Daniels Leads Dutch Classic HEMI Challenge Field With Record Run

October 23, 2009

Contact: Michael Smith (734) 347-9871
E-mail: msmith@jrthompson.com  

 

MOPAR(r) HEMI(r) CHALLENGE QUALIFYING REPORT
2009 NHRA Dutch Classic
October 22-25
Maple Grove Raceway, Mohnton, Pa.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Daniels Still Driver to Beat at Dutch Classic Mopar(r) HEMI(r) Challenge

Pennsylvania dentist sets NHRA National Record in Qualifying

 

Mohnton, Pa. - Jim Daniels left no doubt he is once again the driver to
beat at the 2009 Mopar(r) HEMI(r) Challenge Race Series Dutch Classic
event at Maple Grove Raceway, after setting a Super Stock/A-HEMI
National Record to lead qualifying heading into Saturday's scheduled
eliminations.

 

The Bristol, Pa., dentist qualified at the top of the Dutch Classic
field in his Ray Barton-built 1968 HEMI Dodge Dart with a record run of
8.331 seconds at 157.96 mph on his first pass Thursday, bettering the
8.38/157.08 mark set by Charlie Westcott Jr. of Parma, Mich. at this
event in 2008. Daniels, who also led qualifying for last month's
Columbus, Ohio event, backed up the record with an 8.37-second pass
later in the day.

 

Ray Barton's son, David, of Robesonia, Pa., will begin eliminations from
the second spot, trailing Daniels with a best of 8.445 seconds in
qualifying. Annandale, N.J. driver Gary Wolkwitz is third, followed by
Stephen Hebert of Westlakes, La., and Jim Pancake of Delaware, Ohio. A
total of 14 SS/AH 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracudas made
qualifying runs.

 

Rain is expected throughout much of the eastern U.S. on Saturday. In the
event race activities are washed out tomorrow, final HEMI Challenge
eliminations will begin at 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

 

The Dutch Classic is the largest all-sportsman event on the east coast,
with the Mopar HEMI Challenge taking Saturday's center stage.
Participants will vie for the $5,000 winner's purse at the final Mopar
HEMI Challenge event of the 2009 season. 

 

 

 

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