Drag Racing Action Online  Images David Smith and Diane Kubicke

Mike Coughlin, Wayne Morris, and Stephen Szupka led the list of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Northeast Division completed its event at Lebanon Valley Dragway with a Monday finish.

The event, the third of six Lucas Oil events in Division One, had a somber tone. During Sunday’s racing, long time NED racer Bill Janke was fatally injured in a crash during Top Sportsman eliminations. Racing was halted for the day and resumed on Monday with Top Sportsman and Top Dragster to be decided at a later date.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

Winning Top Alcohol Dragster was Dublin Ohio racer Mike Coughlin driving the Jegs/McPhillips A/FD. With the Monday finish to the event, two of the semifinalists Brett Winward and Richard Bourke chose not to return. Coughlin’s semifinal race against Low Qualifier Jackie Fricke in the John Finke car would essentially be the finals.

It ended up being a wild one with Coughlin getting the jump on Fricke at the green. Around the 400 foot mark, Fricke’s car picked the front wheels up and power standed her way to 3/4 track where she got off the throttle allowing Coughlin to slip by for a 5.672 win over the 5.874 of Fricke.

Fricke, near lane, hiked the front wheels up on the Finke Equipment A/FD in the finals of T/AD ending her bid for a win at Lebanon Valley 

Nine T/AD cars were at the event with John Ausherman on the bump with a 6.263 with the blown car of Mike Hepp on the outside looking in.

                

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

Only two cars showed up to Lebanon Valley, so it was a quick affair between the pair. John Headley from Newportville Pa. had his ’00 Mustang up against Wayne Morris from Lincoln University Pa. Wayne driving the former Nick Januik Camaro, had the upper hand in qualifying and in the finals running a quick 5.769 to Headley’s 6.203. the win at Lebanon Valley was Morris’ third Lucas Oil Wally.

“We were just trying to get the car down the track and not lose. It was a shame more cars didn’t show up to the race.” Morris said after his win. “We calmed the car down to get down the tricky track. John Headley is a good friend of mine and the time he ran in the finals was probably the best he has run in a while.”

“I bought the car from Januik last year and it was a roller, I put my motor in the car and it’s running good. The motor is basically a Steve Boggs motor. We had some fuel issues at Cecil and Maple Grove but we think we got it figured out.”

“I plan on going to Epping and if the car runs good we plan on going to the US Nationals and finish the season at Maple Grove then go to Richmond for the final. I’m just trying to concentrate on doing good in D1.  I want to thank Earl Nichols, Brian Gawlik, and Keith Stradinski for helping me out.”

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Northampton Pa. racer Steve Szupka in on a roll in 2024.  Szupka is three for three in the NED with his win at Lebanon Valley.

Earlier in eliminations, Szupka driving the C/DA owned by Pam and Mike Miskovsky defeated the FS/SM COPO Camaro of Mike Letellier to face the A/EA of Todd Logan in the finals.

Logan who earlier defeated the B/ED of Greg Mannix had a 0.093 light to Szupka’s better 0.054 and Szupka took the win with a 0.577 under 6.993 to Logan’s tire spinning and losing low eight second run on a 7.85 index.

“We were very happy and fortunate to come out the win in Lebanon Valley,” Szupka said after his win.  “We tested on Thursday of the race and struggled a bit during testing and qualifying. The Miskovsky’s went back to a set up from last year going into eliminations and the car responded immediately.”

“Even though we won, it was a somber weekend and not much celebrating. Our team would like to dedicate our win in the memory of Bill Janke.”

SUPER STOCK

LaBrecque, far lane, fouled away any chances of a win against Worner in the finals of Super Stock

Byron Worner from Duncannon, Pa. drove his GT/HA ’94 Camaro to his second Lucas win of 2024 defeating the ’00 S10 GT/TB of Marc LaBrecque from Whately, Mass. in the finals at Lebanon Valley.

Worner knew he won the race at the starting line as LaBrecque left the line 0.007 too soon putting Worner in the winner’s circle. Earlier in eliminations Worner beat Bob Letellier, Herbie Null and Tony Fillipone and LaBrecque got by current points leader Pete D’Agnolo and Dean Mowery to get to the finals.

“It was definitely a tough weekend with the weather and the tragedy on track,” Worner said after his win.

 “I guess I like racing Div 1 races on Monday this year. I had to race my buddy Herbie Null in the third round and just like all the other times we have squared off it was a close race that fortunately went my way. It feels good to win these races with all the tough competitors in D1.”

The win put Worner in second place in the NED Lucas Oil point chase.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

It was a pair of COPO Camaros in the finals of Stock as Ottsville Pa. racer Shane Oakes drove his sharp ‘15 Camaro COPO FS/C to a win over a fouling Cliff Hynson from Fredericksburg Va. in his FS/B Camaro who left 0.038 too soon.

Oakes got around the COPO Camaro of Jack Matyas in the semis after beating Tim Stickles in the quarter finals.

Hynson beat Martin Bernard and Chris Butcher on his way to the finals.

After his win Oakes said, “It was great to get the first win with the new car under my belt, I couldn’t have done it without the help of my wife and great friends.”

