PHIL HUTCHISON DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE

IMAGES DAVID SMITH AND PHIL HUTCHISON

 

In the first of two Sportsman races at Cecil County Dragway the NHRA Lucas Oil Divisional was first followed by the Testo NHRA SportsNationals. Both races featured some of the best racers on the East Coast with Sportsman towing into the Maryland track to win a Diamond Wally

The winners for the first Lucas race on Friday were a potpourri of racers.  Three women, former ,Jr Dragster racers and a few out of Division racers claimed a Diamond Wally .

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Taking his fifth Lucas Oil divisional of the 2026 season, Joe Carnasciale from Rhode Island drove his I/SM ’06 Cavalier to a win over William Pine in the Michelle Costa Lady Bug G/EA. Pine behind the wheel of a car he has crewed on for years, had a great debut for the New Jersey racer beating Monty Bogan from D2 and former NHRA champ Al Ackerman on his way to the finals.

On his side of the ladder Carnasciale took out his nearest competition in the NED points chase, the C/DA of Mike and Pam Miskovsky  driven by Steve Szupka along with the blown Altered of Steve Levine.

Unfortunately, Pine’s day came to a quick end as he left -0.013 too soon knowing that a speedy run would be needed to beat Carnasciale. Carnasciale seeing his win light, clicked it early to an eleven second run in the win.

“Unreal season so far is all I can say,” Carnasciale said after his back breaking win.

“Winning 5 of the first 6 points races in division. Again, it didn’t come without some luck involved. red lights, and opponents having parts failure. But I’ll  take it. A perfect sweep of 5 out of 8 divisionals feels unreal.”

“Going into the final I had to run a fast car with a new driver. That was Williams first race and Willam’s first final.”

“I’m sure the jitters were there like my first final and unfortunately for him he turned on the cherry. Getting the Wally NEVER gets old! can’t say enough about the people that help me along the journey, my dad, Nats Racing Engines, Slawco, Steve, Paul Volpe at East Coast Surfaces, Goldrush Trailers, Roadrunner Race Fuels, Tom Martino, KB Titan, C&M Machine and my wonderful wife Chelsea.”

The win, Carnasciale’s 16th career Lucas win, further cements his lead in the 2026 NHRA national and Northeast Division points chase.

SUPER STOCK

Avery McLawhorn a third generation racer from Snow Hill N.C. towed his red SS/QA Chevy Nova to Cecil for one reason. To win class at the NHRA Testo SportsNationals on Saturday. But before that he had to race at Friday’s Lucas Oil event.

The young driver had to get around some of the best in the East on Friday. Brian Stianchi, Frank Altilio and Herbie Sullivan to name a few. And in the finals, one of the best in the Country, D2 hitter Monty Bogan in his SS/BS Camaro.

Bogan, who got the semifinal bye, had Steve Hurley’s ’55 SS/MA and Roy Kinslow’s SS/KA Firebird to get by to meet McLawhorn. Bogan had an uncharacteristic red light against McLawhorn who was in his first career final giving the Carolina driver his first ever NHRA win. McLawhorn still had his wheelstanding Chevy on kill running a 10.644 on his 10.63 dial.  

“I started 2026 with a list of goals, and one of the biggest was simply to get past the third round,” McLawhorn said.  “I had never made it past the third round at an NHRA event and had never won a race of any kind.”

“We came to Cecil County this past weekend with the goal of going rounds and running class for the first time. I never imagined we’d leave with a Division 1 win and my first class victory.”

“Randy Daniels does my motor, and we’ve had the 265 in the car for about a year. We’ve changed something at nearly every race, sometimes before the event and sometimes at the track, trying to figure out exactly what the motor likes. The car has been in our family since the late 1970s, originally as a Super Stock car before becoming a Super Street car.  After About five or six years ago and I inherited the car from my granddad, I converted it back to Super Stock because I wanted to race more with my dad Ed.” 

