WFA at LODRS – Top Gun Raceway
On June 9th and 10th the Western Fuel
Altereds pulled into Top Gun Raceway in
Fallon,
NV to compete for the coveted NHRA
Wally. The change to a race format had the pits buzzing with
excitement.
Nine teams made the call for first round of qualifying.
After some internet camaraderie about the Wally trophy, tension was
high as everyone wanted to take down Maroney.
Dean Oberg
was on his game with the quickest and fastest pass of the session,
while Maroney was quickly humbled after losing a blower belt a 60
ft. Becky Sylvester in her first race back since last years crash,
was “back on the horse” qualifying with a nice 7.18 to take the
second spot.
Second round found Eric Gates
on top, as he stepped up to a 6.68 to take the number one spot and
collect the RBS Superchargers Low Qualifier award. After winning
the Good Vibrations Burnout Contest,
Sheldon Lofgreen
paid tribute to the racing gods by sacrificing aluminum slugs in his
twin turbo machine. The field was set with
Ed Middlebrook’s 7.68 on the bubble and Rob
Winefsky on the outside looking in.
As race day drew near, Rob Winefsky received a gift from
Art Nolte’s team by being reinstated into the field
as an alternate after Lofgreen could not make the call for first
round. Rob continued his streak, by taking a first round win over a
struggling Maroney. Dean Oberg
took home the Torco Oil Quick Reaction time award with a .002 light,
denying Jerry Hall of any
hopes for a holeshot win. The biggest upset of the event was
number eight qualifier, Middlebrook taking down number one qualifier
Gates, in an extremely close holeshot victory.
Second round Winefsky’s luck continued as he managed to
overcome Middlebrooks .200 holeshot and run him down on the big
end. Dean Oberg
continued to be consistent and ran a nice 6.83 to put the “Rattler”
on the trailer.
That paired up Winefsky and Oberg in the final. Winefsky,
walking on cloud nine after getting in the show as an alternate, was
in his first final round ever. While the veteran Oberg was firmly
focused on the little bronze man. When the tree fell, Oberg never
looked back running a 6.81 as Winefsky had problems and idled down
track wiping the tears as Team Simple Pleasure swept the field to
take home his first NHRA Wally.
Thanks to Top Gun Raceway and NHRA Division 7 for their
hospitality and professionalism.
Pre
Entry List as of 5/27/2012:
Jerry Hall
Becky Sylvester
Dean Oberg
Eric Gates
Hal Rishton
Ed Middlebrook
Robert Winefsky
Jim Maroney
Sheldon Lofgreen
