NHRA (POMONA) - XPLOD SERIES CHAMPIONS CROWNED

POMONA, Calif. – Four of the champions of the Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series were crowned during eliminations on Sunday at the NHRA Sport Compact World Finals.

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona was the place to be for Gary Gardella (Pro FWD), Brent Rau (Modified), Kenny Tran (Hot Rod), and Norris Prayoonto (Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor) as they all won their first career world championships. Brad Personett who won his championship in Pro RWD two weeks ago walked away with the event win.

Gardella won his first championship in a tight battle with his rival, Marty Ladwig. It went to the final round where Ladwig still had a chance to win his third championship, but he needed to win the final round and set the record. Gardella tried to hold off Ladwig, but couldn’t as Ladwig won the race. Fortunately for Gardella, Ladwig could not run a record time, and he won his first championship in seven years of racing on the Xplod Series.

“I’m excited,” said Gardella. “All season long we had a rough time. We picked up the pace at Atco and Las Vegas where we had runner-up finishes. This was an awesome job by my Red Bull/Dupont Chevy Cobalt crew. I knew that it was too hot for Marty (Ladwig) to run the record. I lost the final round, but I won the championship. For seven years we have worked really hard and I didn’t think it would happen this year because we had a new car and a new engine. The team just really meshed, and without the teamwork I could not have won the championship. I want to thank my family, especially my wife Megan. There are so many sponsors to thank; Red Bull, Dupont, County Line Auto Body, Precision Turbo, Ecotec, K&N, NGK, Stef’s, Manley, elf, Mickey Thompson, and VP.”

Ladwig’s win was his third of 2007 in his Lucas Oil Chevy Cobalt. He was able to beat Gardella with a time of 7.33 seconds at 199.43 mph to Gardella’s 7.48 at 194.44.

“It was nice to end the season with a win,” said Ladwig. “We came out to set the record, but couldn’t do that. It was a big thrash between round because we had to change the engine. I want to thank the crew who worked hard all year.”

Rau won his first championship by merely staging his car in the first round of eliminations. He was in his first year racing the Xplod Series. He was also looking to close out the season by winning the event, but he had a pedal fest with Ken Scheepers and his Mazda. Rau broke his transmission and Scheepers blew his engine, and then the fans had to wait and see which car had the power to make it to the finish line first. Scheepers had the coasting power in his car.

“This feels awesome to come out and win with the competition that is in this category,” said Rau. “We missed a race due to electrical problems, but then cam out and set the record three times, Englishtown twice and Indy. I overcame the obstacles of having the smallest turbo and the 250 pounds that were added to my car. We still came out on top. I want to thank NHRA for giving us a safe place to race and a nice venue to put on a show. I want to thank my crew and family for putting up with me and traveling all those hours. I want to thank ACT, Borg Warner, and Magnus Motorsports for all their help.”

Scheepers gained his fourth win of the year when he beat Rau in the final.

“It turned out well,” said Scheepers. “A win is a win no matter how they come. I am proud of all the accomplishments I had this year.”

Tran is another racer who has waited a long time to see his dream of a winning a championship come true. He came into the event thinking that he needed a miraculous weekend. His chief rival Stephanie Eggum had the hold on the points lead and anything short of winning the event and setting a record is all Tran could think about. All that changed when Eggum lost the first round when her car experienced mechanical problems and could not move off the starting line. Tran had the championship locked up when he defeated Chuck Seitsinger in the semifinals. Unfortunately he damaged his engine and couldn’t make it to the final round to face Eric Del Rosario.

“This is great,” said Tran. “It has been a long time coming. I didn’t know what to expect, because coming into the event I thought I had to win the event and get the record to overcome Stephanie (Eggum). We were behind coming into this event. The opportunity to win opened up when she lost in the first round. That’s when I realized we had a chance. I can’t say enough about the sponsors who have stuck with us like Q, Nitto, Scion, Arias, Powder, Rev, Garrett, Full race, Web Cam, V&M, Gato and Sparkle. I also want to thank my family and friends that supported us at this race. It was truly a great experience.”

In the final round Eric Del Rosario ran a single to win his first NHRA Wally Trophy with his Acura.

“This proves for all those underdogs that it can be done,” said Del Rosario. “I tell people to come out and race, and they say, ‘Oh, we’ll have to race Stephanie or Kenny.’ It proves that you don’t need to be afraid of the big dogs. This is the biggest trophy at the biggest event. It is unbelievable. Today was our day.”

Another first time champion was Prayoonto in Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor. His Clutch Masters Acura carried him to the event win, also. Coming into the World Finals Prayoonto had the points lead, and was able to win the championship when Jeremy Lookofsky, number two in points, lost in the second round.

