Wayne Torkelson

You could see Wayne Torkelson, Jr. making his move in the Mickey Thompson Nitro Coupe Challenge over the past few races. He made it to the semis in Valdosta and Memphis, then was runner-up to Dan Nickelson at the San Antonio Super Chevy Show. On Sunday, May 1, Torkelson went all the way, scoring his first Nitro Coupe win at the AutoZone Super Chevy Show's stop at Pomona.

Torkelson's Water Wetter-sponsored '53 Corvette Nitro Coupe qualified second behind former World Champ Dan Nickelson, but came into its own during Sunday's eliminations. Torkelson defeated John Scialpi of West Covina, CA in the finals, running a 6.806 at 183.71 mph to down Scialpi, whose '55 Chevy Nitro Coupe could only manage a 7.824 in the finals.

The Top Sportsman class continues to grow at each AutoZone Super Chevy Show. In Pomona, it was an all-California field. When the dust had settled, Riverside racer Ron Weems (shown above) had taken the championship, running a 7.70 at 175.47 mph in his '94 Lumina to defeat Tim Stephan of Carmichael. Stephan ran an 8.287 at 163.87 mph in the finals. Top qualifier Danny Booker of Ontario (below) and Tommy Schifilea of San Gabriel were the semi-finalists.