NHRA LODRS at Phoenix

 

Severance sets TAD speed record

 

Words by Ellen Dempsey

Photos by Bob Johnson

Joey Severance finished runner-up in TAD, but set a speed record of 281.42 mph.

 

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Pacific Division Opener was finished on March 4 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Shawn Cowie, Surry, BC, and Shane Westerfield, Anaheim, CA, took home the wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car respectively.

Shawn Cowie (near lane) worked his way through the field and ran 5.261 seconds at 277.26 mph in his final round victory over Joey Severance, Woodburn, OR, who clocked in at 5.666 seconds, and 226.13 mph.

Westerfield (near lane) faced off against Nick Januik, Las Vegas, and posted a winning run of 5.440 seconds, 272.23 mph in his ’16 Camaro. Januik drove to a 5.600-second, 264.49-mph lap for his runner up finish.

 

Pacific Division racers head to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, April 13-15.

 

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

 

ROUND 1

1)Joey Severance, Woodburn, OR, 5.241, 280.25 def. 6) Tiffany Januik, Las Vegas, NV, 15.574, 36.72;

2) Chris Demke, Tujunga, CA, 5.380, 272.94 def. 5) Casey Grisel, Orangevale, CA, 17.797, 59.23;

3) Shawn Cowie, Surrey, B.C., 5.254, 275.96 def. 4) Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, CA, 5.374, 266.37;

 

SEMI-FINALS

 

Cowie, 5.255, 277.43 def. Demke, 8.781, 98.16;

Severance, 5.230, 263.82 was unopposed;

 

FINALS: Cowie, 5.261, 277.26 def. Severance, 5.666, 226.13.

 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

 

ROUND 1

2) Chris Marshall, McMinnville, OR, '17 Camaro, 5.435, 270.32 def. 7) Steve Macklyn, Bountiful, UT, '13 Mustang, 5.600, 260.26;

3) Shane Westerfield, Anaheim, CA, '16 Camaro, 5.433, 271.95 def. 6) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, TX, '17 Camaro, broke;

1) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, CA,'15 Camaro, 5.458, 271.62 def. 8) Ray Martin, Anchorage, AK, '14 Monte Carlo, 5.560, 261.47;

5) Nick Januik, Las Vegas, NV, '16 Camaro, 5.592, 265.22 def. 4) Jay Payne, Claremont, CA, '18 Camaro, 10.303, 83.37;

 

SEMI-FINALS

 

Westerfield, 5.425, 272.01 def. Marshall, 10.430, 117.72;

Januik, 5.628, 264.70 def. Gordon, 5.674, 267.69;

 

FINALS: Westerfield, 5.440, 272.23 def. Januik, 5.600, 264.49.

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR: Clint Neff, Arvada, CO, '32 Bantam, K/AA, 7.680, 164.65 def. Ross Wilson, San Bernardino, CA, '05 Sunfire, C/SM, 8.217, 165.40.

SUPER STOCK: Ed Niquette, Lake Havasu City, AZ, '05 Cavalier, SS/AM, 8.450, 161.21 def. George Stassi, Brea, CA, '67 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.006, 129.64.

STOCK ELIMINATOR: Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, CA, '69 Camaro, AA/SA, 9.910, 125.11 def. Mike Cotten, Cave Creek, AZ., '73 Duster, G/SA, 10.959, 118.93.

TOP DRAGSTER: Paul Nero (far lane), Eugene, OR, '14 Undercover, 7.581, 131.19 def. John Taylor Jr., Wyomissing, PA, '15 American, foul.

TOP SPORTSMAN: Bryan Warr, Riverton, UT, '04 Corvette, 7.010, 196.47 def. Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, CO, '05 Grand AM, 6.730, 198.12.