“Wow,” said Prayoonto. “It is a dream come true. The final round against (Scott) Kelley was a bonus. I want to thank my whole family, and Clutch Masters, Ron at IPS for their super motors, Super Tech, and Eneos Oil.”

Personett won his eighth event of the season with his Titan Motorsports Scion tC.

“The season’s over,” said Personett. It was nice to put on a good show for the all the people who came out. The car shook, but went from A to B.”

***

POMONA, Calif. -- Sunday's final results from the seventh Annual NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the final of 11 in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Series:

PRO RWD

Brad Personett, Orlando, Fla., '08 Scion, 6.531, 218.19 def. Manny Cruz, Bronx, N.Y., '02 Solara, 9.315, 92.83.

PRO FWD

Marty Ladwig, San Antonio, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 7.338, 199.43 def. Gary Gardella, Howell, N.J., '07 Cobalt, 7.485, 194.44.

MODIFIED

Ken Scheepers, Flower Mound, Texas, '05 RX8, 18.958, 39.61 def. Brent Rau, St Francis, Minn., '99 Eclipse, 19.527, 39.66.

HOT ROD

Eric Del Rosario, Northridge, Calif., '00 Integra, 9.401, 155.79 was unopposed.

HONDA TUNING MAGAZINE ALL MOTOR

Norris Prayoonoto, Springfield, Va., '04 Insight, 9.730, 132.78 def. Scott Kelley, Anaheim, Calif., '07 Corolla, 9.835, 136.47.

SPORT RWD

Ali Afshar, Castate, Calif., '04 Subaru, 9.293, 148.76 def. Ari Yallon, Garland, Texas, '93 RX7, 9.901, 134.24.

URBANRACER.COM SPORT FWD

Kyle Herrera, Kaysville, Utah, '99 Civic, 9.693, 152.85 def. Felix Medina, Ridgefield, , '92 Civic, 17.650, 45.73.

BFGOODRICH TIRES STREET STOCK

Jermey Nicolodemos, West Jordan, Utah, '98 Neon, 12.439, 132.97 def. Mike Chace, Reno, Nev., '94 Del Sol, 14.585, 93.91.

QUICK 16

Troy Palmer, Irvine, Calif., '60 VW, 11.010, 121.08 def. Karl Martin, Riverton, Utah, '93 RX7, 9.935, 132.97.

POMONA, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the seventh Annual NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Auto Club Raceway Raceway at Pomona, the final of 11 events in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Series:

PRO RWD:

ROUND ONE -- Manny Cruz, Solara, 8.707, 130.37 def. Abel Ibarra, Mazda RX-8, 16.427, 62.84; Brad Personett, Scion, 6.488, 218.48 was unopposed;

FINALS -- Personett, 6.531, 218.19 def. Cruz, 9.315, 92.83.

PRO FWD:

ROUND ONE -- Jason Hunt, Cobalt, 7.532, 176.93 def. Bryan Jimenez, Cobalt, 43.351, no speed; Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda, 7.805, 179.37 def. Christian Rado, Scion tC, 8.175, 183.64; Gary Gardella, Chevy Cobalt, 8.971, 107.91 def. Jerrold Rhodes, Honda CRX, broke; Marty Ladwig, Cobalt, 7.176, 197.42 was unopposed;

SEMIFINALS -- Gardella, 7.265, 196.64 def. Bergenholtz, 7.416, 192.47; Ladwig, 8.143, 190.35 def. Hunt, foul;

FINALS -- Ladwig, 7.338, 199.43 def. Gardella, 7.485, 194.44.

MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Ken Scheepers, Mazda RX8, 7.728, 170.64 def. Tom Shambaugh, Chevy Cavalier, 8.477, 130.39; Brent Rau, Eclipse, 14.153, 100.05 was unopposed;

FINALS -- Scheepers, 18.958, 39.61 def. Rau, 19.527, 39.66.

HOT ROD:

ROUND ONE -- Chuck Seitsinger, Honda Civic, 10.345, 135.16 def. Jason Ames, Civic, 14.982, 162.29; Kenny Tran, Scion tC, 7.911, 178.05 def. Tony Garcia Jr, Honda CRX, 11.684, 160.40; Eric Del Rosario, Acura Integra, 10.021, 151.89 def. Stephanie Eggum, Civic, broke;

SEMIFINALS -- Del Rosario, 18.402, 74.92 was unopposed; Tran, 8.327, 163.95 def. Seitsinger, 8.330, 179.42;

FINALS -- Del Rosario, 9.401, 155.79 was unopposed;

HONDA TUNING MAGAZINE ALL MOTOR:

