C/GAS
(James Drew photo)
Jim Caruso (shown) qualified in the number one spot with a 9.604 in his 1964 Chevrolet Nova Caruso Bros. next generation racing team who are just a few miles up interstate 15 in Devore, CA. His Nova is powered by stroked small block engine backed by a Jericho four speed. Jim said, “I have a race car that is a real race car to drive -- I have hit my shifts at the correct rpms just like the big boys in Pro Stock.”
Ken Yount, who was the number two qualifier, was also racing a Chevy Nova but his is a ‘67 model. In the final Yount cut the better light, leaving the line with a .080 to Caruso’s late .174, but it was at the stripe that mattered and Caruso ran a 9.617 for the win as Yount broke out by 3, running a 9.579 for the bridesmaid money.
(James Drew photo)
The C/Gas championship was won by Doug Araiza in his bright red 1969 Chevrolet Camaro from Santa Paula, CA. He had to make first round for the points and he was very lucky that he did not take an extra non-qualifying run Saturday afternoon, as he kicked the rods out of his engine against race winner Jim Caruso. Doug and his uncle said they didn’t care so much about the blown up engine because it was worth winning the championship and being the first-ever C/Gas champion in the history of the NHRA Heritage Series.
D/GAS
Roy Summers defeated points leader and four-race winner in NHRA Heritage Series races and two wins before the series was even started for a total of six wins in a row, Summers in his 1956 Chevy Bel Air was knows his race car and the track here at Auto Club Dragway as he races a lot here and knows his car as he was on his game all day in the race that took the points leader and ‘08 Championship was good race .022 light for the Champ running a 10.691 to Sommers .028 light and 10.643 e.t. to put the champ on the trailer in the Semi’s
Ed Carey made the final from the number 1 qualifying spot in his ‘71 Camaro and lost in the final by breaking out by five thousandths of second, running a 10.595 to Roy’s 10.616, giving Sommers his biggest win in all his years of drag racing.
HOT ROD
Carl Cole (near lane) takes the Hot Rod win over Joy Lineham. (Tim Marshall photo)
Hot Rod would come down two racers who race a lot at Auto Club Dragway. Local racer Carl Cole in his red and white 1955 Chevy Bel Air and second grade teacher Joy Lineham in her ‘65 Chevelle would be the last two standing out of the 32 racers who ran first round. It was a double breakout in the final with Cole breaking out by the least, running a 12.096 on a 12.12 dial. Joy, who has just purchased a Super Eliminator rear engine dragster and got her NHRA license upgraded, had not raced her Chevelle in a while and she ran a 11.317 on a 11.37 dial.
Kurt Kaemerle was the 2008 Hot Rod Champion. (James Drew photo)
This was the sixth race in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series and the car count has been low at every race except this year’s 50th Annual March Meet. While the economy has been a problem for many racers and continues to be so, the nostalgia racers need to help support the NHRA HRH Series or it may not be around in years to come.