NHRA Summit Racing Series-Final Results from Cecil County Dragway, Rising Sun, Md.
NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES - NORTHEAST DIVISION FINALS CECIL COUNTY DRAGWAY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2003 Summit Racing Series winners crowned at Cecil County California bound RISING SUN, Md. - The NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals concluded at Cecil County Dragway on Saturday with champions being crowned in Super Pro, Heavy, Bike and Street eliminator. These wins place four more lucky drivers names on the roster for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 6-9, in Pomona, Calif. By virtue of victories at the NHRA Northeast Division Finals at Cecil County Dragway, Chad Wenerick, Mark Butler, Ken George and Vinnie Cicerale have qualified themselves to compete in the "winner-takes-all" national championship finals in November. In Super Pro, 19 year-old Maple Grove Raceway representative Chad Wenerick of Dillsburg, Pa., earned the biggest win of his racing career when he defeated Atco Raceway's Phil Fryer of Williamstown, N.J. In the final, Wenerick used a .003 reaction time to take out Fryer. Taking the Heavy win for host track Cecil County, was Mark Butler of Elkton, Md. Butler defeated Maple Grove Raceway's Marlin Huss of Ephrata, Pa., in the class final. In Bike, Island Dragway's Ken George of Hackettstown, N.J., won over Mason-Dixon Dragway representative Jerry Heil of Sharpsburg, Md. This is the second Summit Racing Series Finals title for George, who also won the Bike title in 1992. Joining George in the winner's circle was fellow Island Dragway runner Vinnie Cicerale of Piscataway, N.J. Last year Cicerale's brother, Frankie, won in Street driving the same Monte Carlo, which Vinnie drove to victory today. "With two wins in two years in this car, I think next year we'll put Dad in the car and see what he can do," joked Cicerale. "It was exciting going to Pomona last year with my brother Frankie. I can't wait to go again this year," he added. Taking home the coveted team championship was Atco Raceway. Over the course of the day Atco earned a total of 83 points. Finishing second was defending champs, Cecil County Dragway, with 68 points. The third place title went to Maple Grove Raceway, who earned 61 points overall. Taking home the honors for "team spirit" was ESTA Safety Park, Cicero, N.Y. Winning the award for most creative team theme was Numidia Raceway for their tropical-themed costumes. The four drivers who have qualified for the Summit National Championship in Pomona will each receive $3,500 when they arrive at the Southern California facility. They then will race against six other competitors for four event titles, with the winner in each category receiving an additional $5,000. In other NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Series Finals event competition, the High Challenge presented by Luzerne County Community College title was earned by Island Dragway's John Eric Juray, of Lodi, N.J. Juray defeated, Capitol Raceway runner, Ronald Reiff Sr., of Baltimore, Md. in the final The following are the final results from the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals at Cecil County Dragway: SUPER PRO Chad Wenerick, Dillsburg, Pa., Dragster, 7.960 seconds, 166.62 mph def. Phil Fryer, Williamstown, N.J., Dragster, 7.938, 161.79 HEAVY Mark Butler, Elkton, Md., '72 Nova, 10.228 seconds, 129.05 mph def. Martin Huss, Ephrata, Pa., '68 Camaro, 11.185, 118.08 BIKE Ken George, Hackettstown, N.J., Suzuki, 8.828 seconds, 142.34 mph def. Jerry Heil, Sharpsburg, Md., '74 Kawasaki, 9.337, 135.06 STREET Vinnie Cicerale, Piscataway, N.J., Monte Carlo, 12.857 seconds, 104.74 mph def. Bob Larrison, Long Valley, N.J., Chevy Nova, 11.993, 110.88 HIGH SCHOOL John Eric Juray, Lodi, N.J., Chevy Camaro, 12.326 seconds, 97.67 def. Ronald Reiff, Baltimore, Md., '79 Camaro, 13.802, 94.55