Thacker, Payne lead sportsman racers at U.S. Nationals

Words by Eric Lotz
Photos by Ron Lewis and Chris Haverly

Jay Payne (left) and Tony Bartone in the final round.  (Ron Lewis photo)

Marty Thacker and Jay Payne brought home big wins this weekend from the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 
             
In Top Alcohol Funny Car it came down to a battle of the veteran racers between Jay Payne and Tony Bartone. Traveling from Long Island City, N.Y., Bartone qualified first and ended up with the low elapsed time of the event at 5.498 seconds during qualifying. Unfortunately for him, his final run was not as successful as he went into tire shake right off the start line. Payne, the Claremont, Calif., resident enjoyed a win with a 5.648 second lap at 256.36 that leaves him second in the point standings. This was Payne’s third national event win to go along with two divisional wins.

Thacker, from Robinson, Ill., qualified in the tenth position in Top Alcohol Dragster and ran a final pass of 5.415 seconds at 266.85 mph.  This was fast enough to defeat Shawn Cowie, from Delta, B.C., who posted a time of 5.488 seconds at 226.89 mph. (Ron Lewis photo)