9/22/2014
US 13 Dragway
ATCO’S STEVE SISKO OVER U.S. 13’S BRIAN KUNKOWSKI IN NHRA SUPER PRO DIVISION 1 BRACKET FINALS
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, Del. – Day three on Saturday of the NHRA Summit Racing Series ET Finals for the Northeast Division 1 determined the division champions in Super Pro, Pro, Pro Bike/Sled, Street and High School Eliminator. Taking Division 1 championships were: Stephen Sisko of Atco, N.J. in Super Pro; Sean Steffey of Reading, Pa. and Maple Grove Raceway in Pro; David Ferguson of Newburgh, N.Y. in Bike/Sled; Scott Smith of Birdsboro, Pa. in Street and J.T. Schaeffer of Lancaster, Pa. in High School Eliminator. Atco Raceway also captured the team championship.
The all-dragster Super Pro final matched Stephen Sisko and Brian Kunkowski of Laurel, Del. Sisko had a .013 reaction and was on his dial taking the win with a 7.612/170.61 on a 7.61 dial. Kunkowski blasted his best run of the day but broke out with a 7.109/191.00 on a 7.12 dial. Semi-finalist was Lenny Bucher of Howell, N.J. who lost to Kunkowski while Sisko had the bye.
Sean Steffey in his ’72 Dodge Demon met Rick Mattiolli of Middlesex, N.J. in his ’67 Camaro in the Pro final. Mattiolli had a -.005 red light foul and Steffey took the win with a 10.412/127.24 on a 10.40 dial. Semi-finalist was U.S. 13 Dragway’s Andy Davenport of Seaford, Del. who lost to Mattiolli while Steffey had the bye.
David Ferguson on an Articat Sled took on Dale Hamilton of Mt. Airy, Md. on his Hayabusa in the Pro Bike championship. Ferguson was on his dial and took the win with a 9.773/129.53 on a 9.77 dial. Hamilton ran a 9.662/137.90 on a 9.64 dial. Semi-finalist was U.S. 13 champion, James Farmer of Denton, Md. who lost to Ferguson while Hamilton had the bye.
It was Scott Smith paired in his ’80 Malibu paired against Michael Barbone of East Hanover, N.J. in a ’70 El Camino in the Street championship. Barbone left early and fouled with a -.017 red and Smith took the win and his second consecutive NED 1 championship with a perfect .000 light and a run of 11.769/112.81 on an 11.75 dial. Semi-finalist was Rob Roberts of Chambersburg, Md. who lost to Smith while Barbone had the bye.
J.T. Schaeffer in a ’92 Chevy S-10 pickup defeated Nelson Belot of Dalton, Mass in his ’62 Plymouth Valiant. Belot had the better reaction but Schaeffer had the better run with a 12.140/106.79 on a 12.12 dial. Belot ran a 12.997/100.15 on a 12.92 dial.
The team standings were won by Atco Dragway in Atco, N.J. with 60 points. Old Bridge Raceway Park was second with 56 pts. and Maple Grove Raceway was third with 44 points. A team comprised of all of the alternates was fourth with 43 points and the Mason-Dixon Dragway rounded out the top five with 42 pts. Sixth through 15th were Numidia Dragway with 41, U.S. 13 Dragway with 36, Lebanon Valley Dragway tied with New England Dragway with 28, Island Dragway with 23, South Mountain Dragway with 20, Spencer Speedway tied with ESTA Dragway with 19, Cecil County Dragway with 18 and Team Canada with 8. The Lebanon Valley Dragway won the Team Spirit Award.
