PHIL HUTCHISON DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE

IMAGES DAVID SMITH DIANE KUBICKE AND PHIL HUTCHISON

 

SUPER COMP

As long as D1 Super Comp racer Jeff Kundratic has been racing, it was surprising that the Maryland racer finally won his first NHRA event at Cecil. Driving the Lucas Oil, Right Trailers, JKR dragster, Kundratic defeated the Accelerated Travel car of Shawn Fricke in the Saturday night finals

After getting around Howie Smith and Lee Ream in earlier rounds as Fricke had transmission guru Ken Moses and Kathy Smulligan on his side of the ladder, it was Fricke with the better light in the finals, but the Flemington N.J. racer didn’t run the time losing with a 8.947 to the winning 8.918 of Kundratic.

“I’ve built my life around racing. I brought my family up in it, and I even built a business around it, so winning a national event has been a lifetime goal of mine,” Kundratic said after his historic win at Cecil.

“This was our fourth national event final, and I wasn’t sure it was ever going to happen, so to finally get it done means a lot. My business in helping other people with their racing programs isn’t the easiest when you’re trying to race yourself. Your brain is constantly switching gears.”

“We’re the official trackside support team for some of the most trusted brands in the sport. A lot of times I find myself prioritizing customers, making sure they have what they need to race safely, and put myself second. That’s the business we chose and I’m proud of what we do, but it can make chasing something like this a bit harder.

“The day itself was pretty special, too. First round I had John Bruzzo, who has been a longtime “nemesis” of mine on the track. Then came friend, Steve Logan, Gary Pritchett, Lee Ream and Howie Smith before racing Shawn Fricke in the final. All of the competition to get to the final are supportive customers off the track, and tough competitors on it.”

“Its an odd opportunity to win a national event at a track, our home track, that isn’t on the national event tour. I have a lot of appreciation for Jimmy Halsey, Cathy, Richard Crouse and Chad and what they’ve done to build Cecil to all it is. When we lost Maple, they stepped up to host this event. They didn’t have to, but they did it for our division, and I don’t think we should forget that.”

“Most of all, this is a team win. I have to thank my wife, Cathy, for everything she does to keep our racing program competitive. My daughter, Kelly, who won her Diamond Wally at the Gators at the beginning of the season.”

“Winning a national has always been something I wanted to do, but being able to accomplish it in the same season as my daughter is really special. Special thanks to Powder Coat Finishes LLC, JKR Racing Products, Lucas Oil, Hoosier, Ken Moses Race Transmissions, Holley Brands, and Right Trailers for their long-time commitments to our program.”

Fricke had a good day taking his Accelerated Travel car to the finals

SUPER GAS

After an early exit during Friday’s Lucas Oil race, Kade Edmonds from Montz La. Went all the way on Saturday beating Pennsylvania racer Michael Lang.

Lang, a longtime NED and Mid Atlantic driver, got antsy and went -0.028 red giving the Louisiana racer his first National event win in his first ever final round.

“I’d like to thank God for this opportunity. None of this would be possible without him,” Edmonds said. “I’d like to thank my parents for bringing me racing and introducing me to this amazing sport. Thanks to Joe Jolly with SPE, Nick Brener with American Race Cars, and all the racing team back home in Louisiana.”

“It was a great weekend for my dad and I. We had three final round appearances between the two races. I had a runner up in Super Street for the first race and my dad had a runner up in Top Sportsman.”

“Unfortunately, we both turned it red in the final. We just bought the truck at the end of last year, threw a throttle stop on it and decided to come Super Gas racing. The S10 truck in Super Gas has been giving us problems. We went to Norwalk, Ohio a couple weeks ago and ended up hurting the motor. We just changed motors before coming here to Cecil County Dragway, Maryland where we struggled dialing the truck for the first race.”

“I made some good laps and started to get back comfortable with the new motor. The truck was backing up the numbers and treating me well. I was consistent on the tree, but as I got later into the rounds and later into the night, I started getting more pumped up and seeing the tree a lot better, so I kept adding numbers in my delay box. I was a little late in the semis and final but did a great job driving the stripe.

“I am 22 years old and just started racing the beginning of last year. It’s an honor to win the 75th Anniversary Diamond Wally. I won earlier in the year at the division two points race South Georgia Motorsports Dragway. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since and finally got the big Diamond Wally. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to compete in this beautiful sport.”

After his Cecil runner up, Lang adds, “My son and I rolled in Cecil County on Friday the 7th of August for the Mid-Atlantic Super Series Uncle Buck Pig Roast and after Sunday race,”

“Since I am retired, I had stayed there for the week since I would of come back on Wednesday for the Lucas oil race in which I made it to the quarter finals and I felt good about since it kept me in the top 10 in points.”

“The car was pretty consistent, and we were going into Sunday Sports National getting one time shot since they were running Stock and Super Stock class.  our first round wasn’t till after 3 in the afternoon and second round was around 8 pm not knowing what they were going to do but NHRA decided to finish the race that night since the weather was not looking good for Sunday.

“My lights were not great but better than my opponents making it to the final were unfortunately I beat myself by going 011 red but all and all it was a good weekend I have to thank my son Sean, the Mattern family for all there help also Eric of ET Transmission, Jeff Stricker of Road Runner Fuel, Dave George for the machine work on my motor.”

“It takes a lot to go rounds and it also helps to be sitting in a good car thank you to everyone who gave me a pat on the back and said good job.”

SUPER STREET

With more notoriety building motors in some the best cars in the division and not a driver, James Antonette , a young 72 years old from Valley Stream N.Y. got behind the wheel of his ’67 Camaro and took it to a win at Cecil beating the refrigerator white Monte Carlo of Mike Epprecht in the finals.

Antonette beat Mark Proulx and Chris Mattern along with Mid Atlantic kingpin Dom Burgese on his trip to the final. Epprecht defeated Lawrence Paden and a returning Taylor Nobile on his way to the money round.  Using a better reaction time, Antonette beat Epprecht with a 10.927 to a 10.972 of Epprecht for his second career NHRA National event Wally. 

Antonette who won his first NHRA race at Virgina in 2009 said after his win, “I haven’t raced in years at night. Not since the Englishtown days. Maybe 30 years. I’m racing Proulx and was disoriented and I had my finger the button and looked up the tree was lit. I was late. My car does big MPH and he expected to see me on the top end and make a move on him, but I wasn’t there and he broke out. Got lucky. After years of racing I should have learned do not take your eye off the tree, but the car saved me.” 

“After that round I decided to get focused and hit the tree from then on. Over the years I have learned to become calm and not let things bother me.”  

“Epprecht is a good kid and hangs around with our team and is a very good friend of my nephew, he holds a lot on the top end but everything went our way.”  

“I’m partners with my nephew Jason Kittenplan and we take turns driving the car. He drove at the Lucas race and I took over Saturday for the Open.”

“I have to thanks my wife of nearly 50 years Theresa. My nephew Jason and my son James who has had success in Super Stock. He took a hiatus but came back and told me he wanted to race some of the doubles with me, and I decided to keep the Camaro and join him. I sat on the sidelines watching him win races like the JEGs race but have not raced in years but got the Camaro from a racer in Staten Island getting a tremendous deal. I love racing again.”  

 “After the win and the photos in the winner’s circle, I got back to my trailer at three am. It was great I had my wife there, my three dogs, my kids, my grandkids. Must have been a hundred people in the winner’s circle.”   

Epprecht said after his run at Cecil, “Ended up with runner up finish at the SPORTSnationals at Cecil County! It was a good day for sure. Congrats to Mr Antonette on a great day and a win! Couldn’t have done well today without my close knit friends!”

 

JUNIOR DRAGSTER 11-18

With a win in the finals by approximately a foot, Jacob Biron from Weare N.H. beat Rachel Stewart from Elverson Pa.  Stewart had the better light, but Biron ran closer to his 7.93 dial with a 7.995 to the losing 7.943 on a 7.90 dial of Stewart.

“It was a great weekend,” Biron said.  “I usually only do one divisional a year at my home track, New England Dragway. I have been fortunate to do some traveling with the Mason family this year. Justin asked me if I wanted to make the trip to Cecil the week before for the .90 Mid-Atlantic Series, leave the trailer, and head back the following weekend for the Sportsnationals to chase that Diamond Wally.”

“​Saturday was a long day since NHRA was trying to finish before the rain predicted on Sunday. It was challenging trying to stay focused with so much time in between runs. ​I managed to get through the first couple rounds and gain some confidence. My car was really good, but I was struggling a bit at the tree, so I really had to rely on driving the finish line to make up for it.”

“In the quarters and semis, I raced my good friends Alfonse and Charlie , who are great racers. When I got by them, I knew I had a shot. In the finals, we were both dialed within a few hundredths and we left together, and I just tightened it up as much as I could at the stripe for a .011 MOV to get my first Diamond Wally.”

​“It’s been a great year so far and I can’t thank all the people enough who have helped me get here. First off, my Mom and Dad make all this possible for me. My sister Aubrey, the Masons—especially Justin for believing in me and taking me racing—the Cabrals, Jackson Worters, and Mike Handras.”

“​I also want to give a big shout-out to all my sponsors: Mickey Thompson Tires, Eastern VP Fuels, Summit Racing Equipment, and Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear.”

Pennsylvania racer Rachel Stewart made it all the way to the finals but could not run the number and had to settle for second place at Cecil

JUNIOR DRAGSTER 6-10

Anthony Fetch a third-generation racer from Colonia N.J. continues to win driving his dragster to a win over Massachusetts racer Maddox Mason.

Anthony crushed the tree and ran a right on with a two 9.012 on his 9.01 prediction. Mason, late on the tree was further off his dial running a losing 8.989 on an 8.93 dial.

“I’m just happy to get past 1st round and I felt bad for my friend Nicolas Antonette when he lost 1st round.,” Anthony said. “Nick told me go win that Wally and don’t let anyone else take it.”

“I was so happy to win my 3rd Diamond Wally. I couldn’t have done it without my mom and dad. Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa of their support, and help.  Nicolas Antonette and all my racing friends and my family for cheering me on.”

“Thanks to Al Kubicke from Kubicke Motorsports Randy from Half Scale and VP Racing Fuels.