Phil Hutchison Drag Racing Action Online

Images Kalyn Rose Guenther, David Smith, and Bob Reed

After great weather for the first race of a double header weekend, the NHRA Division One team and the Numidia Dragway crew was geared up for round two on Saturday. After a full day of qualifying, it was time to decide who would take home the Wallys on Sunday at Numidia. In addition, the race at the Pennsylvania facility was the last race of 2025 to earn points for the NHRA JEGS ­Allstars.so there was plenty of drama for the racers wanting to punch their ticket for the race in Dallas.

NHRA Division One coordinator Steve Rhoads said,” Having a double points race to end the JEGS Allstar run was awesome. It provided a great opportunity for so many of our racers and our out of division racers to come and compete.”

“Having a double saves the racers time and money with having only one tow and the ability for less travel. We were blessed with great weather and a great team of Numidia and division staff working together.”

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

After red lighting in Friday’s finals against Glen Treadwell, Joe Carnasciale from Ashaway R.I. made up for it Sunday taking the Comp win over Santo Volpe.

Carnasciale used a 0.015 RT to Volpe’s 0.028 get off the line first and took his ’07 Caviler I/SMA to the win with a 8.996 on a 9.44 index to Volpe’s 0.470 under 7.400 in the loss.

Volpe, driving the Chris and Sue Wentzel A/EA took out Jay Schoenberger and Mark Hopkins to get to the finals against Carnasciale.

Starting the day with a 9.52 index in his six-cylinder Chevy, Carnasciale got a measure of revenge taking out Friday’s winner Treadwell in R1. The index stayed put until he pushed his car in the semifinal against 2024 D1 champ Steve Szupka as Carnasciale ran -0.584 under 8.936 to take a CIC hit going into the finals          

In hindsight, Carnasciale didn’t need to take the hit as Szupka was way off his times slowing to a 7.373 on a 7.57 index. “I didn’t know he spun the tires,” Carnasciale said.  “My radio was not working.  I knew I was out there away but it’s deceiving trying to judge a 190 mph car coming up behind you.”

“We had a great outing at Numidia,” Carnasciale continued. “I would have said fantastic if we doubled up, but I turned on that evil cherry light in the final of the first race.”

“Putting the automatic trans in the car kinda threw my routine off compared to the five speed. But it was slowly coming back to me.” 

“The second race started just how we ended the first one with Glenn and me matched together but this time it was in my favor. There is always tough cars and drivers to have to run during eliminations and this race was no different having to run Santo in the final (again) we raced each other in 2022. It was a good old drag race between us close lights and even closer at the stripe.”  

“And the best part is that we are the NHRA JEGS ­Allstars winner for D1 and are going to Dallas with a great blocker Steve Suzpka.” 

“Got to thank my dad, Nat Chivavettone, Tommy Martino, Captain Glenn Ahern, Paul Volpe at East Coast Surfaces, and Cal Supply Company and lastly my wife Chelsea who puts up with all this craziness.”

The win at Numidia puts Carnasciale firmly in first place in the Division One Lucas points chase and #4 in the National standings.

SUPER STOCK

Foxboro Mass. racer Bob Don has been drag racing for what like seems forever. The 71 year old racer started in Stock Eliminator in the 70’s but never hit it big until his win at Numidia.  Don driving the ex Jeff Roell Mustang SS/MA beat the ’69 AMX SS/IA of Dan Walleigh in his first ever NHRA final.

Don dialed in a 11.32 for the finals and ran a 11.334 coupled with a decent 0.038 reaction time. Walleigh in the other lane had a 10.46 on the window and ran a better 10.47 but his 0.058 light made the difference at the stripe.

“This was a first time win and a long time coming,” Don said. “I started in the 70s and my previous bests were a semi in stock at Sanair in 1980 Grandnationals and another stock semi at 1980 Epping WWCS. I also was class winner at 1980 Summernationals at Englishtown.”

“I stopped racing in 1983 and entered the police academy. I worked in Boston for 26 years. Upon retirement I took up the sport again and bought a stocker. I had limited success with the stocker, going to the semis at Napierville Open. In 2018 I quit again when I had open heart surgery. I got the bug again when fellow racer Eric Merryfield let me drive one of his cars.”

“I ended up buying my current ride from Jeff Roell of Danbury Competition Engines. The car is a 92 Mustang with an injected 302. I’m not one of the killers but I usually qualify mid pack. At Numidia, I red lighted by .009 in the first race so I laid back a little for race #2. I had a fairly easy 1st round and got red light gifts in round 2 and 3. I didn’t chop the tree down the rest of the way but was good enough to pull out wins.”

