NHRA WEEKEND AT MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY LUCAS OIL DIVISION RACE 1`

PHIL HUTCHISON DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE

IMAGES: DAVID SMITH, DIANE KUBICKE, AND PHIL HUTCHISON

It was a plethora of racing the weekend of June 12-14 for the NHRA Sportsman racers in the East, Mid-West, and South. Two double header events were run at Summitt Motorsports Park in Norwalk Ohio and at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville outside Waldorf MD.

 Both events had great weather throughout the weekend, and the races went off without a hitch. For results from the Norwalk event, please go to Cavalcade of Stars.

 After qualifying sessions on Thursday, Race One at MIR was on. These results are from Race One of a two event weekend. Part two results will be posted tomorrow. 

 COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Winning the NED opener was defending 2025 NHRA Division champ Joe Carnasciale from Rhode Island. Carnasciale who won the NHRA Epping New England Nationals a few weeks back had his hands full racing former NED champ Steve Szupka from Northampton PA. in the finals at MIR.

 Carnasciale ran an 8.898 on his 9.48 dial for the win as Szupka in the Pam and Mike Miskovsky C/DA trailed with a 6.959 on a 7.51 dial. The ’06 I/SM Cavalier of Carnasciale had the better reaction time and never was caught. The win at the MIR Race 1 was his 12^th NHRA career Lucas win.  

“What a weekend,” Carnasciale said. “You always have the mindset on the way to the track to dominate and win it all but to get it done, wow.. words cannot describe it.”

“I got bumped off the poll in qualifying by a couple thousandths so #2 would have a bye in semi to the finals. Luck was on my side first and second round I was able too get by with no CIC hits. Final round was against a great past champion and friend Steve Suzpka. With both of us green and fast cars I knew it was going to be a good race and it was! Steve was down CIC from previous round and I was clean.”

“I had him a few hundredths on the tree and went -58 for the win. Got to thank all of NHRA staff, Lucas Oil, my Dad, Chelsea, Tom Martino, Donny Slawco, Nat Chevittone, and Paul Volpe at East Coast Surfaces.”

After his runner up, Szupka said, “We were both decent on the tree, he was in the .020s and I was .040s.  We both could hit our indexes permanently and were both trying to avoid that even in the final.” 

“Neither of us were flat out in the final. Our team has a ton of respect for Joe Sr and Joe Jr. Between Joe Sr tuning and Joe Jr being a real good driver, they are one of the best teams in the country. We had a decent outing, gained some good points, and will move on to the next one.” 

SUPER STOCK

Winning his first ever NHRA Wally was Middleburg Pa. racer Dean Mowery in his ‘96 Avenger GT/HA. Mowrey was up against many times champ Bryan Worner’s ’90 IROC Z, GT/KA and Worner, from Duncannon Pa. got a better light but Mowrey had the better package chasing him down with a 9.755 on a 9.74 dial as Worner was second with a 9.977 on his 9.95 dial. It was very close at the stripe. Approximately 15 inches.

 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Winning his first of two titles during the weekend, Matt Lisa from Vernon N.J. drove his ’68 Camaro D/SA to a win over NHRA Stock Champ Bubba Linke. Linke in his B/SA Camaro left -0.004 too early giving Lisa his 5^th Lucas win.

“I had a tremendous amount of luck on my side,” Lisa said after his win.  “We believe we hurt the transmission initially in the semi finals against Todd Hoven. My car chirped the tire a bit and made a move to the right, it lost about 8 hundredths in ET but Todd got behind at the finish line.”

“We didn’t think anything about the car until the final round against Bubba obviously, the trans completely let go. As I was unstrapping my helmet on the starting line with a broken car, I looked up and saw my win light on. “No f-ing way”, the world champ just turned it red, and I won the race.”

The damage to Lisa’s jet-black Camaro was severe enough for Matt to miss the trophy presentation later that night as the team was busy fixing the broken transmission. Lisa would make up for it Sunday, capturing Stock again and this time, presented with two Diamond Wallys.

