NHRA Tony Stephenson Race Wrap Up: Stephenson Successfully Defends Comp Eliminator Title in Joliet

Contact: Jon G. Knapp

 
TMG Sports Marketing 

 
Phone: (704) 662-3121

 
jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Race Wrap Up

Tony Stephenson, Owner/Driver

GM Performance Parts Competition Eliminator Pontiac GTO


 

Event:   Carquest Auto Parts Nationals 

Location:  Route 66 Raceway

       Joliet, IL

Dates:  June 9-11, 2006

 

Stephenson Successfully Defends Comp Eliminator Title in Joliet

 

GM Performance Parts Sportsman standout Tony Stephenson returned to
national event competition in impressive fashion this past weekend,
winning the Competition Eliminator title at the Carquest Auto Parts
Nationals in Joliet, IL.  It was Stephenson's 15th NHRA national event
win, second consecutive victory at Route 66 Raceway, and served notice
that he would be a force to contend with for the remainder of the 2006
Lucas Oil Drag Racing season. 

 

After qualifying 19th in the 32-car field, Stephenson used the
combination of intelligent racing, great reaction times and a very
consistent Pontiac GTO to power his way through an impressive line-up,
including defeats of the No. 1 and No. 3 qualifiers, to reach his first
championship round of the season.  Facing No. 2 qualifier and defending
Competitor Eliminator champion Jeff Taylor in the final, the North
Carolina native was again on top of his game.  Gaining the advantage at
the starting line with a .019 reaction time (his fourth sub .02-start of
the day), he never looked back, using a strong 7.837-second, 167.97 mph
pass to claim the win.

 

"You couldn't ask for a better day," said an elated Stephenson
afterward.  "Our GM Performance Parts GTO ran great all weekend.  After
opening with a strong run, I had a little bit of luck, getting the
automatic wins in the second and third rounds when Dean Carter broke an
axle and Doug Stewart went red.  

 

"After that, however, I raced the two baddest hombres on the grounds,
Glen Treadwell and Jeff Taylor.   I was able to squeak by Treadwell at
the finish line in the fourth round without fully showing my hand, so
Taylor really didn't know how fast I could run in the final.  Jeff had
lost a lot of index throughout the day, and it all worked out in our
favor, helping me to beat him.  It was great to defend our title here at
Route 66 Raceway, and gives us something to build on for the rest of the
season."

 

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