“My biggest goal has always been to win something with him, and finally getting that done made this weekend incredibly special. I tried to keep the same mindset all weekend—don’t worry about who is beside me or what they’re doing, just focus on my job. Half the time, I couldn’t even tell people who I was racing until I got to the lanes.”

“That mindset carried us through the entire event. The emotions after the final were surreal. I think I had more adrenaline after winning than I did all day racing.”

“My wife, Samantha, and my 2½-year-old son, Jameson, couldn’t be there, but they were watching from home. As soon as I got off the track, my phone was buzzing. Samantha was calling, and I could hear Jameson yelling, “DaDa won!” while she was screaming too. That’s a moment I’ll never be able to put into words.”

“And, in typical fashion for me, the battery died on the top end after the final, so I had to be towed back to the scales for a jump box before making it to the winner’s circle. But none of that mattered. Seeing the smile and tears in my dad’s eyes was everything to me. To win the divisional, win class for the first time, and accomplish it with my dad in a car that’s been in our family for nearly 50 years is something I’ll never take for granted.”

Super Stock runner up Monty Bogan said, “We had a great week at Cecil County Dragway. The NHRA and track crew did a great job keeping the track in great shape and we ended up with a runner up.”

 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Nineteen year old Paul Stalba from Hammonton, N.J. drove his  B/SA ’01 Corvette to a win in Stock over the wheelstanding ’94 Camaro of Brent Darroch from Hookstown, Pa.  Both drivers had been doing great on the tree all throughout eliminations and in the final, it was a double breakout. Stalba was dialed in at a 10.37 and got off the line with a 0.039 light. Darroch had a 10.43 on his windshield and had a 0.049 RT. Stalba ran a winning -0.007 under 10.363 beating the -0.030 under 10.400 of Darroch for his second career Lucas Oil win in only his sophomore season.  “I knew it wasn’t a totally killer light when I left but a decent light. As I left, I knew he had MPH as a stick car, so I waited later to do anything,” Stalba said. “I knew in order to win I had to get behind him. Both cars motors died before the lights. I usually run high 120’s and only ran 119 MPH.”

After a very successful career in Jr Dragster, Stalba aged out of the small cars and his family purchased the winning Corvette of Gavin Lehew, who had previously acquired it from Brit Cummings.

Asked who to give credit to for his win, Stalba said, “Mom and Dad and my sister Emily. Mom and Emily were out playing softball and missed the race but we had cutouts of their heads in the winner’s circle. But my dad Tom was there with me for every step of the way bouncing ideas off each other and telling me what was a good or bad idea.”

“Thanks to Phil at Goldrush my sponsor. Steve Everett who helped us when we went through teardown getting the car back together. Anthony and Heather Fetch and Bill Kennedy and Jame Antonette. I was a little underprepared for class racing and they helped out turning the car around.”

“VP Race Fuels, AA Auto Salvage, ATI Racing Transmission who put some extra money up for Stock and Super Stock.”

“Todd and Doug Hoven who loaned me a chiller after mine broke.”

The win at Cecil put the New Jersey driver in the Top 10 in the Northeast Division

After his runner up finish, Darroch who runs predominately in D3 adds, “I’ve been racing this stick car for thirty-two years. I bought it brand new. All my cars, even my street cars, have a clutch. I enjoy tuning the car.”

“I was off the gas on the top end and took the stipe by 13 thou and got greedy and should have followed him.”

“My car has been hit by a lot of NHRA adjustments in horsepower and there aren’t a lot of cars like mine in the class. I end up racing a lot of big block cars. Fairlanes and Novas. The starting line at Cecil was a little slick and I worked on the clutch to get the car to hook.”

“I think the NHRA staff did a super job getting the race in and it was run smoothly. But one thing, we were hot lapping, and my clutch was hot and my shifter was hard to hold because of the heat.”  

SUPER COMP

The finals at Cecil featured a former D1 champ and a rising star in Sportsman. Amanda Boicesco from Warminster Pa. in her ’06 Undercover chassis dragster was up against recent Elkton Md. resident Gary Pritchett. Pritchett, a new addition to the Jeff/Josh/Jessica Eastburn racing group has already a win in 2026 taking Super Street at Numidia.

