By JM Hallas
MARION, Texas – San Antonio Raceway hosted the Nitro Funny Cars Friday for qualifying and Saturday for eliminations. Along with the special show it was another round of IHRA Summit Super Series bracket racing on the 1/8 mile drag strip just outside of San Antonio.
While most of the south-central tracks, both circle and drag strips, were falling to rain outs, San Antonio Raceway dodged the storms to get the event in. A brief shower brought a halt to time trials, but once it passed it was back to racing. The potential for rain probably held back the car count some and spectators as well.
Romine Rockets to Funny Car win
Paul Romine (Fishers, Ind.) was the big winner in the Nitro Funny cars besting John Hale in the finals. Romine, in the Man o’ War, Aerolite Racing, Boss Hemi 79 Mustang and Hale(Dallas) in his One Bad Texan, Best of Texas BBQ, Hemi 69 Camaro both stumbled on the start with their reaction times, but Romine was able to make a cleaner pass while Hale clicked it off early.
Paul Romine, 5.803 @ 233.40 defeats John Hale, 7.962 @ 114.10
In the consolation race Ronnie Young(Wylie) in the Blue Max, BAE powered, 79 Dodge was first off the line with Fred Farndon(Edmond, Ok) in the Play It Loud, 77 Firebird faltered. Both cars shut off early with Young getting to line first.
Ronny Young, 7.7075 @ 125.00 defeats Fred Farndon, 14.866 @ 41.69
In round one Romine took out Young in the closest race of the evening with Romines 5.869 @ 230.41 besting Youngs 5.953 @ 242.46. The other first round match up saw Farndon leave before the third amber giving the win to Hale who ran a 6.202 @ 180.58.
Ball Best in Box
San Antonio’s Scott Ball gave his daughter Haily a birthday present with a win the Electronics (Box) finals. Ball, in his Mission Auto Dragster, squared off with Brandon Bass in his Brando Custom Paint Dragster. Bass tried to get the jump on Ball, a former track champ and World Finals champion, but went red handing the victory to Ball at the starting line.
Scott Ball (4.65) 4.737 @ 126.94 defeats Brandon Bass (4.94) 6.149 @ 78.26(red)
On his way to the finals Ball took out Leroy O’Bryant, Aaron Cole, Brent Ritter, Greg Meuth and got a bye in the semis. Bass beat JT Taylor, Brett Zampese, Jay Fitzgerald, Jimmy Koranek and David Bills.
Soefje Snags Foot Brake Finals
If you had an 87 Mustang winning the Foot Brake (No Box) pool, you were s guaranteed winner as a pair of ponies paired off for the pay day (say that 5 times fast). Dennis Soefje (Seguin) had 3/100th in the bank on the tree, then ran near his number and carried that to the stripe over Aaron Ackridge (New Braunfels) who missed his number badly.
Dennis Soefje (6.76) 6.799 @ 98.19 defeats Aaron Ackridge (6.88) 7.095 @ 99.05
In eliminations Soefje bested Tom Posey, Silvia Zemgals, Aaron Tschoepe, Todd Zampese and took the bye in the semifinals. Ackridge trailered Harold Shimek, Nelson Friedeck, Joe Montoya, Sherman Davis and Ely Trevino.
Derks Dialed in for Street Dough
Norman Derks (Liberty Hill), who normally runs at Little River Dragway, made the trip to San Antonio pay off with the Street class victory. Derks, in his Norman Derks Building Supply, 2006 Chrysler 300 was matched with last nights ‘Top Shop’ winner, Rhett Floyd in his O’Bryant Automotive, 2005 GMC Sierra. Floyd gave the race away at the start going .007 red, but Derks would have been tough to beat as he nailed his dial in.
Norman Derks (8.21) 8.218 @ 85.60 defeats Rhett Floyd (10.57) 10.562 @ 68.90(red)
Derks got victories over Brandon Spain, Silvia Zemgals and H. Garela, plus a round 2 bye. Floyd, who rebought after a round 1 loss to Zemgals, then bettered Ronald Gordner, Zach Tschoepe with a semifinal bye.
Meuth Grabs Jr Dragster Money
The Jr Dragster finals saw two upcoming Boerne young guns showing their stuff in a round 1 rematch. It came down to the finals between Caden Meuth and Gianni Carrola in a race that was decided at the finish stripe, by a double break out. Carrola, in the AMSOIL, All In Designs, Half Scale Chassis got almost 2/100th on the start but as both legged it out, both went under their dial in. Meuth, in the Quality Care Automotive, 2017 Half Scale Chassis, was the least offender (by .042) and was awarded the honors.
Caden Meuth (7.97) 7.946 @ 75.09 defeats Gianni Carrola (7.94) 7.910 @ 81.70(double break out)
Meuth beat Carrola early in round 1, then Jessika Jackson with a round 2 bye. Carrola rebought after the first round loss, then got wins over Haily Ball plus a semifinal bye.
