NHRA Division One at Numidia Race Two. Musolino Clan Cashes In

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Between going rounds and winning a race and a runner up, former D1Champ Steve Szupka from Northampton Pa. and the other Comp competitors  are racing for second place. Joe Carnasciale in his I/SM Chevy has won four D1 Lucas races and there’s no one betting against the Rhode Island racer.

 On Sunday at Numidia, Szupka in the Pam and Mike Miskovsky C/DA again was in the finals. It was a battle of ex NHRA champs.  Lee Zane, former NHRA Stock champ  from New Jersey was driving the F/D of Al Ackerman and was a car to beat.

 Zane got a 0.046 light, but it was Szupka’s 0.002 reaction everyone will remember. Szupka caught Zane with a -0.546 under 7.004 to the better 0.543 under 8.307. Szupka grabbed  his 14^th Lucas Wally and his second of the year.

Szupka at speed in an earlier round against the E/A Jay Schonberger

After his second Lucas win of the year, Szupka said, “This win at Numidia was like winning a national event for our team. Numidia Dragway and the Dimino family have been so supportive to the Miskovsky’s. Their name is on the side of the car. I’ve won at Numidia in Stock Eliminator, but to park the Miskovsky Racing Comp car in the Numidia winner’s circle was special.”

“Having my parents there as well was icing on the cake. Comp Eliminator in D1 is tough these days. Every race you’re going head to head with Carnasciale, D’Agnolo, Zane, Hopkins, etc…it’s murderers’ row out there. I’m fortunate I have the team I do around me.”

NED icon and former NHRA World Champ Lee Zane said after one of the best finals of the year, “Going into Numidia we needed to test! Ackerman reaches out ‘can you get here Wednesday?.’

“Testing went very well. I got very comfortable driving the car and after the 2nd run we knew we had a good car going into the double header, I just had to do my job. Race 1 we qualified #2 and went to the semi finals.”

“Still trying to keep it green in this car is my biggest struggle. Sure enough I turn it red with a car that was running -63 under that pass.

Moving onto race #2 We tuned it up a little for worse weather and managed to get the #1 spot which meant a semi bye if we can get there.”

“Rd1 we were saved by the starter from top end rain as we were staged. Thank you!!! We get pushed back and about 20 minutes later we are good to go.

After round two and something wrong with the trans, Zane says, “Al makes quick work to repair 5th gear and we go make a 1/8 test pass in the semi bye to make sure we are ok for the final.

“Szupka hits the tree hard against me and the -60 under car we had in the semi fell off but man what a weekend. With only 4 races behind the wheel of Al’s car we have 2 semi final appearances, a runner up and a #1 qualifying effort. To say I’m excited about the future is an understatement!!

“Congratulations to Joe & Steve on their wins this weekend! Absolutely thrilled to be back in Comp Eliminator with Al Ackerman. Even if it’s just for a couple events. Just love the game/chess match of Comp!!! We will be back.. Thank you Marie Al , Kathy, Jason & Walt for everything this weekend!”

SUPER STOCK

 2026 New England Nationals Super Stock winner Shane Oakes from Ottsville Pa. continued his great season with a win at Race 2 at Numidia. In a battle of two Top 10 racers, Oakes took his SS/IA ’98 Formula to a win over Connecticut racer Joe Santangelo’s ST/GA ’87 Camaro. Santangelo left too soon handing Oakes his seventh career Lucas Oil Series Wally and puts the Pennsylvania driver firmly in first place in the Lucas Oil National Standings and #2 in the NHRA NED points chase. Santangelo sits in #4 in the division after Numidia.

“Numidia is always a great time, and I appreciate the D1 staff putting together a double event,” Oakes said.  “The Dimino family run a great facility, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.”

“We didn’t do as well as hoped for the first event, but it was nice to get one win before heading home. My parents, Pete and Annette, being at this race was the icing on the cake.”

“Special thanks to my wife Sara, friends and everyone who made this trip enjoyable. I’d also like to thank Steve Ficacci, Gary Hettler, Jason Coan, Jack Sepanek, Trevor at VP Fuel and Roy at Hoosier Mid Atlantic tires. Congratulations to all the winners and I look forward to seeing everyone at Cecil!”

