Phil Hutchison Drag Racing Action Online

Images David Smith and Phil Hutchison

 

NHRA Northeast Division 2025 Winners Crowned at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos

It might have been frigid and snowy outside of the convention center at the Kalahari in central Pennsylvania, but the action inside was jumping with racers and families gathered to celebrate all the winners in the 2025 Lucas Oil and Summit series. The annual event was celebrating its 59th year since humble beginnings at the George Washington Motor Lodge in Willow Grove PA.  And tickets for the first banquet were $7.00.

For the third year in a row the party was at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Pocono Manor. Emcee for the festivities was Division One’s own Jim Bowen.   In addition to the NHRA Northeast Division staff, NHRA’s Vice President of National Events Evan Jonat was a guest speaker for the banquet

NHRA’s Evan Jonat

Jim Bowen, as usual, did a super job keeping the banquet moving and finishing on time. Enough time for the winners to do a little partying after the festivities 

Kevin Cooke

After a benediction by Northeast Director for Racers for Christ Kevin Cooke, the celebration began with special awards handed out.

Chris Jumper from the NED crew was presented the 22nd Annual Northeast Division Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding commitment and lasting contribution to the sport and the division.

After receiving his award Jumper said, “When they called my name I was, let just say, shocked in so many ways. In 2007, I started working at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, PA as a young man with a dream. In 2013, I was privileged to be selected to travel the NHRA National racing series with the Safety Safari only missing a few races over the span of 4 years at the bottom of the track.

“In 2017, my focused changed to the small town tracks with the Northeast Division (NED) of NHRA. I have worked tech, staging and where every I was needed landing now at the top of the track in the staging lanes for the division. Receiving this award from the NED is an honor “It’s a family away from home.”

Walter Zalak IV from Huntington NY. went home with the 2025 Image of Youth Award. An award the honors sportsmanship, character, and positive representation of NHRA youth.

Zalak, a third-generation racer, in only his third NHRA divisional race in Top Dragster, won the season opener at Maple Grove and placed high enough the rest of the year to nab #3 in the 2025 points race. Three must be Zalak’s lucky number.

“It’s an honor to receive the Image have of Youth award,” Zalak said. “I would like to thank my parents, grandparents and friends for all helping me get to where I am today.”

At the NHRA Right Trailers JDRL Eastern Conference Finals in Bristol Tenn. Garrett Cramer from New Market MD. took the 10 year old class and was hand to show off his bling at the banquet. And he won the best-looking suit competition too.

 

2025 Northeast Division Summit Racing JR. Dragster Championships

Nicholas Antonette 6-9 Champ

Antonette a third generation racer, said after his class championship, “I was so excited to win the 6–9 year-old 2025 Junior Dragster Championship at Maple Grove Raceway. I honestly wasn’t expecting it — I barely had any track time this year, and it was only my third weekend out. We had just put a brand-new motor into my car and were still trying to sort everything out.”

“But somehow, it turned into the best weekend I’ve ever had. I made the finals of my age group in all four races, and getting to line up against my buddy Anthony Fetch in the final made it even better. Taking the win and sealing the championship made it a true dream weekend.”

“I’m already looking forward to the 2026 season and everything that’s ahead.”

10-12 Age group Cooper Henry

Mason Spinelli 13-14 age group champ

“Getting ready for the NED banquet this year, I was happy to be back for the second year in a row,” Spinelli said. “Me and my family were there to celebrate my 2nd Bracket Finals Championship (13/14year olds) after being at the banquet last year for winning the same 2024 Bracket Finals Championship last year. Which meant trading in my racing suit for a suit and tie and stepping up to the microphone for another speech in front of hundreds of people!”

“One of the best parts is being in a room where so many amazing racers are celebrating their season too. The speeches were great and so was seeing the winner circle pictures on the video screen playing during dinner. My favorite part was celebrating the season at the banquet with the best Crew Chief I could ever have, Ray Stanton, and the rest of my family. Looking ahead at the season, I hope it brings me back here for the 3rd year in a row. I’ll be working hard at it.”

Daniel Spotts was the 15-17 year old champ

Winning the Race of Champions at the Maple Grove Junior Divisional was New Jersey’s Paul Stalba. Stalba who aged out of Juniors in 2025 after a great run in the class said. “The last year of my Junior Dragster career was pretty awesome. I won the most I ever did in a year and some pretty important races that I had always wanted to win. Starting off with the 32 car shootout win at Bristol I was no worse than .022 on the tree through 5 rounds and won a thriller race against a buddy Kaden Pruett.”

