Sportsman Racing at Sonoma, CA

First-time Winners Celebrate; Lamb Gets 27th Win

Words by Eric Lotz

Photos by Stephen Justice

Don Keen launches in Super Stock. He made it through four rounds before red-lighting against Justin Lamb.

In the final results from Sonoma Raceway and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on July 30 Brian McClanahan, Evan Kowalski, Chris Borges and Bart Smith each scored their first NHRA national event win at the 30th Annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., got the early lead on Dwayne Scheitlin in Stock Eliminator and nearly gave it up as Scheitlin ran 10.116 on the 10.11 dial. McClanahan held on for the win powering his ’69 Camaro to a 9.871 second lap at 129.54 mph.

Kowalski also used a starting line advantage to pick up his first NHRA Wally trophy at the national level. The Riverside, Calif., racer was out first by .051 seconds and ran 9.941, 160.14 for win in his ’05 Corvette again Chris Cannon in Super Gas. Cannon closed the gap at the line running 9.903 on the 9.90 index coming up about 3 feet short.

Both Borges and Smith had a little help in taking the Super Street and Top Sportsman presented by Racing RV’s titles.

Borges, Roseville, Calif., meet up with Matt Blodgett, Long Beach, Calif., who ran just a tick too quick (.002 seconds) to give Borges the win in his ’69 Chevelle, running 10.921, 137.06 mph.

Smith, North Las Vegas, won at the start when Keith White turned on the red light with a foul start. Smith went 8.240 at 124.11 on his victory lap.

Jody Lang grabbed his 27th national event win as he was better at both ends of the track to defeat Justin Lamb. Lang drove his ’81 Malibu to a 10.688, 123.20 mph pass to the quicker Lamb and his ’10 Cobalt at 8.622, 155.52.

Rounding out the weekend winners were Val Torres of Chino Hills, Calif., in Super Comp and Paul Nero, Eugene, Ore., in Top Dragster presented by Racing RVs. Torres laid down a stellar .001 second reaction time, then went 8.919 on the 8.90 index to beat Brian’s son Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., who was right on his tail at 8.920, 182.85.