ROUND ONE -- Leslie Durst-Armendariz, Scion tC, 9.714, 141.37 def. Roger Crawford, VW Ghia, 10.073, 133.86; Norris Prayoonoto, Honda Insight, 9.756, 128.51 def. Bisi Ezerioha, Insight, 11.775, 128.33; Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda Civic SI, 9.507, 140.31 def. Doug Parks, Mazda 3, 10.503, 123.89; Scott Kelley, Toyotoa Corolla, 9.837, 135.62 def. Saul Salceda, Acura Integra, broke;

SEMIFINALS -- Prayoonoto, 9.790, 125.37 def. Durst-Armendariz, broke; Kelley, 9.801, 136.14 def. Lookofsky, 9.751, 132.97;

FINALS -- Prayoonoto, 9.730, 132.78 def. Kelley, 9.835, 136.47.

SPORT RWD:

ROUND ONE -- Ali Afshar, Subaru, 9.293, 148.76 def. Ari Yallon, Mazda RX7, 9.901, 134.24.

URBANRACER.COM SPORT FWD:

ROUND ONE -- Kevin Cudal, Honda Civic, 9.479, 162.06 def. Jasen Penman, 12.054, 81.30; Steven Conley, Civic, 9.881, 149.02 def. Gary Choi, 10.585, 141.25; Cortney Green, Civic, 10.022, 127.45 def. Jeremy Bretschneider, Civic, 13.882, 115.26; Felix Medina, Civic, 9.335, 158.59 def. Julio Alvarez, Integra, 10.474, 141.24; Kevin Van Natten, Dodge SRT-4, 9.456, 153.74 def. Theodore Aagen, Civic, 9.765, 148.44; Paul Ho, 10.702, 143.86 def. Anthony Dinallo, Civic, 9.689, 156.84; Jason Lopes, Scion tC, 10.045, 143.64 def. Angie Sriipoona, Integra, 22.299, 33.82; Kyle Herrera, Civic, 15.484, 102.13 def. Jency Carranza, Civic, broke;

QUARTERFINALS -- Palo, 9.995, 155.90 def. Conley, 10.116, 122.26; Herrera, 9.763, 149.88 def. Lopes, 9.969, 147.20; Medina, 9.411, 156.83 def. Green, 10.092, 151.80; Van Natten, 9.606, 153.60 def. Dinallo, 10.796, 141.79;

SEMIFINALS -- Herrera, 9.699, 150.75 def. Palo, 9.926, 156.63; Medina, 16.153, 78.57 def. Van Natten, broke;

FINAL -- Herrera, 9.693, 152.85 def. Medina, 17.650, 45.73.

BFGOODRICH TIRES STREET STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Jermey Nicolodemos, Neon, 12.601, 113.28 def. Edwin Argueta, 15.099, 102.81; Loan Nguyen, Honda Civic, 19.270, 70.71 was unopposed;

Mike Chace, Honda Del Sol, 14.749, 92.71 def. Jerry Nguyen, Civic, broke;

QUARTERFINALS -- Nicolodemos, 14.687, 84.89 was unopposed;

Chace, 14.480, 94.41 def. L. Nguyen, 17.828, 44.81;

FINALS -- Nicolodemos, 12.439, 132.97 def. Chace, 14.585, 93.91.

QUICK 16:

ROUND ONE -- Troy Palmer, VW, 11.765, 89.14 def. Mark Protheno, VW, foul; Ismel Mogoral, Honda, 11.671, 114.86 def. Jason Whitfield, Cobalt, 10.586, 130.64; David Stark, VW, 10.413, 127.51 def. Karl Koppenhaver, VW, 10.697, 120.94; Erica Nocita, Cobalt, 10.809, 109.37 def. Esther Hollister, VW, 11.813, 132.09; Karl Martin, Mazda RX7, 10.292, 134.58 def. Hector Urias, VW, 9.218, 147.33; Santos Renovales, Sprinter, 12.352, 69.83 def. Bok Mounlachack, Honda Civic, 16.224, 66.38; Larry Kelley, VW Beetle, 12.768, 74.19 def. Bee Agahzadeh, Civic, foul; Shawn Bergerson, 10.895, 106.17 def. Allen Wiess, broke;

QUARTERFINALS -- Palmer, 11.213, 117.07 def. Renovales, 9.645, 134.77; Nocita, 10.872, 108.71 def. Bergerson, 10.193, 131.34; Kelley, 10.730, 119.58 def. Mogoral, 11.633, 115.74; Martin, 10.369, 124.00 def. Stark, 10.492, 125.39;

SEMIFINALS -- Martin, 10.738, 98.32 def. Nocita, 11.762, 99.81; Palmer, 14.426, 61.80 def. Kelley, foul;

FINAL -- Palmer, 11.010, 121.08 def. Martin, 9.935, 132.97.