“Fast forward to August Maple Grove Junior Divisional. A very important race to me was the Race of Champions. First round I managed to get a bye run and was hoping I got to run my sister second round, but I had avenged her when I raced Mason Spinelli and beat him with a .023 light and 6 over my dial. Next round I knew was going to be tough. Cole Rudy a great young racer who I had never raced before but always knew of him.  I was .012 on the tree and was 3 over to put him on the trailer in the semi final round.”

“I raced Charlotte Eck’s in the final round and I knew this is what I wanted so badly and didn’t hold back. I was .009 and 5 over my dial for the win. I was content with that being my only win for the weekend. Like I said I wanted to win that race for a long time, but I wasn’t done yet as I found myself in the final on Sunday night for $2,000 and separated by .002 on the tree I managed to take the strip by .035 for the win and secure my first ever “2 wins in 1 weekend” feat.”   

“I’m so proud of what I have accomplished in my Junior Dragster career, but I am just as excited to continue to race and step up full time to my Corvette stocker and race for NHRA Lucas World Championship just like my dad and mom have for decades.”

Paul’s dad Tom said, “I had a great time helping him with the juniors and looking forward to the next chapter”

Mom, Karen Stalba, a former NED champ herself adds, “I’m sad because it was more than half his life so far that we have run juniors. on the other hand, I know he was ready to move on and truthfully, we are as well. He has already seen success in the Stocker, so we are excited for his future in the class. I think when Emily ages out in a few years, it might hit me harder, so I’ll have to prepare for that!”

Cole Rudy Jr Street champ.

“It was a honor to be recognized at the same banquet with some of the best Top Alcohol and Sportsman racers in the country,” Rudy said,  

“I’ve been racing in the Jr. Dragster League since I was 7 years old, but this was my first year competing in the Jr. Street class. My Jr. Street car, a 1984 Chevrolet El Camino, is very special to me because my grandfather and I found it in a collapsing barn and completely restored it.”

“My inspiration for this project was Cleetus McFarland’s El Camino named Mullet. My family nicknamed my car the “El Cole.” The best part wasn’t only winning a Wally at Divisionals and getting my first win in my Jr. Street car, but getting to share the winner’s circle with my best friend Cooper Henry who won the 10-12 year old Jr. dragster class. Afterwards, he and I sat on the tailgate of the El Cole and drank a Mountain Dew to celebrate after our Mason Dixon teammates stood in the bed of the El Cole with Cooper’s Jr. Dragster sitting in front to get pictures and celebrate as a team. This is what our sport is all about!”

 

The Mason Dixon Dragway team from Boonsboro MD was chosen 2025 Northeast Division Summit Racing JR. Dragster Championships Team Spirit

Numidia Dragway were overall Team Champions at the Jr Dragster Championship

AA Auto Salvage/Craws Racing Division One Jr Series

The 2025 AA Auto Salvage/Craws Racing Division 1 Jr Drag racing Series is a series created with the help and support of Tom Stalba and the AA Auto Salvage family as well as Diane Kubike and Craws Racing.  The series is contested as part of the Division LODRS.

It was two young ladies taking the top spots in each age category. Paige Doney from Reading PA. edged out Vincenzo Musolino and Graysyn Lang for the 6-10 year old title and In the 11-18 Age Group Gabby Maclosky from Jackson NJ. beat out retiring champ Paul Stalba and Dayton Cocchiaro for the 2025 Wally. Endeavors melancholy angst

Northeast Division Summit ET Finals

2025 was the 51st year for the Northeast Division Summit ET Finals

Without the support of Summit Racing Equipment this race would not have the prestige it is known for.  This year, eight  tracks sent teams of 50 entries plus a Junior Street champion winner to Numidia Dragway to battle it out.

The Northeast Division Insinger Performance Race of Champions is a highlight of the Summit Racing Series ET Finals. 

Troy Steinke from EPCAL Motorsports won Junior Street

Rodger Dalton representing Mason Dixon Dragway took Sportsman

Emilee Anger from New England Dragway won the Bike/Sled class

Numidia racer Mike Fornwalk having the weekend of his life won Pro

Brad Northrop also racing for Numidia took Super Pro

To win the Summit Racing ET Finals main event means a  trip to the NHRA Summit Finals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to compete for a National Championship.  The 2025 Northeast Division champions were:

Long time racer Bill Hakucsa racing out of Island Dragway was Sportsman champ

Bike/Sled went to Mark Schwalm from Numidia

And again, Mike Fornwalt won Pro giving him two wins for the weekend

Super Pro went to Matt Witkowski from Maple Grove.

Witkowski and Fornwalt parlayed their D1 wins to NHRA Summit National wins taking the gold at Las Vegas in the finals.

