FALLON, NV (Aug. 22) — Despite smokey skies Top Gun Drag Strip had a sound postponed by the high heat in July. The meant another $5 Friday and a slight adjustment in the running schedule.
Despite the haze Sunday turned out to be a great day of racing for all concerned. After getting times the eliminations began working its way down to the final rounds.
In Super Pro FranK Barrett set the fast time and had a near perfect light with a 0.001 reaction time. In the final round things were different as it was between Lonnie Grace and Hal Lockett.
Although Grace had the slower reactIon time, Lockett was a bit too quick and had a red light when the run began. Grace used his 8.840 ET and top speed of 154.00 to claim the win.
Afterwards Grace said, “The track actually was pretty consistent considering the temperature, the only challenge we had was a head wind that would come and go several times and that’s hard to predict. You pick up a five mile an hour wind and you lose ET but the other guy does as well as you hope you did a better job of guessing.”
With one more weekend left in the season Grace commented on the championship race.
“Only the second win this year, the national Open and this one. I’m one point ahead in the lead now. There’s two races in the last weekend then we’ll figure it out. I’m one round ahead of second place and I think two rounds ahead of the third place cars that are tied,” he said.
Then he thanked his wife for putting up with the time it takes to continue racing. While its mostly on his own time Grace thanked Fallon Auto Parts for their help.
Alvin Clarke, who is also the track photographer, won the Pro ET division. While he wasn’t the fastest car inthe final round Clarke had a .044 reaction time against Mason Marlin’s .154 time. In the end Clark’s ET of 10.778 was good enough to beat Marlin’s 10.102 and higher top speed. That helped make up for a not so good Saturday.
“Yesterday was a big challenge, I couldn’t cut a light, lost the first round and car didn’t run good. Came back for today’s race and everything went real well, the track was work great,” he said. “Coming into the race I was three rounds behind and after yesterday I’m probably six rounds back and am around third place right now.”
The also thanked his wife and kids for their support.
In Motorcycles Gary Stoffer set the fast time with a top speed of 150.48 mph. In the final his reaction time and top speed earned him the win over Fredderick Shoemaker.
The Sportsman final was another example of a driver’s reaction time making all the difference. Walt Stacey’s reaction of .056 gave him a head start on runner up Cortney Morris as here reaction time was .101 of a second.
After all the regular classes had finished their final runs it was time for the 1/8th mile Fun Runs. All types of racers, from stock, motorcycles, altered and dragsters faced off against each other.
The final has Jim Steerberg going against Fred Shoemaker Sr. When the tree counted down Setterberg used his .007 reaction time to good use as Shoemaker’s was a slower .100. Another example how the faster doesn’t always win in bracket racing.
After the dust settled Setterberg, who races a 1984 GMC Caballero, said, “It’s always a challenge when I race. I’ve got to remember to put my helmet on. And the track was excellent.”
Then he thanked his son for his helping in getting him to stage in the correct line. And he also expressed his appreciation for his wife that puts up with his racing.
Due to the schedule change the Junior Dragster division actually did two separate races in one day. The got started first then basically ended the racing day. For one driver from Gardnerville it was a banner day as Crue Casteel set fast time for for the first race then won the final round. In the second race Nicholas Morris set fasttime but was runner up as Casteel won the final and swept the day.
“It was really hard to be honest as sometimes I was worried cause I would either red light or I would break out,” he said. “Somehow I pulled it off in both races today and I’m super ecstatic as I’m in first right now.”
Not only did he get trophies but since it was part of the NHRA Challenge Casteel got a Junior Wally as well. Runner up Morris also got two trophies and a cap.
Asked who he needed to thank Casteel said his parents for allowing him to do this and having so much fun with his friends and family.
• Saturday was a shorter program and Troy Moyle won in Super Stock while Mason Marlin was the Pro ET winner. In Motorcycles it was Tommy Brown while Cortney Morris was the Sportsman winner.