Pritchett, equally at home behind the wheel of a Funny Car or dragster was having a great day beating Mountain Motor Pro Stock driver Vince Nobile, Tom Hunter and Kelly Ausherman on his way to the final.

Boicesco, 2020 NED champ had defeated Rob Hyatt, Steve Logan and Tom Stalba.

With a 0.005 reaction time, Boicesco was off the line first and ran 8.922 to the 8.930 of Pritchett. The win was Boicesco’s 6th career Lucas Oil Wally.

“This sport can really take you from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and vice versa,” Boicesco said.  “However, that’s what makes the wins feel so good. All the pieces need to fall in place perfectly and that’s what happened on Friday.”

“On my time run, the dragster really threw me for a curveball. It went an 8.77 out of nowhere. All I can say is thank God for Shawn Fricke. He worked his magic, and the car was exactly where I needed it to be for the remainder of the race.”

“I was having luck at Cecil having won the Mid Atlantic race at Cecil last weekend. That win gave me the confidence I needed to get the job done at the divisional. The tree was tricky, and a lot of people struggled with it, but I was able to zero in on it and I believe that is what won me the race on Friday. I think my worst light in eliminations was a .017 second round against Tom Stalba.”

“The final round was especially meaningful, lining up next to Top Fuel driver Gary Pritchett. Gary is a true class act, and I have a lot of respect for him. I got a bit of an advantage on the starting line, which ultimately won me the race, but making it to a final round is an accomplishment in itself.

“I want to send a huge congratulations to him and his wife Jessica for the success they have had over the last few years. In this sport you always need some form of luck. My dad has always said that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Over the last week, I turned on 11 straight win lights at Cecil County. Call it skill, luck, or whatever you want. All I know is that when I look at that Diamond Wally on the mantel, I can be proud knowing I earned every win light that brought it home.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my father, Iggie, who works harder than anyone I know to get us to the track and keep our cars running. Also, our crew chief, Bob Sener (Jello), Kevin Cook, Fuel Factory, Hoosier Tire, Beal Racing Engines, Accelerated Travel, C2 Converters, and Joey D Transmissions.”

SUPER GAS

Bob Phillips from Oley, Pa. in his ’03 Neon, defeated the breaking out ’63 Corvette of John Williams. Williams from East Aurora N.Y. was behind at the hit as Phillips cut a 0.004 light forcing Williams to push his Corvette too much breaking out with a 9.883.

Phillips, who won at Cecil last week at the Mid Atlantic event, ran a 9.910 in the win and was his 12th career Lucas win.

“I never expected to win,” Phillips said.  “Everyone is so good anymore. I couldn’t believe when they announced I won.”

“My first Divisional win was  in 1981 at Epping NH. I have a lot of great friends in the sport who helped Dave and I put another exhaust lifter in the engine Thursday night.” 

“Thanks to Mark Petit De Mange, Mike Good, Kevin and Michelle Robb.”

I would like to thank my wife Kathy for she lets me do this crazy sport. Also, my friend Dave E’nama, Ray Barton for great engines, Lee ream of C2 Convertors, Jeff
Stricker and family of Road Runner Fuels, Fuel Factory Race Fuels, Hoosier Tires, Mopar, and Allen Johnson for selling me a fantastic car.”

“Finally Jim Halsey and crew for having a fantastic race track.”

SUPER STREET


The second woman driver to win at Cecil was Lumberton N.J. driver Carly Wolf. Driving her ’89 Mustang Wolf defeated the red lighting ’71 Camaro of Louisiana racer Kade Edmonds

Wolf saw the win light in her lane and clicked it to a low 11 second time for her first ever Wally in her first ever final.

Earlier in eliminations Wolf defeated Taylor Nobile and Frank Volpe’s Mustang while Edmonds got around Tom Amorsi and Ricky Hall.