Team Champ went to the host track Numidia Dragway and Lebanon Valley took the Team Spirit award

Lebanon Valley’s Wayne Delmonte said, “I am thankful for NHRA and national Dragster for recognizing Lebanon Valley Dragway and the Sportsman racers for commitment to the sport.”

Bill Hakucsa, who won Sportsman had the unique recognition of qualifying for and competing in all NHRA Northeast Division ET Finals events — a true testament to dedication and perseverance. For his historic record, Hakucsa was given the Special Recognition Award

 

“I qualified for the bracket finals since day one in 1976, that’s 50 consecutive years this was and still is the race to attend. The Bracket Finals is like the bracket racers version of a national event,” Hakucsa said. “I’m pretty sure it was sponsored by NHRA back then.”

“It started at York US 30, I won it in 1979, as the years went by it grew and had sponsors, like Firestone, TNN, Craftsman. and now Summit Racing. It became the race to attend, so over the years and many missed family functions, you went to the track all points days, I won again in 2010 & 2025, thanks to Summit we now are able to call the bracket finals our national event.”

 

“We’re treated like royalty at Pomona & Vegas, although I didn’t win in Vegas, I went to the  semifinals and I had a blast with family and friends, I would encourage all young racers to get in to this race for a possible event of a lifetime.”

Northeast Division Annual Awards

The annual awards are unique as they are decided by the racers, crews, and families.

The Northeast Division Person of the Year is awarded for extraordinary dedication, leadership, and service to the Northeast Division. For 2025 D1 photographer David Smith was the recipient.

Crew Chief of the Year is awarded to a crew member with dedication, craftsmanship, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps racers on track. For 2025 Mike Daniele Sr. won the award.

 

“I was so surprised to hear my name called,” Daniele said. “I had no plans to go to the banquet but I had to go out to Williamsport to pick up a engine block and decided to come and see my granddaughter Gabriella win Junior Dragster driver of the year. It caught me totally off guard I wasn’t sure if I embarrassed anyone.”

“I want to thank my son Mike Jr and my daughter Nicole and daughter in law Ashley and Charles who is my son in law. Plus, my wife Nancy who after 46 years lets me do this. Also, Mike Mills who is our right hand man for the car. He travels with us and helps set the car up. He’s part of the family. And of course, all the people who voted for me.”

Gabriella Held took home the 2025 Jr Dragster Driver of the Year. This award celebrates rising talent, sportsmanship, and excellence in Junior Dragster racing.

Mike Fornwalt who already had a large group of Wallys on his banquet table, added one more winning 2025 ET Driver of the Year. After crushing the competition at the Summit finals in Numidia, Fornwalt won Pro ET representing D1 at the Summit NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in Vegas making him an easy pick for the award.

 

Second generation racer Bubba Linke from Old Bridge NJ. put his Camaro in the Stock winner’s circle enough times to claim both the divisional and national Lucas Oil titles in 2025 to be awarded the LODRS Driver of the Year.

 

AA Auto Salvage was awarded Best Supporting Sponsor with their support for the Jr. Dragster class.

 

The Northeast Division Dragstrip of the Year – Island Dragway for outstanding commitment to racers, fans, and NHRA competition excellence in 2025

Left to right Carl Milano- Owner + Traction Engineer, Melissa Milano 3rd Generation Owner, Tim Ketchell – Manager, Monique Vorster – Tim’s better half.

“Winning NHRA Division 1 Track of the Year means everything to us at Island Dragway, this award belongs to all of our staff, said Tim Ketchell one of Island’s track managers. “From the starting line and tower crew to our tech inspectors, fire and safety team, timeslips, concession stand staff, and front gate crew. Every one of them puts in the work to make sure our racers and fans have a safe, smooth, and enjoyable day at the track. It takes a lot to keep things running, and our staff shows up and delivers every single time.”

“We also owe this to our racers, their families and crew, our fans and sponsors who continue to support us. As the last dragstrip in New Jersey, we take a lot of pride in keeping that small-town nostalgic family vibe alive that Island Dragway has had since 1960. We’re honored to be recognized by the NHRA and proud to represent Division 1.”

Each year, a group of select individuals are chosen for the Northeast Division Hall of Fame. The Hall is open to racers, officials, promoters, and all persons involved in the sport of NHRA Drag Racing in the Northeast Division.  Exemplary accomplishments and longevity are some of the qualifications needed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.  A permanent plaque is on display in the Northeast Division Office.

 

2025 NED Hall of Fame

Curt Lashure, long time NHRA Technical guru who oversees the safety and legality of the cars racing at the NHRA events.

Max Naylor, former Numidia owner and NHRA Pro Stock owner and driver.

Jay Blake, owner and crew chief of the Follow A Dream Alcohol Funny Car.