HART, BELLEMEUR SCORE IN INDY; PRITCHETT, DANIELS, THARPE ALSO GRAB TITLES

Josh Hart and Sean Bellemeur scored wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, while Leah Pritchett, James Daniels and Tii Tharpe also took home trophies in their respective classes.

Hart faced off against Dan Page with Page taking the early lead, but Hart had the power posting a 5.271 second, 274.89 mph lap for the Top Alcohol Dragster win. Page clocked in at 5.460 at 261.62 in his runner-up finish.

Bellemeur qualified number two and would match up with No. 1 qualifier Chris Marshall in the Funny Car final. Bellemeur grabbed a big lead with a stellar .018 second reaction time, then stopped the clocks at 5.821, 257.09 for the win as Marshall slowed in his efforts to chase Bellemeur down.

Top Fuel standout Leah Pritchett was pulling double-duty this weekend as she was also competing in the SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown in her ’15 Challenger. Pritchett led the field in qualifying and would line up against former Pro Stock racer Mark Pawuk in the final. The Danville, Ind., racer Pritchett clocked in at 8.108, 170.26 to Pawuk’s 8.191, 167.51 for the win and the trophy.

In the Dodge HEMI Challenge, second generation driver Jimmy Daniels made it a three-peat as he outran his teammate Gary Wolkwitz to capture the title for the third year in a row. Daniels ’68 Dart crossed the line in 8.662 seconds at 156.15.

Tii Tharpe doubled his celebration taking both the event win and the points championship in the Mickey Thompson Top Fuel Harley class. Tharpe and Doug Vancil were locked in a battle that all came down to the final round where the two faced off for a winner take all matchup. The pair had identical .043 reaction times, but Tharpe pulled away for the win and the championship with a 6.442, 224.02 mph lap.

On the starting line for Comp Eliminator it was David Rampy and Greg Kamplain. Rampy had a great pass of 7.386 seconds at 154.25 mph. Kamplain was quick on the light and made Rampy the first driver to win Comp Eliminator at Indy four times.

Dennis Steward claimed victory this weekend In Super Stock. Steward worked his way through the field and ran 10.411 seconds at 100.76 mph in his final round victory over Dale Hultquist, who turned on the red at the starting line.

Also taking home the wins this weekend at the Big Go US Nationals were; T.C. Morris in Stock Eliminator; Joe Hessling in Super Comp and Devin Isenhower in Super Gas.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.821, 257.09 def. Chris Marshall, Camaro, 6.638, 154.02.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Josh Hart, 5.271, 274.89 def. Dan Page, 5.460, 261.62.

Competition Eliminator — David Rampy, Roadster, 7.386, 154.25 def. Greg Kamplain, Dragster, Foul
– Red Light.

Super Stock — Dennis Steward, Plymouth Savoy, 10.411, 100.76 def. Dale Hulquist, Pontiac Grand Am, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — T.C. Morris, Pontiac GTO, 10.971, 121.11 def. Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, Foul
– Red Light.

Super Comp — Joe Hessling, Dragster, 8.903, 189.90 def. Gary Stinnett, Dragster, 8.912, 179.18.

Super Gas — Devin Isenhower, Chevy Camaro, 9.907, 157.50 def. Steve Hoyt, Chevy Corvette, 10.271, 132.26.

SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown — Leah Pritchett, Dodge Challenger, 8.108, 170.26 def. Mark Pawuk, Challenger, 8.191, 167.51.

Mickey Thompson Top Fuel Harley — Tii Tharpe, JTR, 6.442, 224.02 def. Doug Vancil, Weekend, 7.054, 155.45.

Dodge HEMI Challenge — James Daniels, Dodge Dart, 8.662, 156.15 def. Gary Wolkwitz, Dart, 10.110, 97.63.