The 29-year-old who calls South Jersey home got her start in the NHRA High School Challenge moving to brackets as she got older.

“I guess my perspective of the day and the win was just believing that it was coming,” Wolf said.  “We’ve had a tough few years battling the car and we finally got a handle on it at the end of last season, so we thought going into this season we were in a really good spot. However, pretty much every round I had was extremely tough this year, so to finally get through it and have a little luck on our side was refreshing.”

“I didn’t expect Kade to go red in the final at all so when I got to like the 60 ft and I looked up at the board and saw the win light on I was like stunned until I got the time slip. Definitely an amazing day seeing how many people were pulling for me and were there to congratulate us in the winner’s circle!”

“My dad built the engine. It’s a 363 small block ford. We’re out of South Jersey, so since losing Atco, Cecil became our home track and basically where we do all of our testing.”

“Our goal is a Top 3, but we’d be extremely happy with Top 5. Racing plans for the rest of the season are to finish NHRA with Epping this weekend, close out the season with the Mid Atlantic .90 Association, hit a couple bracket races and hopefully debut my dragster for some bracket racing to close the season.”

TOP SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE

Winning his second D1 race of the year Michael Daniele from Manorville N.Y. put his 05 Cavalier in the winner’s circle defeating a red lighting Kevin Edmonds from Louisiana.

Daniele beat Larry Willard’s ’57 Chevy, Mike Daymude’s Mopar and Frank Altilio’s S-10 on his trip to the finals as Edmonds took out Rob Hyatt’s Cutlass, Frank Volpe’s Mustang and Dan Hill’s Camaro.

 “Going into round one with Atilio I believe had my nerves rattled the most.” Daniele said after his win. “Between qualifying the day before and running someone out of division not knowing much about him, I managed to squeeze past him on a not so great call on the dial I was a bit lucky I would say.”

“Got the bye into the final but suffered a little rocker arm damage on the bye run. Had to make the run to secure lane choice but the rocker arm adjuster decided it had other plans. The car started missing after the burnout so instead of making the run I backed up quickly and just took the tree.”

“We thrashed with the help from fellow racer Danny Hill, engine builder James Antonette, my crew member Mike Mills and my father Mike and others. They got it all repaired. So now knowing I lost lane choice in the final against another out of towner I was kinda bummed but still confident.

“When i saw the red light came on, I just instantly was so relieved I put that thing in neutral and layed my head back and started cheering. Definitely was a great day.”

Daniele’s engine builder James Antonette Sr adds after the win. “He’s a great kid and his dad too. We’re building a motor for his upcoming Super Stock car. I’m so proud.”

TOP DRAGSTER PRESENTED BY SELECT PERFORMANCE

Division Two racer Brooke Warren Foley from Clinton N.C. was the third woman take a Diamond Wally at the Cecil Lucas Oil event. Driving her ’19 M&M dragster, Foley beat drag racing legend Peter Biondo in the finals.

Biondo driving the Anthony Bertoszzi dragster qualified #21 and beat former NHRA World Champ Vince Musolino and Joe Dipasquale while Foley who slid into the #24 spot defeated Kevin Robb and Tom Muller in earlier rounds.

At the green both Foley and Biondo were textbook. Biondo had a 0.007 RT but Foley was on a 0.003 light. It was tight on the top end with Foley’s 7.207 on her 7.18 edging out Biondo’s 6.939 on his 6.91 dial.

Foley was another NHRA racer at Cecil winning her first Wally in her first ever final and also a graduate of the Jr Dragster series.

“We changed to a blower set up earlier this year and have been working through the kinks and trying to get data on the new set up,” Foley said.  “Everything finally came together this weekend. I felt like I was seeing and hitting the tree really well and the car was repeating like it should.”

“Peter Biondo is one of the best to ever do it, so getting to race him in the final was a win in itself. Seeing my win light come on and getting one of the Diamond Wally’s was even sweeter. My husband and dad work hard to give me a competitive car and set up so I can just go and have fun.”