Drag Racing Action Online

Images: John McCartney, Bob Reed, John Charbonneau and Angela Cook

The 16th Annual Dover Dragstrip Nostalgia Drags held at Lebanon Valley Dragway outside Albany New York had something for every drag race fan. Funny Cars, Dragsters, Fuel Altereds, and Gassers. Doorslammers and bracket cars in addition to a custom car show and a back up girl (BUG) contest, were also on hand to celebrate the Dover track which was the place to race in the sixties.

The event, the brainchild of promoter Dino Lawrence was held the last weekend of September under beautiful NY skies.

Dino and Miss Dover Drag Strip  Gwyn Clark

“I began my career pin stripping and lettering cars at Dover,” Lawrence said. “In high school I would go to the track any way I could to be there. One day they needed an announcer, and I volunteered, and it lasted for years.”

“There were cars here this weekend that do not race at any other events other than the Reunion. The fans and the track personnel know this and appreciate these racers coming to the show.”

“We started this event at Island and after two years there, I contacted Howie Commander about bringing the show to Lebanon Valley and it has been there ever since.”

“This year’s event was so well received by the fans and racers, I cannot say enough about the positive reviews on the internet and in person.”

Friday and Saturday featured test and tune sessions along with the SuperCars and NODRAMA group (Northeast Old Drag Racers and Musclecar Association) in addition to a Gamblers race.

Sunday was the big show with some of the quickest nostalgia Alcohol Funny Cars in the Northeast putting on a great race for the fans.

Krista Massarella ,near lane, was the “Queen” of the Blonde Bombshell Shootout

Two sessions of the Funny Cars were held with a special all female match race between Krista Massarella in the Temporary Insanity Monza against Robin Stambaugh in the Generation X Vega.

The match was billed as, The Blonde Bombshell Funny Car Shootout, a nod to the days when match racing was the norm at tracks across the USA.

In round one, Krista Massarella won a close race over Stambaugh with a 6.71@205 to Stambaugh’s 6.81 @203 MPH

Round Two had Massarella improving to a 6.61@207 to Stambaugh’s consistent 6.80 @ 207.

“With the unfortunate rain out of last year’s event, Dino’s Blonde Bombshell Funny Car Shootout was 2 years in the making,” said Krista’s husband, tuner, and team member Chris Massarella.  “Neither team disappointed with both drivers running well into the 6 second zone at over 200 mph, putting on a great show for the packed house.”

After the ladies, it was time for the boys to shine. In the first round Joey Pirrone behind the wheel of the Pirrone Racing Super Camaro took the win over the Iron Outlaw Mustang of Jami Russell 6.35 to a 6.44.

Jon Wall driving Ed Parker’s Cape Codder Arrow took down the Total Insanity Monza of Massarella’s 6.35 to the 6.67.  The win was emotional for Wall as his friend and mentor, Ed Parker, owner of the Cape Codder, wasn’t there. Parker who has been a fixture in Northeast alcohol scene for decades with a series of quick running cars, has been battling health issues and was not at the race but was in the hearts of all the racers and fans at Lebanon Valley.

In round two Wall continued his winning ways with a victory over Russell 6.29 to a 6.49 of Russell.

Closing out the session was Joey Pirrone carding Low ET of the Meet 6.18 to the 6.65 of Massarella. With the 6.18, Pirrone was declared the unofficial “Winner” of the Alcohol Funny Car show.

“Awesome day and awesome track,” said Joey’s dad, Rocky. “The Pirrone Race team had the Super Camaro funny car ready to do battle at one of the best tracks in the northeast. We made two strong passes, a 6.35 at 225 and a 6.18 at 228 to claim low et and top speed of the meet.

“We dedicated this race to our fellow racer and good friend Ed Parker of Cape Codder fame who is going through some serious health issues.”

Chris Massarella, who helped Dino getting the Alcohol part of the show together said, “I am really proud that all the Alcohol cars ran in the sixes and over 200 MPH on every pass,”

As if the quarter mile action of the Alcohol Funny Cars wasn’t enough, Wayne Hofmann and his China Syndrome tribute car was racing the Boston Monkey Camaro of Paul Conlon in an 1/8-mile match race.

Hofmann took both races with a 4.06 and a 4.08 to the 4.17 and 4.13 of Conlon.

“I love coming to Lebanon,” Hofmann said after the event. “The track prep is bar none the best . I have run my best times there.”

Hofmann, who builds his own big block Chevy motors adds,” My BBC took out another Hemi!”  Then jokingly adds, “I guess that Monkey is heading back to Boston to look for some more powerful banana’s”

Conlon said after the event, “Our experience at Lebanon Valley Dragway last Sunday was as an exciting one, on and off the track. We had a great time at the Valley. Always top-notch cars to run against.”

Conlon continued, “The warm crowd response shown to us as we towed the funny car down the return road after each pass was very much appreciated. We’ve had great fan support the two times that we ran at the Dover Dragstrip Reunion, in 2020 and now in 2024. We always feel very welcome by the awesome people working there. Definitely coming back.”

Hofmann’s Pontiac is dedicated to his dad Al Hoffmann who was an NHRA star in Fuel Funny Car for decades and gave John Force some of the best racing he had back during Force’s reign. Al was a huge fan of the Dover reunion, and each year made an effort to attend the event when it was held at Marcus Dairy in Danbury CT.

The East Coast Fuelers had a unique “Winner Take All” eliminations on Sunday featuring both dragsters and altereds putting on smokey burnouts for a win and the cash that came with it.

After the smoke cleared it was Bill Krause and Charlie Benson the quickest two cars after qualifying was complete with Benson taking the win over Krause

“I reached out to Dino a few years ago to let him know about my group East Coast Fuelers,” said ECF president,” Jim Cummings. “I told him we’re all blown front motor dragsters and Altereds and we would be a great addition to his Dover Race.”

“This year we did a “shootout” winner takes $1500. Old school Chicago style. One qualifier round and two fastest run for the money We had Billy Masiello, Jim Cummings, Don Landis, Charlie Benson, Dennis Cocozzolli and Bill Krause gunning for the money!

It was 81yrs young Bill Krause and Charlie Benson in the final with Charlie coming out on top with an et of 6.48@ 210mph!!

Lebanon Valley track manager Wayne Delmonte said after the successful event. “As soon as the event is over, Dino is already thinking about next year’s event and how to make it better.”

“He deserves most of the credit for the success the event has seen. Dino lives and breathes the Dover Reunion. Obviously, the Dover Reunion is one of the biggest shows we have a Lebanon Valley. This year we had awesome weather and the crowd was great. We had some first time entries in the car show which is wonderful. High quality of cars.”

Dez Davis, winner of Best Backup Girl and Miss Dover Drag Strip  Gwyn Clark

“And the Funny Cars were flying. Just look at Rocky Pirrone’s car running a 6.18 which was wild.”

Other winners at the Reunion were:

The Dover 4 Speed class was won by Jesse Helger of Tiverton, RI when he defeated Ken Boyer of Palmer, MA.

In Dover Comp, Pat Brewer of Lebanon, PA took the win when he defeated Arthur Battersky of North Smithfield, RI.

The Dover Vintage class was won by Russ Wilber of Ghent, NY when he defeated Gary Castaglia of Westerly, RI.

In the Electronics gamblers, Robert (RJ) Deveau of Bristol, CT defeated Pete Sanca of North Haven, CT in the final round.

For more awesome images from the event , go to: