NHRA Division One Banquet at Kalahari Full of Winners and Surprises

Drag Racing Action Online

Images David Smith and Phil Hutchison

After decades of holding their annual awards ceremony in Hershey Pennsylvania, in 2024 the NHRA Northeast Division decided to mix it up and moved the party to the Pocono Mountains of PA.

Now for the second year, the Kalahari Resort and Convention center was the perfect place for racers and their families with a huge water park at the resort for kids and adults alike to enjoy the water rides along with a great selection of restaurants and bars to satisfy everybody’s tastes. The venue also allowed division director Mark Dawson and the NED crew to hold technical and track operators’ meetings in a unique setting.

But the focus for the weekend was to recognize the winners in the 2024 season. Not only were the D1 Lucas Oil divisional winners on hand, the Summit ET, Jegs and Summitt Junior Dragster racers were recognized for their on-track and year long wins.

NHRA announcer Brian Lohnes was scheduled to MC the event, but a family emergency took him out of action and long time NED associate Jim Bowen was pressed into service and Jim did just was expected of him, keeping the party going and handling the job with a cool assurance of a seasoned professional.

Also at the podium were East Regional champs Jackie Fricke for her Top Alcohol Dragster title along with Chip Beverett who took the Top Alcohol Funny Car class for 2024.

Most of the winners are already known before the party but every year there are a host of “surprise” winners announced that make the evening more special.

The 2024 Image of Youth award went to second generation racer Paul Stalba from Hammonton NJ. Paul also walked away with the first time NHRA Division One Junior dragster 11-18 title. The series, the culmination of hard work from sponsors AA Auto Salvage and Craws Racing follows the Lucas Oil series points example and will be a welcome addition to the Junior series in years to come.

Shane Oakes might have won the 2024 NED Stock title, but his wife, Sara, nabbed the Crew Chief of The Year in a surprise for her and Shane. Shane who won two Lucas divisional events on his way to the title, knows behind every great man is a great woman. An award well deserved.

Third generation racer Paul Northrop, who won the Summitt Pro ET championship and represented D1 at the finals in Vegas, won the Summitt Series ET Driver of the Year. Paul, who recently lost his grandfather and patriarch of the team, Paul Northrop, was out getting his photo taken for his Summitt win when his name was called and had to rush back to the stage to get his Driver of the Year award.

Jim Halsey and Cathy Crouse Halsey, managers and owners of Cecil County Dragway in Maryland were awarded the NED Never Rest Award for their tireless contributions to the sport and his constant striving to improve the track for racers and fans alike.

Halsey was also enshrined in the NED Hall of Fame with his body of winning in NHRA, IHRA, and PDRA Pro Mod competition

Jeff Eastburn and the Hoopes Fire Prevention Inc were the NED Sponsors of the Year. Hoopes is a constant presence at all of the NED races where safety is the number one priority.

Maple Grove Dragway in Mohnton PA. won the Summitt Racing Jr. Dragster League team championship walked away with the NED Track of the Year.

Banquet emcee, Jim Bowen, a long time Northeast Division mainstay, was inducted into the NED Hall of Fame recognizing his years of service to the racers and the division.