NHRA: Team Firebird earns team title for second year in a row in Boise

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 10, 2001

BOISE, Idaho -The NHRA Summit Racing Series Northwest Division Finals concluded at Firebird Raceway on Sunday with champions being crowned in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle/Snowmobile eliminator categories. With more than 550 drivers, representing 16 NHRA Northwest Division member tracks, competing for honors, the action was furious throughout the day, with the racers skill's translating into event victories.

A large part of the event was the team competition, in which drivers earned points for each round of racing completed. The coveted Team Championship went to, host track, Firebird Raceway who earned 70 points. Finishing in second was Woodburn Dragstrip, Woodburn, Ore., with 62 points.

"It's an absolute thrill on behalf of Firebird Raceway to have won the NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals Team Championship for the second year in a row. We have long considered our racers some of the best, and think we've proven ourselves by taking the team championship crown for the second year in a row. We at Firebird have a great amount of respect for all of the division tracks that compete for this title. We consider our win a real honor and look forward to 12 more months of bragging rights," joked Firebird Raceway's Scott New.

Individual event honors went to Hugh Martinsen, in Super Pro; Marv Buchanan, in Pro; Davie Copeland, in Sportsman and Joe Collette, in Motorcycle/Snowmobile.

In the Super Pro category Hugh Martinsen, of Missoula, Mont. took home the gold for Lost Creek Raceway, located in Anaconda, Mont. Martinsen took out Renegade Raceway's Steve Beggerly, of Seattle, Wash., who was also the bride's maid in Saturdays nights Race of Champions.

Racing for Woodburn Dragstrip, in Woodburn, Ore., Marv Buchanan, of Scappoose, Ore. took his Chevy II into the winner's circle in Pro when he defeated Bremerton Raceway's Ken O'Keefe, of Tacoma, Wash.

Chalking up a win in the Sportsman category for Eagle Motorplex, in Ashcroft, B.C. Canada, was Davie Copeland, of Richmond, B.C. The Canadian rolled to victory behind the wheel of his '83 T-Bird when Madras Raceway Park racer Harold Jacobus, of Bend, Ore. fouled. In Motorcycle/Snowmobile it was hometown favorite Joe Collette, of Boise, Idaho, getting the win for Firebird Raceway aboard his '96 Kawasaki. Collette defeated Coos Bay International Speedway's Tracy Bailey, of Coos Bay, Ore.

The following are the final results for the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northwest Division Finals held at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho:

SUPER PRO

Hugh Martinsen, Missoula, Mont., '81 Camaro, .514 reaction time, 9.21 dial-in, 9.9232 seconds, 150.10 mph def. Steve Beggerly, Seattle, Wash., '68 Pontiac .541, 12.17, 12.146, 128.60

PRO

Marv Buchanan, Scappoose, Ore., '64 Chevy II, .540 reaction time, 10.34 dial-in, 10.450 seconds, 1118.04 mph def. Ken O'Keefe, Tacoma, Wash., '69 Malibu, .547, 12.24, 12.466, 104.48

SPORTSMAN

Davie Copeland, Richmond, B.C., '83 T-Bird, .565 reaction time, 16.32 dial-in, 16.366 seconds, 86.78 mph def. Harold Jacobus, Bend, Ore., '79 Chevy, .486 (foul), 14.29, 14.203, 99.70

MOTORCYCLE/SNOWMOBILE

Joe Collette, Boise, Idaho, '96 Kawasaki, .439 reaction time, 9.08 dial-in, 9.166 seconds, 136.57 mph def. Tracy Bailey, Coos Bay, Ore., '78 Kawasaki, .431, 11.31, 11.441, 114.03

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.