 

 STOCK ELIMINATOR

 Damascus Ga. racer Jeff Adkinson is serious about winning a Lucas title. Currently leading the Division Two Stock point chase, Adkinson towed his ’14 COPO Camaro to Pennsylvania to add to his total. Adkinson lost in the early rounds in Race 1, but on Sunday the Georgia driver put his Chevy in the winner’s circle beating a red lighting James Perrone in his G/SA ’68 Nova. Seeing Perrone’s foul Adkinson clicked it off early to a low 10 second time in the win.

Winning his 12^th career Lucas Wally, Adkinson beat some of D1’s best. Ryan Horensky, Charlie Weber, and Paul Stalba all were on the trailer on his way to the final.

Perrone beat Ray Thurston, Jeff Eastburn and Dylan Biondo on his trip to the Numidia final.

SUPER COMP

On her way to her first ever Lucas Oil Wally beating Delaware racer Chris Garretson, Kara Kusy from Honey Brook PA had some of the toughest D1 S/C racers on her side of the ladder to beat to make it to the historic final. Kundratic, Gary Pritchett, Amanda Boicesco to name a few.

“First Amanda and I are very good friends. Right off the bat I knew I would have some pressure there. But surprisingly I didn’t, which is not like me. But then when I had Gary, my dad told me ‘You’d better not mess this one up’.

“This was my first divisional of the year. Only my fourth time driving my new car. As long as I do what I have to do on the top end and have a decent reaction time, I should be able to turn on some win lights.”

Against Boicesco, Amanda made it easy red lighting her chances away as Kusy ran a 8.914 at a booming 183.94 MPH. In the Pritchett matchup, Kusy used a 0.027 hole shot on an 8.913 to beat Pritchett’s better but later 8.911 to set her up against Jeff Kundratic in the Lucas Oil JKR Right Trailer car.  Again, Kusy used her driving skills with another close race winning 8.947 to the close 8.949 of Kundratic.

“Honestly, the one advantage I have is the speeds the car will run helps me on the top end so I can play the game I need to at the finish line. We run a 632 big block that is fast. When I raced Gary, I knew we both had pretty much the same mile and hour. I looked over after we left the starting line, and I was ahead, and I felt good. With someone the same speed as you it’s a little easier.”  

“In the finals against Garretson, I knew his car is 60 miles an hour slower on the top end than my car. Talking with Joey Cambria and Don Bangs who have raced against Chris before, they told me to dial honest and don’t let your foot take advantage.” 

“I’m thinking how am I going to do this against Chris? I have over sixty some miles an hour on him. I had to tell my brain not to lift my foot as it wanted to. I did lift a tad, and my win light came on. I had a good package. My worse light was a 0.038  

The weekend was not all roses for Kusy as she adds, “We had to change our convertor and transmission Thursday morning, so it was a shot in the dark during the first round. I lost to Steve Logan in the first round.” 

“I had been doing some bracket racing but no NHRA races. My dad has been running since Gainesville and he told me he was taking the Camaro up to Numidia to run Super Street and said, ‘let’s put your car in the trailer’. Glad I did. Dad said after my win, ‘At least someone’s taking some hardware home.’   

The win at Numidia was unique for the Pennsylvania driver as it was her first Lucas Oil Wally. Then known as Kara Stricker, she won the 2010 NED Top Dragster title without winning a race during the year. “I went to some quarter finals a runner up and took the title. But I did win in Junior Dragster winning the Bristol race and a pair of divisionals when I was younger.”  

Garretson, who has three runner ups in Numidia said when asked about the unique speeds the dragster runs  “The reason I do it that way is because I’m not a good finish line driver so I create a scenario that it puts more emphasis on them than myself.”

“With the difference in speed from 40-65+ MPH at times they have to make decisions not based on the normal side by side but on whether they’re thinking if they’re going to get there or not and misjudge the closing rate between them and me! I have a good chance because of the way my car is very consistent and if I don’t do something to screw it up.”

