Points as of Sept. 7, 2013 (Five of six races completed)

  1. Shawn Bowen – 425.5
  2. Ronny Young  - 385
  3. Marc White -377
  4. John Hale – 375
  5. Brian Stewart – 363.5
  6. Bazz Young – 250.5
  7. Mike Minick/Troy Martin -  222
  8. Frank Ousley – 219*
  9. Peter Gallen – 168
  10. Cruz Pedregon – 157.5
  11. Bodie Smith - 107
  12. Tommy Johnson Jr.  - 87
  13. Jake Crimmins – 86
  14. Mike Lewis – 80
  15. Mike Smith – 78
  16. Kebin Kinsley – 76
  17. Doc Halladay – 75
  18. Anthony Bronge – 74
  19. Mike Halstead – 73

* several drivers, so points listed under car owner

At 10:03 p.m., with a majority of the great crowd still in their seats, the final round went off. Bowen cut a great .053 light and then ran his best speed and ET of the race, 5.764/250.84, for the win while in the other lane White went about 400 feet when all of the tire shake the team has experienced the last several races finally caused the rear-end to fail and he coasted to the finish line.

CONCLUSION

For most of the racers involved in the series, this was their third and sometimes fourth race in just five weeks which is a lot of racing for any nitro racers much hobby nitro races. Yet, by anyone’s standards it was a great drag race and remarkably only one car left any fluids on the track and that happened in the final round.  

The strain of so much racing on the teams and equipment showed when just eight teams came to the event, but the dedication of those racers showed when the event delivered a slew of record speeds, ET’s and personal best numbers.

In the end five teams came into the U.S. 131 race with a chance to win and those five included defending champ John Hale still have a chance to win the championship going into the last race of the season Sept. 13-14 at Tulsa for the DRO National Finals.