COUGHLIN, BELLEMEUR SCORE AT CAVALCADE OF STARS

NORWALK, OH – Troy Coughlin Jr. and Sean Bellemeur took home the wins and the NHRA Wally trophies in Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car at this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Cavalcade of Stars present by Budweiser at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Third generation driver Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, qualified No. 1 then took out John Paul Gutierrez and Mike Bucher in rounds one and two to advance to the final against Brandon Greco. Greco beat out former world champion Duane Shields and Jeff Chatterson on his way to the final. Coughlin was out first in the final as Greco had problems early in the run. Coughlin also had problems but was well out in front and crossed the line in 5.876 seconds at 265.53 mph for the win.

Bellemeur also qualified No. 1 then left first on Todd Robertson in the final and laid down his quickest lap of the event at 5.484, 268.28 for the win. The California racer beat home state racer Tony Bogolo of Hamilton, and Brian Hough in early rounds on his way to his tenth career Lucas Oil divisional event win.

In two of the closest races of the weekend, Kimba Fuesting and Tom Dimond picked up the wins in Super Comp and Super Gas. Nick Folk was out first on Fuesting, Waukegan, Ill., but Fuesting was better at the strip in a double breakout for the win. Dimond ran dead on the index at 9.900 seconds to beat Devin Isenhower by about three inches who clocked in at 9.003.

Edward Jirousek and Zach Sackman each scored their first NHRA divisional event win to join in the winner’s circle celebration. Jirousek, Elyria, Ohio, took an easy win in Super Street when Bryan Workman, Willard, Ohio, broke at the hit. Sackman and Ed Dudley left the line together but Sackman slowly pulled away for the win in Top Dragster running 6.133, 173.38.

Brian Browell led the remaining list of winners taking the win in Comp over David Billingsley along with Todd Frantz in Super Stock; Randy Butter in Stock; Lester Johnson in Top Sportsman and Matt Ernst in Pro Stock Snowmobile.

In the DRAW/RFC Super Shootouts presented by Moser Engineering it was Brian Folk winning in Super Comp, Tim Schmidt in Super Gas and Philip Smida in Super Street.

North Central Division racers head to Beech Bend Raceway Park this coming weekend for the JEGS SPORTSnationals and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, May 25-27.

The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, North Central Division Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
Round 1
6) Brandon Greco, Roscoe, Pa., 5.460, 262.44 def. 3) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.398, 270.59
9) Mike Bucher, Columbia Station, Ohio, 5.423, 265.59 def. 5) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.429, 267.06
7) Jeff Chatterson, Brantford, Ont., 5.512, 267.80 def. 2) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.770, 182.48
1) Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, 5.328, 274.55 def. 8) John Paul Gutierrez, Berkley, Mich., 5.519, 249.44

Semifinals
Greco, 5.509, 260.41 def. Chatterson, 9.579, 89.87
Coughlin Jr., 6.144, 257.92 def. Bucher, foul

Final
Coughlin Jr., 5.876, 265.53 def. Greco, 11.580, 60.10.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
Round 1
7) Todd Robertson, Harrison Twp., Mich., ’12 Mustang, 5.936, 246.26 def. 2) Andy Bohl, Racine, Wis., ’16 Camaro, 8.418, 108.87
1) Sean Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., ’17 Camaro, 5.629, 266.06 def. 8) Tony Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, ’05 Camaro, 8.407, 106.80
6) Tyler Scott, Exeter, Ont., ’17 Camaro, 5.996, 256.55 def. 3) Chris Foster, Davenport, Iowa, ’16 Monte Carlo, 11.955, 69.08
5) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., ’15 Camaro, 5.580, 266.95 def. 9) Rob Pfeister, Crestwood, Ky.,
’04 Camaro, 15.631, 58.31

Semifinals
Bellemeur, 5.633, 265.22 def. Hough, 5.763, 259.66
Robertson, 5.653, 253.14 def. Scott, 6.198, 195.96

Finals
Bellemeur, 5.484, 268.28 def. Robertson, 5.763, 231.79.

COMP ELIMINATOR
Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., ’15 dragster, D/D, 7.256, 165.33 def. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., ’14 Camaro, D/EA, 8.130, 155.74.

SUPER STOCK
Todd Frantz, Louisville, Ky., ’08 G5, GT/HA, 9.541, 134.93 def. Tyler Bohannon, Louisville, Ky.,
’67 Corvette, SS/HA, 9.885, 131.88.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Randy Butter, Pittsburgh, ’69 Camaro, H/SA, 11.355, 111.34 def. Austin Alvey, Taylorsville, Ky., ’69 Nova, G/SA, 11.132, 110.76.

SUPER COMP
Kimbra Fuesting, Waukegan, Ill., ’17 dragster, 8.898, 167.86 def. Nick Folk, Durand, Ill.,
’18 dragster, 8.889, 174.03.

SUPER GAS
Tom Dimond, Dublin, Ohio, ’27 Ford T, 9.900, 157.56 def. Devin Isenhower, Lebanon, Ind., ’67 Camaro, 9.903, 160.90.

SUPER STREET
Edward Jirousek, Elyria, Ohio, ’91 Mustang, 13.828, 74.93 def. Bryan Workman, Willard, Ohio, ’72 Nova, broke.

TOP DRAGSTER
Zach Sackman, Channahon, Ill., ’10 dragster, 6.133, 212.69 def. Ed Dudley, Fishers, Ind., ’11 dragster, 6.321, 216.00.

TOP SPORTSMAN
Lester Johnson, Cynthiana, Ky., ’55 Chevy, 6.381, 173.38 def. Justin Sowders, Louisville, Ky., ’69 Camaro, 7.728, 150.92.

PRO STOCK SNOWMOBILE
Matt Ernst, Clinton, Iowa, ’11 Arctic CAT, 8.243, 152.93 def. Scott Hagen, Oxford, Mich., ’13 Skidoo, 8.551, 151.60.

DRAW/RFC SUPER COMP SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY MOSER ENGINEERING
Brian Folk, Durand, Ill., ’13 American, 8.918, 174.62 def. Pat Martin, London, Ohio, ’08 American, 8.911, 182.50.

DRAW/RFC SUPER GAS SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY MOSER ENGINEERING
Tim Schmidt, Masillon, Ohio, ’67 Camaro, 9.874, 171.31 def. Jeff Gerber, Massillon, Ohio, ’27 Ford, foul.

DRAW/RFC SUPERSTREET SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY MOSER ENGINEERING
Philip Smida, Canfield, Ohio, ’88 Cavalier, 10.904, 134.52 def. Lee Newmeyer, Shelby, Ohio, ’84 Ranger, 10.889, 124.08.