FALLON, NV (June 14) – Top Gun Drag Strip began its delayed season with a bang. It hosted a round of the NHRA Pacific National Open Series that brought racers from as far away as Montana and maybe Texas.
Checking the NHRA sheet there were 13 classes racing Sunday with five of them being in Junior Dragster and Comp. These youngsters are earning their racing spurs and race on a 1/8th mile track unlike their big brethren.
On Sunday there were only two local area winners. One was Fallon’s Walt Stacey, who drove is 83 Ford to victory in Sportsman ET.
The other winner was Reno motorcycle racer Anthony Vanetti, who rides a Trac Chassis cycle sponsored by Bogart Construction. For him the weekend ended on a high note.
Asked about the weekend he said, “The weekend started off kind of rough. We came out here on Friday and intended to test and it was windy and track conditions weren’t ideal so we just started qualifying on Saturday.
“Struggled a little bit with tune up and everything came around today and actually a day late birthday present. Yesterday was my 44th birthday got a little birthday present today so makes the long trip home a little easier.”
Then he thanked his parents Leroy and Georgia Vanetti, sister, brother-in-law as well as is nephew Joe. He also expressed thanks for his crew guys Jim White and Dane Garza as well as his co-crew chief Rob Stockinger, who telephones tips for tuning the bike.
Looking into the Junior classes 14-year-old Macie Gordon won the 13-14 class. She was delighted with Sunday’s results and thanked her family for their support.
One of her friends also made out as she bet Gordon would win. So during the trophy presentation this very happy young gal was holding her winnings, which were a couple of dollars.
One Junior Dragster was a bit unusual but might be a sign of what is to come. While most use gas engines this racer is electric powered and won the 15-17 victory.
When asked about it driver Branden Chesleigh, from Claremont, Calif. said, “It’s the first electric on the west coast. It’s crazy, different and is way different to drive as it’s a whole different animal. Very different ball game from taking off, staging so it’s all different.”
Then he thanked his parents and sponsors Humming Bird Racing, Lucas Oil, Mr. D’s Custom Paint, Jegs and everone that has supported him.
The fastest junior class is Junior Comp. These dragsters have transmissions and end their 1/8th mile run close to 100 miles an hour. Sunday’s winner was Jonathan Flores from Hanford, California.
Asled about the weekend he said, “Saturday went out first round, ran too quick and today we won. I like the track and the prep is good.”
Then he thanked his parents, grandparents as well as sponsors Cutting Edge Precision, New Solar, 360 Products, R&R Farms and M&M Fuel.
Castro Valley racer Bob VanPopering won Super Com in his dragster. For him it was a great Sunday.
“It was a great week end, a great facility and a great time,” he said. “Track is great, people are very helpful, friendly and I look forward to racing here every year.”
Then he thanked Tony Hughes, who built the engine, car builder Will Harrison and Steve Casner for the transmission.
The Super Gas final was a contest between the Corvette of Mike Utley of St.George, Utah and the Thunderbird of David Cook, who lives in Novato, California. After their final run Utley would claim the Wally trophy.
“The car is a 2004 Corvette, a Spitzer Chassis and a 585 Rodex Motor and it runs good,” he said. “It’s been a great weekend, swept it and it was a weekend I’ve dreamt of for 40 years. I need to thank my dad, Merle, buddies Bill, Rob, my wife and brother.”
Sunday’s competition came to an end when Fallon driver Lonnie Grace squared off against Keoki Desa from North Las Vegas to see which one would be the Super Pro winner.
Unlike last year Grace ended up second while the Wally will go to Desa. Their final run made the total of 1,491 runs over the two-day event.
A photographer for National Dragster was present taking pictures, notes and trophy photos. He said the article about this event will either be in the next issue, about two weeks from now or in a month.
Now the racers get two weeks off before the next Pacific National Open event at Sacramento Raceway the weekend of June 27-28.
The next event at Top Gun is a $5 Saturday grudge racing on June 27.