SUPER GAS

In the finals it was eight time NED champ Tom Stalba from Hammonton N.J. up against 2019 Lucas Divisional champ Charlie Kenopic from Renfrew, Ont. In a pair of Corvette roadsters, it was Stalba pulling off his 32^nd NHRA Lucas Oil win. Stalba left first and crossed the finish line ahead of Kenopic winning with a 9.916 to the Canadian’s close 9.927.

Winning one NHRA Diamond Wally, most racers would do nearly anything to get one, but Stalba, who owns AA Auto Salvage has two in 2026 having won Super Comp at the MIR double in June.

“Second Diamond Trophy. Really great.  I love getting back and concentrating on my cars. I love showing my son Paul what it takes and how it works to be better at racing. From the time you leave the house and the time you return home. We’re working on the mental aspect of racing and he’s getting it. He has a good car in the Corvette. I love teaching and showing him how to be better.”

 “I lost the first Numidia race on Friday in Super Gas in round two against Tommy Smith in a close race. He was .009 and ran dead on 9.900 and I had a 0.025 light and a 9.909.  Super Gas was tough I didn’t have any easy runs on.   Iggy, TC, and Charlie. All tough racers. ”

 “It’s not easy to win at Numidia. It’s a drivers track. Changing conditions and changing the setup during the race. You must have your car ready for each round. It’s not like your car stays the same from round to round. It’s tough there.”

 “Racing Charlie is never easy. Seeing him over in the other lane, you have to bring your best. He gave me a little and I got in it and that’s where it was. Charlie and I have been exchanging win lights lately. I’m just glad it came on my side this time”

 Stalba said after the Maryland win, “My Diamond Wally looks a little lonely by itself.”  The win at Numidia made that wish come true.

 After Numidia Stalba is in 3^rd place in Super Gas with more races to claim. “I don’t go up thinking I have to get points. Win and the points will come. We’re coming down to the last few races, and I have some work to do to get there.”

 “I want to thank AA Auto Salvage Hoosier Racing Tires, VP Racing Fuels, Gold Rush Trailer Sales, Wilson Race Engines, and my wife Karen, my son Paul and my daughter Emily and all my friends who support me.”

Kenopic in his Corvette sits in #2 spot in the Lucas Oil NED point chase

SUPER STREET

Thomas, far lane, took her first career Lucas Oil Wall over the similar truck of Paden 

Niki Thomas from Rochester N.Y. took her ’91 Chevy S-10 to her first ever Lucas Oil win over Larry Paden’s similar Chevy truck in a double breakout. Thomas ran a 10.885 to the losing 10.881 of Paden.

 Thomas who is relatively new to the NHRA Lucas scene and in her first ever final,  got around Tony Iacono and a red lighting Carley Wolf to get to the finals as Paden had former champ Rich Price and Frank Volpe to get around to meet Thomas.

After her Numidia win Thomas said, “I have bracket raced my whole life but I started running Super Street just last year.”

“We had some struggles early on, but I got my very first win light finally last month when we went to Epping and was thrilled to be able to win my first Diamond Wally at Numidia yesterday.”

“The first race started out not so great. I lost first round. I wasn’t going to race the second one out of frustration but decided to give it another go and so glad I did!”

“I would like to thank my boyfriend Pete D’Agnolo and his dad Sam for all the help with my truck. I could not do it without them! I would also like to thank my work Catch Up Logistics for sponsoring me and helping me do what we love to do!”

D’Agnolo who was runner up in Comp Friday adds. “ I can’t be prouder of Niki. She raced some S/ST last season and did not win a round due to some mistakes and some from bad luck.

“Finally got her first round win at Epping this season and followed by a semi at Norwalk National now able to pull off a divisional win is truly special to watch her success grow.”

 

TOP SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE

Ron Riegel from Fairless Hills Pennsylvania won his eighth Lucas Wall at Numidia. 

Up against the ’04 Cavalier of Steve Pier from Wyalusing Pa., Riegel was perfect on the tree with a 0.000 RT and that’s all it took as Pier ran closer to his 4.82 dial with a 4.84 to Riegle’s winning 5.454 on a 4.51 dial.

