JEGS SPORTSnationals season winds up

Words by Scott Woodruff
DRO file photos

SUNDAY

Moonlighting Pro Stock drivers Dave Connolly and Ryan Ondrejko were among the winners crowned during the sixth annual JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals held Sept. 26 at National Trail Raceway. Connolly, who made a return to the NHRA Pro Stock class at the previous week’s Charlotte event, drove to the title in Super Gas, while Ondrejko, who spent much of last season driving the Pro Stock car of two-time NHRA champ Jim Yates, collected his second win of the season in the Top Sportsman class.

In addition to Connolly and Ondrejko, other drivers who earned coveted NHRA Wally trophies in Columbus were Charlie Greco (Comp), Craig Marshall (Super Stock), David Ficacci (Stock), Steve Hoyt (Super Comp), Ron Steiner (Super Street), and Jeff Brown (Top Dragster).

Connolly, of Elyria, Ohio, drove to the Super Gas title following a 9.88 to 9.85 double breakout win over Billy Smith. It was Connolly’s 24th win in NHRA national event competition.

Ondrejko, of Roslindale, Mass., drove his Pontiac GTO to a 6.86 on his 6.84 dial-in to win the final round against Ronnie Proctor who was close behind with a 6.98 on his 6.96 dial-in.

Greco, of Paoli, Pa., earned the title in Comp Eliminator in his L/AA Cobalt after the similarly classed ’93 Cutlass of David Billingsley red-lighted in the final round.

Columbus resident Craig Marshall scored a win at his home track by driving his Pontiac Grand Am to an 8.94 on his 8.92 dial top stop final round opponent Jeremy Duncan.

Stock winner Ficacci, who hails from Whippany, N.J., defeated former national champion Tex Miller in the final round. Both drivers matched their respective dial-in times but Ficacci had the quicker reaction time, which allowed him to cross the finish line first.

Ft. Wayne, Ind., based Hoyt drove to an 8.91 in the final round of super Comp to trailer Dave Dahlem, who broke out by running one thousandth of a second under the 8.90 index with an 8.899-second run. Super Street champion Steiner, of Hamden, Conn., took his vintage ’55 Chevy to a 10.91 to 10.93 win over Joey Shipp in the final.

Finally, Brown, of Marysville, Ohio, won the Top Dragster championship by driving to a narrow win over Jamie Bridge in the final. Brown posted a 6.78 on his 6.73 dial in for the win while Bridge ran a 6.84 on his 6.77 dial.