Don showed his humor by adding, “Up until the final my wife was secretly hoping I’d lose because she wanted to go home! I was happy to disappoint her.”

 STOCK ELIMINATOR

Second generation racer Matt Lisa from Vernon N.J. won his third career Lucas series Wally at Numidia beating Doug Hoven in the finals.

 Lisa, driving his D/SA ’68 Camaro and Hoven in his ’70 Nova F/SA had nearly identical reaction times so it was up to who crossed the finish line first and ran closer to their dial for the win. Lisa put down a dead on with an eight 10.848 to Hoven’s losing 11.572 on a 11.52 dial in the loss.

 

“Got ‘er done on Sunday at the Numidia double,” Lisa said. “After going almost a year without getting past 1st round I finally broke the curse. Thank you to God, my parents for their love and support, Brian Tilburg for building a badass big block, Pat Shane Bubba and Kevin for your help before the heads up.”

“As much as we all hate to love this sport, the memories and people are what make it worth it. Up next for me is VMP double!”

SUPER COMP

It was a battle of two of the best in the finals of Super Comp Michael Handras from Brooklyn NY was up against multi time winner Jason Kenny from Kutztown Pa. Kenny who had a bye to the finals was second off the line with a 0.067 light to Handras, who defeated Kevin Scholl in his semifinal race, had a better 0.029 and it made the difference on the top end. Kenny with a better 8.910 lost to Handras’ hole shot aided 8.918.

Handras, with his 5th career Wally said, “The first race of the weekend did not go well so getting the win in Race #2 was great. Our second Wally at Numidia. We made an adjustment to our setup that the car responded well

 “Thanks to Right Trailers, Summit Racing, VP Fuels + Lubricants, Mickey Thompson Tires, Performance Data Systems, Davis Race Engines, Sepanek Transmissions, and Duane Shields. to and I’d like to thank Gary Stinnett who provides the carburetors and throttle stops for our cars.”

Handras needed hole shot in R2 to beat Howie Smith’s better 8.904 to Michael’s 8.916 



 SUPER GAS




George Smith from Centereach N.Y. made the long tow from home to Numidia worth it with a Super Gas win in his venerable ’68 Camaro. In the finals it was over quick as his competition, the ’67 GTO of Dean Mathauser fouled giving Smith his second career Lucas Wally.


Smith defeated local hero Bob Phillips in his semifinal round and Mathauser took out Josh Eastburn to make it to the money round.




“The win felt fantastic,” Smith said.  “I thank my wife, Cathy, for supporting my passion and my crew chief, TJ, for helping me with the racecar and driving the rig. I’d also to thank my friends who are always willing to lend a hand, such as Derek Clark, Mike Holland, and so many others.


I’d like to give a shoutout to my engine builders, Scott Shafiroff and Vinny Budano. They built me a great motor. Looking forward to the next race!




Smith who has only claimed three Lucas divisional events in 2025, jumped into the NED Top Ten in 6th place after his Numidia win.


 


SUPER STREET




Tom Amorosi from Union N.J. drove his sharp ’70 Nova to a Super Street win over Mike Epprecht from Harleysville Pa. Epprecht in his ’87 Monte Carlo was second off the line with what would normally be a great 0.020 light but Amorosi had an even better 0.014 and Epprecht pushed his white Chevy a tad too far breaking out with a losing 10.875 as Amorosi cruised to his third Lucas Oil divisional win with a 10.945.




Amorosi, who won the season opener at Maple Grove defeated Keith Meyers and Neil Vaccaro on his way to the finals and Epprecht took out Ray Butler and Mark Proulx before getting the competition bye to face Amorosi.




“Well, the first race on Friday did not go my way,” Amorosi said after his win. “In the first round I was going dead on and the guy in the other lane was on a breakout run and I gave him 5 hun stripe, a little too much brake. But the car was consistent.”


“The second race Saturday time shot was good 0.005 with 10.900. So, I thought I was all set for Saturday’s first round that was the scheduled for the late afternoon and they announced we would run 1st round Sunday due to keeping the rounds together on Sunday. Of course, being ready to race, I was mad and even went to tower and expressed my thoughts. I was ready go home.”




“I was there since Wednesday testing. And ready to leave. Thankfully the Fetch family and the Robilottos talked me off the ledge and I stayed.”  


“Sunday first round I had 2024 champ Shawn Fricke. I was 0.008 dead on he was 0.003. I pushed him out and I went 10.901. Then I had to run another champ, Keith Mayers in round r and beat him.  Car was very consistent. Driver was ok I guess, a few 00 lights and worse was 0.018 light.”