SUPER COMP

Mollichella, far lane, beat his friend Ken Moses in the finals of Super Comp at MIR 

In a battle of two of the best racers in the Northeast, racing trans specialist Ken Moses from Colonia N.J. was up against Phil Mollichella from West Chester PA.

 Mollichella, who has success in the PDRA but after going rounds in NED racing never took home a win, won his first Lucas Wally beating Moses with a dead on seven, 8.907 for the win.  Moses, who was second off the line, ran an 8.914 in the loss.

“I didn’t have one easy guy during the day, Mollichella said.  “I have Chase first round, Kevin Scholl , then the D2 guy Stewart Smith in the next round. Next Shawn Fricke to meet Kenneth Moses who prepares my transmissions. No easy customers that day.”

“Things are tightening up for the JEGS Allstars. It’s probably between Stalba, Kenny Moses and me for the Super Comp spot. We still have time to grab the lead.”

“Thanks to Davis Racing Engines. Trevor at Mickey Thompson Tires, Jeff Kundratic at JKR, Jeff Stricker at Road Runner Racing Fuel. Jake Barbato who tunes the car. Mike Handras who sets up the computer and my son Carmen, tuning the car, who also races in Top Draster and went to the semis.”

“And of course my wife Dawn who finances my racing. She’s the one.”

 

SUPER GAS

 Mattioli, near lane, be D2 racer Powell in the finals of Super Gas after he went red

Rick Mattioli from Middlesex, N.J. drove his blue 67 Camaro RS to the win at MIR as his competition, D2 racer Tim Powell from Georgia in his Corvette roadster left -0.004 too soon giving Mattioli his first ever Wally in his first ever NED final.

Mattioli didn’t have it easy having to get around Tom Stalba, Dale Koncen, and Rich Price on his way to the final.

Powell on the other side of the ladder had to beat former D1 champs Charlie Kenopic and Ron Orbin along with recent Mid Atlantic winner Tom Goldman to get his chance.

After his win Mattioli said, “I want to thank Steve Van Craeynest. About a month ago, I took the throttle stop off for the Numidia Dragway Spring 150 and put the car on the bumper. I lifted, and it came down hard, bending and breaking a whole lot of parts. At the time, I thought I was going to be sidelined for a couple of months. However, after a lot of long days and late nights, and with Steve’s help, we were able to get everything repaired and back together.”

“Fast forward to MIR, and I’m sitting in the water box on my bye run, watching the Kenopic–Powell matchup unfold in front of me during the semifinal round (both drivers recent 2026 NHRA national event winners). When Powell’s win light came on and the scoreboard in his lane flashed a 9.90 with a zero, I kind of laughed to myself and thought, “Oh boy, I’ve got my work cut out for me.” Even so, I was still confident heading into the final round because my car had been running well all day.”

“I kept reminding myself to pay attention to the details, stay focused, and stick to my game plan. To say I was surprised when my win light came on would be an understatement.”

“After everything that happened just a few weeks earlier, it made the moment even more rewarding. I also want to thank the NHRA Division 1 staff for putting on a terrific event, and the employees at MIR for providing a good, safe racing surface all weekend long. Finally, a special thank you to my sponsor, Vitan Equipment, for their continued support.”

SUPER STREET

Webb, far lane, beat the defending D2 champ Johnson in a double breakout

It was a battle of Division Two and North Carolina with defending D2 Super Street Champ Chip Johnson from Fayetteville  in his Camaro up against 2025 JEGS champ Don Webb from Four Oaks driving a Chevy Nova. 

In a double breakout final, Webb ran a winning 10.897 for his third Lucas Oil Wally as Johnson ran a 10.891 in the loss. Johnson got a better light but pushed it a little too much on the top end.

