DeFrank clinches Super Stock championship

Words by Eric Lotz
Photos by Donna Bistran and James Drew

Jimmy DeFrank (near lane) got the Super Stock win when Tom Gaynor went red.  (Donna Bistran photo)

Jimmy DeFrank raced to the event win and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super Stock National Championship at the Short Line Express Gamblers Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nov. 4.  

DeFrank came in to the event needing a final round showing to overtake Joe Santangelo, which also gave him the championship when fellow contender Jody Lang fell in round 2. This is De Frank’s fourth NHRA Lucas Oil National Championship with his first coming in 1997 followed by one in 1999 and most recently in 2009.

DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., faced off with Tom Gaynor in the final round posting a 9.264 second pass at 121.65 mph for the win in his ’10 Cobalt.
  
Super Comp is the lone title still to be decided and will come down to the final event of the season Nov. 9-11 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Luke Bogacki was eliminated when he fell in round four to Billy Torrence while event winner Jason Kenny kept the title hopes alive for his dad, Al, when he knocked out Stephan Kondolay in round 1. Al is leading the chase with 612 points but Kondolay can tie him with at least a semifinal finish at Pomona and pass him for the championship if he advances to the final round.

Jason Kenny, Kutztown, Pa., defeated Trevor Larson with a time of 9.069 seconds at 158.43 mph to Larson’s 9.092, 151.49 for the event win.

Ray Martin and Annie Whitely took home the honors in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car respectively.