Division 2 team wins JEGS Allstars title in dramatic fashion

Published July 14, 2015

CHICAGO – The team championship for the 31st annual JEGS Allstars race wasn’t determined until the final round of the final race, but when the smoke cleared, the NHRA Southeast Division (Division 2) had claimed its seventh overall team title at the prestigious event.

Division 2 was led by Kevin Brannon and Jeffrey Barker, who claimed wins in Super Comp and Top Sportsman, respectively, and enjoyed a strong outing from Jeff Strickland, who earned a runner-up finish in Stock.

The Southeast Division’s seventh title ties it with the North Central and Northeast Divisions for the most championships at the historic event.

The epic points battle came down to the Top Dragster final. Chris Carrico had a chance to win the title outright for the Division 3 team, but his car suffered a mechanical problem just off the starting line, and the win went to Pacific Division racer Michael MacBrair.

Watching the race from the starting line, the Division 2 team, led by NHRA Southeast Division Director Rich Schaeffer, erupted into a joyous celebration.

In the final tally, the Division 2 team finished with 1,100 points, the same number earned by the North Central Division, so the title was decided via a tiebreaker, which is based on a progressive round-win total. The members of the Division 2 team split a $20,000 bonus from JEGS Mail Order.

The alcohol portion of the JEGS Allstars race was also a tight finish with the Central Region claiming the top spot via a tirebreaker over the West Region. Joey Severance of the West Region won the Top Alcohol Dragster title by defeating East Region racer Duane Shields in the final round. Reigning JEGS Allstars champ John Lombardo Jr., of the Central Region, successfully defended his title by stopping West Region racer Annie Whiteley in the final round.

The JEGS Allstars final rounds were delayed by rain until Sunday and were run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Division 6 racer Jeff Lane scored the Comp title by stopping defending event winner Greg Kamplain, who returned as a blocker for the Division 3 squad.

Phil Unruh, of Division 5, topped Division 6 racer Sean Cour in the Super Stock final. Last year, Unruh was the Top Dragster winner in the JEGS Allstars. On Sunday, he collected the JEGS double-up bonus when he drove his Special Metals Cobalt to the Route 66 Nationals Super Stock title. In the Stock final, Anthony Fetch scored the lone win for the Division 1 team when he defeated Strickland’s COPO Camaro.

Brannon, the current points leader in Super Comp, drove to an 8.92 to 8.93 win in the final round against Division 2 blocker and reigning JEGS Allstars champ Ray Miller III. The Division 3 team got a boost from Super Gas winner Luke Bogacki, who defeated Division 7 racer Marko Perivolaris in a double-breakout final. Bogacki is the reigning national champion in Super Gas.

The host team from Division 3 also got a strong performance from Super Street champion Scotty Rienschield, who claimed the title when Division 4 racer Don Snow broke on the starting line.

Barker’s Top Sportsman win came at the expense of Division 3 racer Lester Johnson. Barker, who is also the current Top Sportsman points leader, drove his Chevy Cobalt to a perfect 6.65 on his 6.65 dial to seal the victory. Barker and the rest of the JEGS Allstars champions have earned the right to return for next year’s event to participate as blockers.

Final JEGS Allstars standings

1. Division 2 *1,100

2. Division 3 1,100

3. Division 4 700

4. Division 5 600

5. Division 6 600

6. Division 7 600

7. Division 1 400

Final alcohol standings

1. Central Region *500

2. West Region 500

3. East Region 300