NDRL at Joliet, IL

Nostalgia reigns at Hot August Nights

Words by Troy Wilson
Photos by L. Bradshaw

The Nostalgia Drag Racing League made its first ever appearance at Route 66 Raceway over the weekend running its fourth points race of the season, the Briggs & Stratton Hot August Nights. With the forecast predicting inclement weather for the entire weekend, the racers still came out and were blessed with almost no down time and nonstop racing throughout the entire day.

The staff at Route 66 planned for a fun filled day and they delivered with show and racecars covering the entire complex. The drag racing was highlighted with a fiery display of 300-ßmph jets, nitro funny cars and a nice aerial display of fireworks.

With several dead-on-the-index and side-by-side passes, the fans got everything they have come to expect from the NDRL- IAM drivers.

Ross Racing Engines Pro 7.00 was up to bat first and Michigan native Sue Christophersen found herself parked on top of the stack with a 7.02 pass after the first qualifying session. The drivers returned to the lanes for the second session and that’s all it took for Hoosier driver Michael Sexton to take the family dragster out for a 7.003 lap stomping its way to the top spot leaving Christophersen, Justin Malott, Robbie Freels, and Larry Harlen rounding out the top five.

Semifinal eliminations found teammates Larry Harlen and Gordon Horn working to get into the final. Harlen left with the advantage and carried it to the win running 7.01 to Horns’ slowing 7.28. Newcomer Ken O’Reilly rode the bye by taking the green and idling down to set up the final round.

The final had Harlen taking the holeshot advantage but his Anglia slowed up, running an .11-over 7.118/162.63 with O’Reilly running his best pass in eliminations with a 7.012/190.19 to take his first NDRL victory.

Pro 7.50 was up next and, as always, this class shows the diversity of the racecars that the NDRL offers. Cars with doors, cars with big doors and dragsters with two engines top the list of vehicles, with the 7.50 crew leaving the dragsters and altereds to fit in somewhere.

Ric Burdine headed up the door car contingent taking the number-one spot with a 7.54. NDRL point leader Wayne Sears was second with Pat Malloy, Jarrod Bradshaw, and Randall Boles taking fifth in his ’57 Chevy.