FALLON, NV (April 24) — Top Gun Dragstrip opened its season this weekend. Both the Summit ET and Junior Dragsters were on hand as well as a few drivers and riders tuning and testing their rides.
Since the program on Sunday was running so smoothly it was decided to have three rounds of qualifying rather than the usual two. This gave the racers and their crew additional time to make any adjustments that were needed.
After a lunch break it was time for elimination as the countdown for determining the day’s champions. There were four divisions running in the Summit ET series and the Junior Dragsters were also opening their season.
Junior dragsters started every series and they use a 1/8 mile track. In the final Crue Casteel bested runner up Nicholas Morris, who earlier was the #1 qualifier. While Casteel’s reaction time was .056 of a second his ET was 7.925 with a top speed of 81.90 MPH. Morris had a quicker reaction time of .002 but his ET was 8.028 with a top speed of 80.72 MPH.
After winning Casteel explained how he gets ready for a run, “Calm you mind in a way and just think about not red lighting and just get that good green light. I want to thank my parents for allowing me to do this. It’s so much fun to be here with friends and family.
Sweetening the deal was one couple that donated $100 plus a trophy to the winner. A bit later another couple also donated $100 to the runner up as well, so those in the final got something extra.
Many times, when the cars are pretty equal a driver’s reaction time is critical. In bracket racing, on the tree, yellow lights count down to when the green comes on. Be too eager and a driver gets a red light that gives the victory to their opponent.
In the Pro final Kevin Morris faced off against Dennis Sato. On the start Morris had a reaction time of .024 of a second while Sato had a reaction time of .044 and those 4 one hundredths of a second made the difference.
Morris had an ET of 10.697 seconds with a top speed of 123.95 MPH. Sato had an ET of 10.432 seconds and a top speed of 123.86. It was the closest final round of the day.
The day has some challenges for Morris. “It’s been a great day, I’m having problems with my master cylinder, brake pedal going to the floor so I just had to block it all out and concentrate and do the best I could.
“I need to thank all my family. Thanks my daughter Cortney Morris, my son Nicholas Morris and my father Gary Morris for all their help. Without them all this wouldn’t be possible.”
In Super Pro winner Frank Barret, driving the car his wife used to pilot, had a slower reaction time but his ET was 11.058 seconds with a top speed of 108.04 MPH. Runner up Glen Schierholt had a quicker reaction time, a quicker ET of 10.799 seconds but a slower speed of 90.89 MPH.
After the racing was don Barrett said, “No challenges especially just had a lot of good luck. I want to thank John and all the Top Gun staff. They put on a great show and take good care of us.”
Sportsman was another example of how critical reaction time can be. Winner Walt Stacey had a reaction of .001 (Virtually a perfect light) and an ET of 13.010 seconds with a top speed of 94.22 MPH.
Runner up Philip Sabatino had a reaction time of .027 with an ET of 12.737 seconds and a top speed of 104.53 MPH. In drag racing it’s not only the fastest but it’s the quickest that can win the day.
Later Stacey said, “No challenges just trying to beat everybody, that was the only challenge. Car ran good, its all good.
“I want to thank the track crew, everybody that works out here. There’s a lot of people at Top Gun that work out here on none race days, they don’t get paid to come out here but they do a lot of work to keep this facility up to race at. They need to be thanked for sure. “
The Motorcycle class was won by Kyle Evans. He used an ET of 11.741 with a top speed of 119.36 MPH to catch the runner up. Mike Downs had an ET of 13.718 seconds and a top speed of 89.33 MPH. While Downs got off the line first Evens was able to run him down for the victory.
When the pictures were being taken Evans said, “I’m stationed out here in Fallon with the Navy. Been drag racing 7 or 8 years. The biggest challenge was chasing people down as I’ve never had to chance anybody down. I need to thank my team and of course the bike.”
• In Saturday’s show the winners were Jim Grace in Pro, Lonnie Grace in Super Pro and Dustin Gregory, who won the Sportsman title in his very first visit to TopGun. Tommy Brown was the Motorcycle champion and young Nicholas Morris was the Junior Dragster winner.
Next up for Top Gun is a three-day show the weekend of May 13 to 15. It will be the season’s first $5 Friday where spectators get in for just five dollars but if one wants to make runs it only costs $20.
On Saturday and Sunday the next two rounds of the Summit ET and Junior Dragster series will be run. In addition the Norcal Nostalgia series will be racing as that weekend.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• 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 or it can be seen live on Face Book. The show is focused on all things automotive, trends, new developments and trivia.
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RESULTS:Top Gun Dragstrip:
• Sunday, April 24:
+ Pro:
– Champ: Kevin Morris, ET 10.697, 123.95 MPH– R/U: Dennis Sato, ET 10.431, 123.86– #1 Qualifier: Frank Barrett, ET 0.000, 144,49 MPH
+ Super Pro:
– Champ: Frank Barrett, ET 11.058, 108.04 MPH– R/U: Glen Schierholt, ET 10.799, 90.89 MPH– #1 Qualifier: Tom Christian, ET 0.002, 140.44 MPH
+ Sportsman:
– Champ: Walt Stacey, ET 13.010, 94.22 MPH– R/U: Philip Sabatino, ET 12.737, 104.53 MPH– #1 Qualifier: Marc Klose, ET 0.003, 83.52 MPH
+ Motorcycle:
– Champ: Kyle Evans, ET 11.741, 119.36 MPH– R/U: Mike Downs: ET 13.718, 89.33 MPH– #1 Qualifier: Dave England, ET 0.007, 123.46 MPH
+ Jr. Dragsters:
– Champ: Crue Casteel, ET 7.925, 81.90 MPH.– R/U: Nicholas Morris, ET 8.028, 80.72 MPH.– #1 Qualifier: Nicholas Morris, ET 0.008, 80.68 MPH.
• Saturday, April 23:
+ Pro:
– Champ: Jim Grace, ET 9.683, 118.48 MPH– R/U: Wjeff Wigley , ET 10.752, 119.42 MPH– #1 Qualifier – Jim Grace, ET 9.811
+ SUPER PRO:
– Champ: Lonnie Grace, ET 8.645, 150.68 MPH– R/U: Bruce Wallace, ET 10.826, 121.40 MPH– #1 Qualifer – Troy Moyle, ET 8.640
+ Sportsman;
– Champ: Dustin Gregory, ET 12.640, 108.52 MPH– R/U: Walt Stacey, ET 12.640, 108.52 MPH– #1 Qualifier, Walt Stacey, ET 12.861
+ Motorcycle:
– Champ: Tommy Brown, ET 9.476,139.59 MPH– R/U: Dominic Davis, ET 12.067, 97.11 MPH– #1 Qualifier: Tommy Brown, ET 9.583
+ Jr. Dragsters:
– Champ: Nicholas Morris, ET 8.039, 80.42MPH – R/U: Jayce Schmid, ET 8.006, 82.43 MPH – #1 Qualifier: Jacy Schmid, ET 0.019, 83.45 MPH
