ET Drag Racing

NHRA Sportsman Classes at Pomona

OLPIN DOUBLES UP TO KICK OFF 2017

Words by Keith Yazdanseta
Photos by Tim Marshall and Ron Lewis

Ed Olpin won Top Sportsman in this Camaro and Super Gas in his ’63 Corvette. (Tim Marshall photo)

The NHRA kicked off the 2017 season with the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals Feb. 9-12 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Out of all the Lucas Oil winners, Ed Olpin, Pleasant Grove, Utah, had the most successful weekend by taking home a pair of NHRA Wally trophies. In the Super Gas final round, Olpin left the starting line with a nearly perfect light (.009), taking home the win at 9.886, 168.98 to Robert Naber’s, Ontario, Calif., 9.882, 163.06.

Olpin then returned to the starting line to beat out Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., and win his second Wally of the weekend, in Top Sportsman Presented by Racing RVs.com in a close 6.978, 298.26 to 6.939, 193.24.

In Top Alcohol Dragster, defending 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil National Champion, Joey Severance (far lane), Woodburn, Ore., opened 2017 with a perfect start facing off with Garrett Bateman, Albany Ore., for Oregon bragging rights in the final round. Severance took the starting line advantage and stayed out in front of Bateman posting the low elapsed time of the event at 5.214 seconds, 275.51 mph to Bateman’s runner up pass of 5.486 seconds, 263.10 mph. (Tim Marshall photo)