“This is a challenging class with a lot of good racers in it. This is my second win this year and I plan to run all the races. This is not the norm for me. I’ll see where we end up.


“Thanks to Heather and Anthony Fetch and Robilottos for their support.”


Coming into the Numidia weekend Taylor Nobile was in first place in NED Super Street points but a few early round exits during the weekend didn’t help her cause.  Nobile still leads D1, but Keith Mayers went a few more rounds and is second place. After his win at Numidia Amorosi has moved into 4th place with only four races claimed and is in a good place to make a move.


UNITED TRAILERS TOP SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE


 




 Top Sportsman went down to a pair of drivers that will be in the hunt for a division win come the last race in Virginia. Mikey Daniele from Manorville N.Y. in his ’05 Cavalier was up against the ’18 Mustang of Frank Volpe from Poughkeepsie N.Y. The two New York racers have faced each other plenty of times but this was for the Wally and valuable Lucas points.




 Daniele had beat Dave Muller’s Camaro in his semifinal race and Volpe benefitted from a bye run after beating Ron Riegel’s Camaro in R3.


 Volpe had his Ford dialed in a a 4.45 to Daniele’s 4.48 so it looked to be a great race. Unfortunately, Volpe tried to cut a light and went red by a mere 0.003 giving Daniele his 7th career Lucas Wally.


Volpe didn’t leave Numidia empty handed as his C&F Race Cars built Ford was voted Best Engineered.  


HOOPES FIRE PREVENTION TOP DRAGSTER BY SELECT PERFORMANCE




Like Top Sportsman, the finals in Top Dragster were decided by a red light. Kevin Robb from Denver Pa. was up against Timothy Gray from Hudson Mass. Gray went 0.001 red putting Robb in the winner’s circle. Gray would have had his work cut out for him as Robb cut a perfect 0.000 light.


“During qualifying I ran Gray, and I saw he was cutting great lights,” Robb said.  “So, I went in with the idea of cutting a great light.”




Robb was right on about Gray. During eliminations Gray’s average reaction time was 0.009 with a best of 0.002.


Robb, who’s win at Numidia was his 8th career Lucas win, wasn’t shabby on the tree either beating Glenn Flack and Tommy Muller on better lights or driving the car to run the number. In either case, Robb’s team had Mike and Deb Coome’s car winning rounds. The dragster uses a 540 cubic inch BBC with a ProCharger as power adder.


Robb who is currently 4th in TD and 7th in Super Gas Lucas Points said, “It was a good turnout with the race being a double header. I have to thank Deb and Mike Coomes from A1 Mulch and Towing. Joey D Transmissions, Abruzzi Convertors, Mickey Thompson Tires, Wilson Race Engines and Shorty’s Race Engines. Paintin Place, Hank and Lori Smith at Awesome, and Slawko Race Heads.”




“And of course, my wife Michelle and my son Kyle and daughter Shelby. Paul Thimm and Paul Jr, Erin, Brystan, and Cylas Thimm. Bonnie Thimm. My dad Bill Robb, and Rob Robb. Dawson King and Jenifer Henry.”


“And I want to dedicate the win to someone who meant a lot to our family. Jim Fagan who passed away in the spring. Jim was a Super Stock racer back in the day out of the Grumps shop, he would later work for NHRA as well as Maple Grove Raceway. At Maple Grove I worked for Jim, we would later work together at R-V Industries, Inc. until he retired.”


“Jim and his wife Dee took me to my first drag race back in the late 70’s at Maple Grove Raceway, it was a Funny Car event, I guess I got hooked at a young age.”


 


JUNIOR DRAGSTER 11-18




The juniors were not immune to the red light syndrome as Dayton Cocchiaro from Wallingford Conn. went red against Hudson Bleakley from Carmel, N.Y. in the finals


 


JUNIOR DRAGSTER 6-10




Olivia Torchia from Galloway N.J. ran a right on with a 7 to win the 6-10 age class at Numidia as her competition Paige Doney from Folson PA. ran a off pace 9.209 on her 9.03 dial.


NHRA Division One Director Mark Dawson commenting on the successful weekend said, “The weather held out, allowing us to successfully dodge the rain and create a beautiful weekend of racing. I want to thank the Numidia team, the Northeast Division team, and all the racers for working together to execute this event successfully.


Double-header divisional events are not easy to execute, but thanks to everyone’s cooperation, it worked out exceptionally well.


Bobby Twynam’s ’70 Nova was awarded Best Appearing 


For More Images from the Numidia event, go to: