kruse went red at the line, getting off too early by just .004 seconds giving the Baxter the win and third in-a-row in Top Dragster at the SpringNationals. Baxter finished at 6.130, 227.31. Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., grabbed the lead and the winning pass at 6.479, 195.68, to defeat Vince Hoda, D’Iberville, Miss., 6.851, 198.93; in the Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs championship round.

Jay Turner, Julian, N.C., continued the defence of his 2016 NHRA Top Fuel Harley Championship recording a pass of 6.219, 222.47, defeating Bob Malloy, Glen Mills, Pa., 6.312, 209.88.

The other drivers visiting the winner’s circle were Steve Collier in Super Gas and Chris Vang in Super Street.

The following are the final results from the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purples Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

Joey Severance, 5.203, 275.39 def. Mia Tedesco, 5.445, 264.70

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

Doug Gordon, ’15 Camaro, 5.428, 272.12 def. Jay Payne, ’17 Camaro, 11.171, 66.34

SUPER STOCK

Norvell Bowers, ’83 Firebird, 10.587 124.18 def. Kevin Helms, ’10 Challenger, 9.383, 130.15

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Kevin Helms, ’13 Challenger, 10.096, 121.74 def. Austin Ford, ’16 Mustang, 9.632, 131.56

SUPER COMP

Alan Savage, 8.888, 182.01 def. Britt Cummings, 8.876, 166.23

SUPER GAS

Steve Collier, ’72 Vega, 9.900, 167.66 def. Roger Warren, ’63 Corvette, 9.899, 162.00

SUPER STREET

Chris Vang, ’67 Chevelle, 10.834, 137.72 def. Val Harmon, ’67 Nova, 10.876, 152.99

TOP SPORTSMAN

Keith Raftery, ’68 Camaro, 6.479, 195.68 def. Vince Hoda, ’68 Camaro, 6.851, 198.93

TOP DRAGSTER

J.R. Baxter, 6.130, 227.31 def. William Kruse, Foul-Redlight

TOP FUEL HARLEY

Jay Turner, ’17 Triple J, 6.219, 222.47 def. Bob Malloy, ’04 Buell, 6.312, 209.88