“Under the circumstances of this weekend’s tragic events, it puts into focus that we go to spend time with friends and family and that winning is a lucky byproduct. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Janke family. Our racing community is always strong.”

Runner up Hynson left the race in first place in the NED Lucas Oil points with Oakes firmly in second.

SUPER COMP

Boicesco, far lane, is off the line first against Sepanek and it paid off

Second generation racer Amanda Boicesco Warminster Pa. got her first win for 2024 behind the wheel of her “Relentless” dragster beating transmission specialist Jack Sepanek in the finals on a hole shot.

 Sepanek from Moosic Pa. had a decent 0.021 light, but Boicesco was out first with a telepathic 0.007 RT. Sepanek ran right on the 8.90 dial with a 8.909 but the race was won on the starting line as Boicesco took the win light with a 8.914.

 Earlier Boicesco beat Jeff Kundratic and Tori Iacono to get to the finals as Sepanek beat Phil Mollichella and Michael Handras to get his chance for the trophy.

“I had been knocking on the door the last few weeks with runner ups at the Reading Divisional and Virginia National,” Boicesco said.  “The car and I were working good, but I was just getting out packaged.”

“This win was bittersweet. Obviously, I was happy to finally turn on that last win light, but the mood was very somber after we lost Janke. Your perspective on what’s important in life changes. Win or lose I just hoped for safe races all day.”

“I ran the test and tune on Thursday at Lebanon and Howie Smith asked me why I was beating my car up when it’s been running so well. I said “there’s always room for improvement… I need to be able to get inside the packages people are putting on me.”

Boicesco adds, “This was also my first race win on gas. For the first 10 years of my racing career I ran Alcohol Injection similar to my father’s super gas set up. The alcohol set up was good for me for a long time and I’m not knocking it by any means. However, the last few years I really struggled with dialing the car. This winter I decided to make a radical change. I bought a gas carburetor and new throttle stop from Gary Stinnett. I guess you could say that this was my first win under my own program which was very satisfying to see pay off.”

The win at Lebanon Valley, her fifth career Lucas Divisional win, put Boicesco in first place in the division points race.

SUPER GAS

Ellendale Del native Keith Mayers drove his unique ‘88 Quadrafollio to a win over the  ’03 Cavalier of Michael Handras from New York who went too quick in the loss.

Both drivers had nearly identical reaction times separated by just 0.004 so it was down to who ran closer to the 9.90 index without breaking out and unfortunately for Handras, he kept his foot in it a tad too long as Mayers ran a nearly right on 9.901.

Earlier in eliminations Mayers beat local racer Bill Rogers and Oscar Olt while Handras took out Mid Atlantic 0.90 President Rob Keister and Rick Mattioli on his way to the finals.

SUPER STREET


Edward McCleaft from Shinglehouse Pa took his ‘63 Nova, to a double breakout final win over the ’80 Chevy Malibu of Raymond Butler from Enfield, Conn.

McCleaft was off the line first with a great 0.014 light to Butler’s 0.042 and it paid off as both drivers went under the 10.90 index. McCleaft’s 10.893 was the lesser of two evils as Butler’s 10.881 put McCleaft in his second career Lucas Oil Super Street winner’s circle.

New NHRA Division One director Mark Dawson, joins Ed and Kari McCleast in the LV winner’s circle after his win

“I was very happy to have my wife, Kari with me at Lebanon Valley as her plans changed last minute,” McCleaft, who also has won in Super Gas said.  “Always so much better when she able to be there and especially when we can celebrate a WIN! With the holiday, we decided to head up on Wednesday to do some motorcycle riding through the beautiful area that surrounds Lebanon Valley. We could only dream of ending the weekend hoisting another Wally.”

“I didn’t realize how many “local” tough customers we would have to fight off on our way to the winner’s circle! What a tough group they’ve got up there. We had one of their toughest in the finals. To be able to come out on top against Ray, we were very fortunate. That always been a fear of mine from the day we started doing some traveling, racing the locals.”

“This is the 2nd win we’ve had in Super Street there, must be something this car loves about that track! Can’t wait to go back! We also had a great showing in Super Comp as well, taking the dragster to the 4th round. As many have said and will continue to, all of us were racing with heavy hearts after the tragic accident on Sunday.

McCleaft adds, “Huge thank you to my wife, family, friends and the great companies behind us. THE Lebanon Valley crew and NHRA did an amazing job! Thanks to all.”

JUNIOR DRAGSTER

New Jersey racer and second-generation racer Paul Stalba won the 11-18 class defeating Zach Grignon of Troy, NY

In the 6 to 10 year old category, Giulia Held of Massapequa, NY defeated Nicholas Antonette in the final.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Best Appearing went to the SS/H Nova of Tony Fillipone from Hampstead NH. 

The Best Engineered Award was given to the beautiful Top Sportsman ’63 Corvette of Canadian racers Gérard Milette and Suzanne Poirier

The next NED Lucas Oil divisional will be at Numidia Dragway in Pennsylvania the weekend of July 25.

 

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