Veterans Win in Cajun Country
harlie Westcott Jr. hails from Parma, Mich., but there is something about Cajun Country that brings out the best in him. The Super Stock racer and engine builder raced to his fifth-straight Mopar Hemi Challenge title Saturday, April 5, at the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose, La.
Westcott drove to an 8.51 in the final round to stop John Rains of Santa Paula, Calif., who red-lighted. Westcott also set the national record for the SS/AH class.
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"This is five wins in five years at this race and I’m pretty proud of that. I’m also happy about the record. That’s a nice bonus."
Said Westcott, “We’ve been working hard on our engine program for the past few months and all that hard work is really starting to pay off now. I had a few problems with my car but we managed to get them straightened out before the final. This is five wins in five years at this race and I’m pretty proud of that. I’m also happy about the record. That’s a nice bonus.”
Former event winners Jeff Strickland and Kevin Helms headlined the group of nine champions who were crowned at the fifth annual JEGS NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park. Strickland, of Red Bay, Ala., the winner of the 2005 Belle Rose event, reached the final round for the fourth time in five years at the special sportsman event and claimed the win in Super Stock after Lee Sharp fouled at the start.
Helms, a three-time NHRA Stock national champion who also lives in Belle Rose and works as a track manager at No Problem Raceway, parlayed his home track advantage into his 19th career win, beating defending Cajun SPORTSnationals Stock champ Gary Emmons in the final round.
Strickland and Helms shared the winner’s circle with fellow champions Kevin Self (Comp Eliminator), Charles Roth (Super Comp), Craig Anderson (Super Gas), Trevor Land (Super Street), Keith Raftery (Top Sportsman), Stan Leerkamp (Top Dragster), and Mike McCullah (Sportsman Motorcycle).