By JM Hallas

MARION, Texas – Saturday evening it was back to Summit Super Series Bracket Racing on the 1/8th mile at San Antonio Raceway. This would be the sixth round of points racing on the drag strip located just east of San Antonio. Coming to the midway portion of the Summit Series season, points races are already beginning to take shape.

In the Electronics (Box) class it’s former San Antonio Raceway promoter Todd Zampese leading the way by a couple rounds over former track and IHRA World Finals champ, Scott Ball. Todd Robinson, Greg Meuth and Mike Atkinson round out the top five.

In Foot Brake (No-Box) it’s Dennis Soefje by a mere two points over Harold Shimick with Todd Zampese, Wendell Dockery and Joe Montoya in the top five.

Zach Tschoepe took over the points lead from Silvia Zemgals, who looks to back up her Street Class championship from last year. Rhett Floyd is second, Zemgals third, with Brandon Spain, Norman Derks and Ronald Gordner tied for fourth.

The Jr. Dragsters show Jessika Jackson leading the way over Caden Meuth, Gianni Carrola, Haily Ball and S. Bordan.

This weekend the Summit Super Series began a new starting time and schedule format. Instead of racing throughout the heat of the day, start time was moved back to early evening. Though still quite warm, okay hot, it wouldn’t be an all-day bake in the sun.

Along with the IHRA Summit Super Series, action included and Nogalitos Gear Door Slammer Shootout and an open test-n-tune. A handful of heavy hitters took part in the test session including 14-time champion, Mike Murillo.

One oil down slowed action early in the event, but was quickly cleaned up. The night saw the worst incident when Eddie Hollon got sideways past the 1/8 mile, crossed lanes, over corrected and nosed his sharp looking roadster into the wall near the ¼ mile mark. Hollon was quickly out on his own and uninjured. It ended the night for Hollon, who had just won his semi-final run in Box (Electronics).

Box (Electronics) winner Scott Ball hikes the left front and squats the slicks on launch. Photo by JM Hallas

Ball Best with Bye in Box

The Box (Electronics) final should have had Scott Ball(San Antonio) in his Mission Racing Dragster go up against Eddie Hollon(Bulverde) in his Hollon & Fischer, 33 Dodge Roadster. After Hollon’s earlier crash Ball had a bye run and made a symbolic pass for the win.

Scott Ball (4.64) 9.629 @ 69.15—Bye runner-up

Ball defeated Paul Schneider (twice), J. Gonzales, Brent Ritter, and Jimmy Farmer to get to the finals. Hollon, who lost in round 1 to Dennis Smith, rebought then beat Kip Scharf, Juan Garza, Bobby Mendez and Sonny Garza before his crash.

No-Box (Foot Brake) winner Nelson Friedeck gets the wheels up on his Chevy II. Photo by JM Hallas

Friedeck Flies Through No-Box Field

Nelson Friedeck picked up the victory in the No-Box (Foot Brake) finals in a double break out win over Walter Dyrenfurth (Austin). Friedeck, in his Donogne Claims, Dynamic Bowling, and Chevy II gave up a 100^th on the tree to Dyrenfurth in his 69 Pontiac Firebird. Both ran it out the back door in a good side by side battle and broke out with Friedeck the least offender.

Nelson Friedeck (6.86) 6.838 @ 99.23 defeats Walter Dyrenfurth (6.94) 6.911 @ 97.66(double break out)

Friedeck bettered Corky Weeks, Tom Posey, J. Montoya, Mac Garcia and Roy Trevino in eliminations. Dyrenfurth lost round 1 to Art Morales, bought back in, then trailered J. Balderas, Brandon Spain, Brandon Mitchan and Anthony Montoya.

Street winner Zach Tschoepe coming off the line. Photo by JM Hallas

Tschoepe Tallies in Street

It was a pair of O’Bryant Automotive sponsored cars paired off the Street class finals pitting Zach Tschoepe (San Antonio) against Rhett Floyd (Boerne). Floyd, in his 2008 GMC Sierra, got 2/100th on the tree while Tschoepe, in his 72 Olds Cutlass waited. Floyd outran his dial in giving the win to Tschoepe, who would have been tough to beat, nailing his number.

Zach Tschoepe (8.07) 8.073 @ 84.99 defeats Rhett Floyd (10.53) 10.500 @ 69.06(break out)

Tschoepe had a round 1 bye, then took out G. Trevino, V. Hernandez and Caitlin Freddie. Floyd rebought after losing to V. Hernandez in round 1, then got by Heddlesten, Littlefield and D. Trevino

Junior Dragster winner Gianni Carrola on the chase after Jessika Jackson in the finals. Photo by JM Hallas

Carrola Cashes in Junior Dragsters

The Jr. Dragster finals was a rematch from round 1 of eliminations. In the opener it was Jessika Jackson getting the win over Gianni Carrola. In the finals it was Carrola (Boerne) getting the better of Jackson (Kyle), who broke out. Carrola in his AMSOIL, All In Designs, Half Scale Chassis got 8/100^thon Jackson, in her 2007 Half Scale Chassis, on green. On the top end Jackson ran under her dial in handing the honors to Carrola.

Gianni Carrola (7.98) 8.007 @ 80.52 defeats Jessika Jackson (8.58) 8.537 @ 77.20(broke out

Carrola beat Caden Meuth in round 2 while Jackson got second round bye after besting Carrola in round 1.

Nogalitos Gear Door Slammer Shootout winner Corky Weeks on a pass. Photo by JM Hallas

Weeks Wins Nogalitos Shootout

In the Nogalitos Gear Door Slammer Shootout Corky Weeks (Cotulla) squared off with Mac Garcia (San Antonio) in the finals. Weeks, in his 68 Camaro, got 1/100th advantage on the start over Garcia in his Mission Racing, Alamo Speed Shop, Nogalitos Gear, 72 Maverick. Weeks ran down Garcia at the big end to score the victory.

Corky Weeks (5.96) 5.987 @ 109.73 defeats Mac Garcia (7.43) 7.648 @ 87.65