“One of the things i like about having a double division race is you get another chance to try to get it right,” Riegel said.  “We struggled with the first race trying to get down the track straight so being able to race again the next day we were able to figure it out.

“After Saturday’s first qualifier we were confident we had a good chance to win the race.

“Round one we had the same competitor as the first race and we were able get the win light again.”

In round two Riegel had one of the closest races of the weekend. Up against the ’09 GXP of Ben Schlafmam both drivers were exactly 0.027 off their dials. It boiled down to who had the better light and Riegel’s 0.017 RT made the difference over the 0.027 of Schlafman.

“Second round was the narrowest margin of victory with .002 for the win. While being able to make it to the final round i was happy to find out I had a .000 light and turn on that win light for the final win for the weekend.”

“Had a lot of fun, the races were run very organized,” runner up Steve Pier said. “The weather was great the competition was tough it was my first Division race I ever attended.”

“I drove good all day the car ran good all day just tough to beat Ron’s perfect light.”

TOP DRAGSTER PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE

2023 NHRA Top Sportsman champion Vince Musolino from Bridgeport N.Y. hasn’t been to a lot of races this year. Other than a successful trip to Norwalk Ohio for the double Lucas divisional, the New York driver has been keeping it close to home.

 Musolino picked up the pace at Numidia. Racing long time Super Stock racer Angelo Ditocco from Mahopa, N.Y in the finals.

Musolino had the starting line advantage forcing Ditocco to push his dragster to a breaking out 4.517 on his 4.52 dial as Musolino won with a 4.501 on his 4.49 dial.

After his first win on the year, Musolino said, “He broke out by three thou and I dropped him to go one over. The look that he saw from me, he did everything he could do. He saw that the only way for me to go around him was for me to break out and he did.”

“I’ve only been to a few NHRA races in 2026, and Numidia was my first D1 race. I have a blast racing with the kids and with Numidia being a double it was great. With fuel costs, it makes sense. I think doubles will be the future of the divisionals.”

 “I try and play the ladder game and try and qualify where I want. Seeing that Scott Hall broke in his dragster, I wanted to put my car in the spot where I could get the chance to face the broke car of Hall. And it worked out in my favor.”

 “After that each racer and each round seemed to break out against me Muller and Gray both went too quick against me.”

 After three easy rounds, in the semifinals, Musolino had his hands full with the quick dragster of Walter Zalak IV. The Huntington N.Y. racer was dead on his dial with a 4.233 on a 4.23 but it was Musolino leaving with a 0.010 light to Zalak’s 0.038 that made the difference as Musolinno’s 4.508 on a 4.50 dial was the winner

 After one of the best races in Top Dragster, Zalak said.” Vince put on an amazing performance, and the race was incredibly close from start to finish. Minus the fact of me being behind on the tree”

“Even so, the car was running great all day. Vince went on to win the entire race and even doubled up with his son, which was really cool to see. Congratulations to both of them on an awesome performance.”

 

JUNIOR DRAGSTER 11-18

 

Gabe Wojnowski from Medina Ohio took the 11-18 age group beating Erin Willing from Pennsburg Pa. Wojnowski got the better light forcing Willing to break out by 0.001 in the loss

 

JUNIOR DRAGSTER 6-10

It was a pair of brothers in the final with Vincenzo and Salvatore Musolino racing each other in the final.

 It was Salvatore getting the better light, but his older brother Vincenzo chased and caught his brother winning with a 12.093 on his 12.02 dial as Salvatore lost with a 14.188 on a 14.05 dial

 

 

After the race, the boy’s dad, Vince said, “The boys had to race each other in the finals Vincenzo and Salvatore. I thought it was cool with both in the finals but after it actually happened, I didn’t feel the same as only one could win.”

 “The boys are close in age and very competitive. They started fighting after the semifinals and knew they had to race each other Salvatore is only six, but he is as big as his brother Vincenzo.”  

 “We have doubled up before but not at an NHRA divisional, but we have done it at our local track ESTA in New York. But it was great to double up with the kids here at Numidia. ”