RESULTS:
NHRA Pacific National Open Series
Top Gun Drag Strip – Fallon, Nevada
• Sunday, June 14:
Junior Drags:
+ 6-9: 1. Jacob Hood, ET 12.156, 2. Blaine DeNunzio, ET 12.227.
+ 10-12: 1. Kade Renall, ET 8.920, 2. Dylan Hegwood, ET 8.291.
+ 13-14: 1. Macie Gordon, ET 7.943, 2. Dylan Hegwood, ET 8.291.
+ 15-17: 1. Branden Chesleigh, ET 8.077. 2. Grace Harman, 8.381.
+ Junior Comp: 1. Jonathan Flores, ET 6.923, 2. Ayden Pires, ET 6.888.
Top Comp: 1. Dave Morgan, ET 7.223, 188.52 mph, 2. Keoki Desa, ET 7.543, 178.17 mph.
Super Stock/Stock Combo: 1. Dennis Paz, ET 12.376, 99.30 mph, 2. Daran Summerton, ET 12.929, 101.66 mph.
Super Comp: 1. Bob Van Popering, ET 9.330, 168.53, 2. George Garbiso, 169.49 mph.
Super Gas:1. Mike Utley, ET 10.316, 154.25 mph, 2. David Cook, ET 10.288, 2. 143.90 mph.
Super Street: 1. Chris Jonsen, ET 11.308, 121.56 mph, 2. Brian Allen, ET 11.391, 117.53 mph.
Super Pro: 1. Keoki Desa, ET 7.562, 177.77 mph, 2. Lonnie Grace, ET 8.779, 158.61 mph.
Pro ET: 1. Robert Crum, ET 11.541, 115.40 mph, 2. Dennis Paz, 12.332, 104.90 mph.
Sportsman ET: 1. Walt Stacey, ET 12.964, 100.25 mph, 2. Cortney Morris, ET 12.215, 112.34 mph.
ET Motorcycle: 1. Anthony Vanetti, ET 10.464, 72.60 mph, 2. Don Caesar, ET 23.550, 45.80 mph.
• Saturday, June 13:
Junior Dragster*:
+ 6-9, Blaine DeNuzlo, 12.07 ET, 2. Jace Renal, ET 11.968.
+ 10-12: 1. Mason Phlegar, ET 9.071, 2. Halley Gutlerrez, ET 8.926
+ 13-14: 1. James Galante, ET 7.981, 2. Paige Smith, ET 7.885.
+ 15-17: 1. Autumn Hight, ET 7.938, 2. Braden Bettls, ET 7.885.
+ Junior Comp: 1. Leigha Miller, ET 7.108, 2. Tyler Smith, No ET listed.
Nor-Cal Top Comp: 1. Jennifer Wiens, ET 6.665, 209.46 mph, 2. Dan Naylor, ET 6.813, 203.65 mph.
Super Pro: 1. Keoki Desa, ET 7.486, 175.57 mph, 2. Lonnie Grace, ET 8.691 157.21 mph.
Pro ET: 1. Dave DuBose, ET 12.066, 113.78 mph, 2. John Terry, ET 13. 262, 100.77.
Sportsman ET:1. Nick Bublitz, ET 12.854, 113.23, 2. Jim Home, ET12.141, 113.24 mph.
ET Motorcycle: 1. Ron Alves, ET 8.415, 143.80 mph, 2. Zach Clarke, ET 10.824, 136.52 mph.
* – Junior Dragster and Junior Comp run a 1/8 mile course.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on every Tuesday afternoon from 2 until 3 p.m. and can be heard over the air, in the Reno/Sparks area at 1180 AM. The show covered all things automotive.
I have a preview section at 2:15 and the show can be heard on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or you can watch it live on Face Book.
• If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.
Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are up on the site.
We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue.
As our economy begins to open up again please be sure to patronize our sponsors. This helps them survive as their support keeps nvracingnews going.
Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base it has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now have a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.
The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Another sponsor is fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake Raceway or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book of from your season.
To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
The next shop is Motosource located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.
Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.
You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
