NHRA Summit Racing Series - Saturday from Renegade Raceways
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2002 "TEAM ON A MISSION" TAKES TWO WINS Yakima, Wash. - Division champions were named in seven racing categories today at the Race of Champions, part of the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northwest Division Finals at Renegade Raceways. Mission Raceway Park racers earned the division championship in Pro and Sportsman, helping the team win the Division Six Track Manager's Challenge Trophy for a fourth straight year. While racing in the Race of Champions, racers earned one point per round win for their respective track, in efforts of winning this award. The team from Mission Raceway Park posted 34 total points, four more than Bremerton Raceway who finished in second place. "We just have a lot of really intense racers that want to represent the division in Pomona," said Wally Duperon, Track Operator of Mission Raceway Park. In the Pro final, Martin Rachel of Richmond, B.C., defeated Dan Leger of Bremerton, Wash., after making a 10.581 second, 125.38 mph pass to take the win. Racing competitively since 1985, Rachel believes competing at his home track helped him prepare for this race. "The racers at Mission are very competitive," said the Pro champion. "It's a struggle just to qualify for Mission's team." Mission Raceway Park was temporarily divided in loyalties, as teammates Lorne Ridley and Jim Reddington squared off in an all Mission Sportsman final. The outcome was decided at the starting line as Reddington left before the green lights, giving Ridley the easy win. "The last race was the toughest race all day," said Ridley. "It was the toughest because I had to race a friend in the final." Winners in other categories are Paul Nero of Eugene, Ore., in Super Pro; Richard Pedraza of Boise, Idaho, in Motorcycle/Snowmobile; Sean Kennedy of Bellevue, Wash., in High School; Cody Scheu of Calgary, Alta., in Jr. Dragster Lightning; and Cameron Eddings of Rexburg, Idaho in Jr. Dragster Thunder. Results of this race in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Motorcycle/Snowmobile will be used in the selection process of determining who will represent the division and compete in the Summit Racing Series National Championship, later this year in Pomona, Calif. The Northwest Division team will be announced at a later date. Gates open tomorrow at 7 a.m., for the final day of racing at the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northwest Division Finals. Eliminations begin at 8 a.m., as racers will be competing for the event win, while earning points for the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northwest Division Finals Team Championship. The following are final round results from the Race of Champions at Renegade Raceways: SUPER PRO Paul Nero, Eugene, Ore., '92 Neil & Parks, 8.263 seconds, 151.95 mph def. Walter Fernets, Biggar, Sask., '80 Chevrolet, 9.310, 147.15 PRO Martin Rachel, Richmond, B.C., '78 Malibu, 10.581, 125.38 def. Dan Leger, Bremerton, Wash., '47 Ford, 10.299, 128.07 SPORTSMAN Lorne Ridley, Hope, B.C., '72 Buick Skylark, 14.796, 93.96 def. Jim Reddington, Surrey, B.C., '79 Camaro, 13.182, 107.04 MOTORCYCLE Richard Pedraza, Boise, Idaho, '01 Polaris, 9.265, 136.67 def. Mike Fordice, Woodburn, Ore., '84 Suzuki, 9.001, 146.74 HIGH SCHOOL Sean Kennedy, Bellevue, Wash., '72 Nova, 14.640, 94.91 def. Gregg Jorgenson, Nampa, Idaho, '73 Duster, 11.576, 114.35 JR. DRAGSTER LIGHTNING Cody Scheu, Calgary, Alta., '00 Cosby, 9.641, 66.16 def. Josh Howell, Pasco, Wash., '97 Hardens, 8.362, 75.26 JR. DRAGSTER THUNDER Cameron Eddings, Rexburg, Idaho, '00 Dragster, 10.841, 55.15 def. Josh Harlvkowicz, Independence, Ore., '95 Dragster, 13.429, 46.52