ET Drag Racing

NHRA Sportsman Racing at Phoenix

Stassi, Durie are first-time winners

Words by Eric Lotz
Photos by Tim Marshall

George Stassi got his first win after racing for 50 years.

George Stassi and Grant Durie both raced to their first NHRA National event win Feb. 26 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

Stassi, Brea, Calif., faced off with Washington racer and NHRA Northwest division hitter Jody Lang in the final for the Super Stock title. Stassi took the holeshot by .008 seconds which forced Lang into running too quick and breaking out by .009 seconds. Stassi crossed the finish line in 10.622 on his 10.60 dial for the win in his ’67 Camaro.

Canadian resident Durie (Vegreville, Alb.) took home the Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com with a lap of 6.824 seconds, 194.27 mph in his ’10 dragster for his first win. Durie beat out Tom Koenen, Tucson, Ariz., who left early by just .001 second with the red light foul start.

Ed Olpin, Pleasant Grove, Utah, was looking to make it two in a row in Super Gas coming off a double up in Pomona, Calif., having won in both Super Gas and Top Sportsman two weeks ago. Olpin met up with Aaron Kinard, Temecula, Calif., who had plans of his own, taking the win and the trophy in 9.909 seconds, 157.43 mph in his ’63 Corvette.

Kyle Rizzoli and Val Torres each grabbed their fifth national event win as Rizzoli faced off with Justin Lamb in a close final round in Stock, and Torres won on a double breakout with Marko Perivolaris in Super Comp. Rizzoli, San Luis Obispo, Calif., took a .004 second lead at the start on Lamb, Henderson, Nev., and held on to win by .0025 seconds or about 6 inches going 10.498 at 118.52 mph. Torres, Valinda, Calif., drove his ’15 dragster to the win in 8.869, 172.83 to Perivolaris, Petaluma, Calif., 8.865, 184.65.

Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash., collected his 24th NHRA Wally trophy. Ferderer took the easy win in Top Sportsman presented by Racing RVs.com when Richard Okerman, Torrance, Calif., red lighted his chances away. Ferderer ran it out to a 7.254-second lap at 187.83 mph.