ET Drag Racing

NHRA sportsman classes at Gainesville, Florida

Rampy gets 93rd national win; Factory Stock Showdown season begins

Words by Keith Yazdanseta and Kay Burk
Photos by Steve Gruenwald, Adam Cranmer and Ron Lewis

(Steve Gruenwald photo)

Annie Whiteley and David Rampy raced to victory at the March 16-19 NHRA Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Whitely grabbed her fourth national event win in Top Alcohol Funny Car and Rampy added his 93rd national event win.

Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., ran 5.412 seconds, 273.22 mph to defeat Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., who was unable to return to the starting line after breaking following the semifinal round. Whiteley ran the tenth quickest pass and ties John Lombardo for seventh fastest in the history of Top Alcohol Funny Car. The Colorado driver eliminated Bill Naves and Andy Bohl in rounds 1 and 2 before taking out Lombardo to advance to the final round.

Justin Ashley (Steve Gruenwald photo)

It was a back and forth final round as fans in attendance were treated to a competitive Top Alcohol Dragster finale between Justin Ashley, Plainview N.Y., and Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa. McPhillips started strong out of the gate, but Ashley began to chase him down and pulled past McPhillips to win his first national event Wally. Ashley made a winning pass of 5.232 seconds, 275.96 mph over McPhillips runner-up pass at 5.258 seconds, 277.20 mph.