After his loss Johnson said. “We ran MIR with good success back in the IHRA days and really looked forward to going. I am a 2-time Cancer Survivor 4 weeks before the event I had surgery, but the Dr. cleared me to go. I was so happy.”

“We struggled with the stop in qualifying, but I was on the tree. We had Chris Webb first round, and he is tough as the come and made it thru all the way to the finals where we ran his dad Donald Webb who is just as tough.”

“I really wanted that Wally, but it wasn’t meant to be I was a few thou better on the tree but broke out 7 thou more. God all the Glory for my success It was a Great weekend we Love going to MIR and mixing it up with the D1 guys.”

 

UNITED TRAILERS TOP SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE

Robert Hyatt from Salem N.H. won his first career Wally in his third final round appearance. Hyatt was racing the ’07 Cobalt of local racer Dale Koncen from Chaptico Md. Koncen got the better light by 0.007 but Hyatt’s ’02 Cutlass ran the better number with a 7.452 on his 7.44 dial and chased Koncen down as he lost with a 7.936 on his 7.91 dial.

After his win in Maryland Hyatt said, “Started my season at the NHRA New England Nationals. Lost first round. I made three passes only. I kind of used it as a warm up for the divisional series. Had to drive 11 hours to MIR for my first time there in 33 years. Last time there was the bracket finals in 93.”

“I was lucky enough to be on the good side of the ladder, that gave me the bye to the final. It was my third final in Top Sportsman. This is my third full season competing in D1 TS. Lost to Brandon Miller at MG 2 years ago. And Jeff Brooks last year at Virginia.”

“Totally excited to win my first divisional Wally. Everybody at MIR was great! The track prep was beyond expectations. I really enjoy the class. Small group of people that race it. Great bunch of people! Obviously have a lot of great people helping me along the way. Kingsley Machine Tedco Tranmissions Seibert Performance, Eastern VP Fuel ,Select Performance, Dan Page Race Cars, Jeff Kundratic ,Jason Mazzotta, Jack Neal ,Rob Fortin ,Uncle Rick, Sheila Chase 

UNITED TRAILERS TOP DRAGSTER PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE

Denver Pa. racer Kevin Robb drove his A-1 Mulch dragster to a win over Chrissy Parks. Parks driving the Mellisa and DJ Cox car made the best of her debut in Top Dragster making it to the finals, but Robb ran the better number in his car winning with a 6.646 on his 6.63 dial as Parks, who to the better light, trailed with a 6.633 on her 6.60 dial. It was very close on the top end.

Chrissy, part of the DC Contracting Race Team and sister to Alcohol racer DJ Cox just got her upgraded license after a career in Super Comp.

The win at MIR, was the Pennsylvania drivers ninth Lucas win.

“We were going back and forth about going to Norwalk double / National Event or staying in the division and going to MIR, support the new track and Royce Miller with the hopes of keeping our JEGS All-star chances alive, Robb said. “While the first race didn’t start off well for the Mickey Thompson / A-1 Mulch team as we lost a motor in the Super Gas Corvette first round and already having had some issue upon arrival we were not feeling the best about the weekend but my wife Michelle and I said well the work has been cut in half we have one car to focus on let’s make the best of a bad situation.”

“The race started off with facing Scott Luken who held the JEGS points lead going into MIR, I said to my wife ‘Well here is another test if we want to complete what we came to do we have to win this round.’ Things went our way, and we won first round, and with some luck and a consistent car we found ourselves in the final.”

“We were going to have Christina Parks. In the semis Christina hurt a rear end, I told them take whatever time you need, I’ll wait. Her team did a fabulous job of getting her back together with a safe car and I’ll admit I had no idea how close this final would be .0008” margin of victory, not bad for her first race in Top Dragster as she was filling in for the soon mother to be Melissa Cox, congratulations to her and DJ. 

“I must Thank A-1 Mulch, A-1 Motorsports, A-1 Service and Owners Mike and Deb Coomes for everything. They give us great equipment and trust us with that equipment to go out and compete.”