Next up for the track is the season finale; a three-day event that begins with $5 Friday on September 17th. Class championships will be decided on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, September 18 has the NHRA TV Challlenge as well as the Top Gunner Shootout. ThenSunday there is the King of the Track as well as the popular Mopars against the World. The Junior Dragsters will end their season that weekend as well. For those wishing further information please check the track’s Face Book page.
REPORTER’S NOTE: The Final results are at the end of this article.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Monday, from 5 until dark is when the Spanish Springs Pizza Factory hosts a cruise in with music, raffles and video games for the kids. The location is at 9725 Pyramid Way, Suite 801.
•Tuesday from 4 until 8 p.m. is when the south Steak ‘N Shake has its weekly cruise in.
• On Wednesday, starting around 5 p.m. the Sparks A&W has a cruise in. it’s located across the street from Reed High School.
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. In Northwest Nevada it can be heard over the air at 1060 AM.
There is also a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm and can be seen live on Face Book. The show is focused on all things automotive like trends, new developments and trivia.
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• Next sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists owned by former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks from Hug High School.
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RESULTS:
Top Gun Drag Strip – Fallon, Nevada
• Sunday, August 23:
Super Pro:
+ 1. Lonnie Grace, ET-8.840, MPH – 154.00, R/U. Hal Lockett, ET – 9.133, MPH – 148.64.
#1 Qualifier: Frank Barrett, ET-0.001, MPH – 144.15.
Pro:
+ 1. Alvin Clark, ET-10.778, MPH – 111.45, R/U. Mason Marlin, ET – 10.102, MPH – 129.11.
#1 Qualifier: Frank Barrett, ET-0.016, MPH – 144.21.
Motorcycle:
+ 1. Gary Stoffe, ET – 9.175, MPH – 144.17, R/U. Fredderick Shoemaker, ET – 10.635, MPH – 132.53.
#1 Qualifer: Gary Stoffer, ET – 0.014, MPH – 150.48.
Sportsman:
+ 1. Walt Stacey, ET – 13.035, MPH – 106.45, R/U Cortney Morris, ET – 12.184, MPH – 108.73.
#1 Qualifier – Anthony Sabatino, ET – 0.006, MPH – 96.76.
1/8th Fun Run:
+ 1. Jim Setterberg, ET – 8.376, MPH – 76.89, R/U. Fred Shoemaker Sr., ET – 6.379, MPH – 108.47.
Jr. Dragster #2:
+ Crue Casteel, ET – 7.981, MPH – 80.48, R/U. Nicholas Morris, ET – 8.067, MPH – 79.88.
#1 Qualifier – Nicholas Morris, ET – 0.006, MPH – 81.03.
Jr. Dragster #1:
+ 1.Crue Casteel, ET – 7.945, MPH – 81.70, R/U. Nicholas Morris, ET – 0.002, MPH – 81.28.
#1 Qualifier – Crue Casteel, ET – 0.006, MPH – 81.64.
• Saturday, August 21:
Super Pro:
+ 1. Troy Moyle, ET – 8.749, MPH – 153.37, R/U. Tom Brown, ET – 23.961, MPH – 40.47.
#1 Qualifier – Hal Lockett, ET – 0.007, MPH – 149.78.
Pro:
+ 1. Mason Marlin, ET – 10.099, MPH – 127.79, R/U. John Kriner, ET – 10.698, MPH – 125.82.
+ #1 Qualifier – Mason Marlin, ET – 10.241, MPH – Not posted.
Motorcycle:
+ 1. Tommy Brown, ET – 9.87, MPH – 135.84, R/U. Zach Clarke, ET – 10.17, MPH – 135.77.
#1 Qualifier – Zach Clarke, ET – 0.003, MPH – 136.66
Sportsman:
+ 1. Cortney Morris, ET – 12.195, MPH – 109.08, R/U. Walt Stacey, ET – 13.042, MPH – 106.93
#1 Qualifier – Philip Sabatino, ET – 13.161, MPH – Not Posted.
Thanks for the press Dan! You are making Crue a celebrity!!! LOL
The Casteel’s
My pleasure.