Words by Larry Crum / IHRA
Photos courtesy IHRA

After a soggy start and terrible conditions to begin the weekend, Sunday’s finals at the IHRA Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers turned into one of the most beautiful days of racing seen all year. And the action on the track was just as impressive.

IHRA and New England Dragway had their biggest Sunday crowd in years and produced some of the best racing of the year as fans filled the facility to near capacity to watch Del Cox Jr. (Top Fuel), Kenny Lang (Pro Modified) and Bob Bertsch (Pro Stock) claim victories at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.

Along with IHRA’s regular pro categories, a trio of exhibition classes were also on hand, pushing the total car count to nearly 500 race vehicles over the course of the weekend. Among them Frank Patille (Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod), Scott Marsh (Pro Stock Sled) and Dave Bereau (Pro Comp) all took home Ironman trophies during Sunday’s championship finals.

In Sportsman action Saturday’s weather cancellation wreaked havoc on the first few rounds of competition, forcing the seven sportsman categories to compete well into the night on Sunday.

When the smoke finally settled – and the curfew was extended – Gary Bingham (Top Sportsman), Nick Willard (Top Dragster), Jacques Blais (Super Stock), Don Pires (Stock), Lisa Bingham (Quick Rod), Francis Ross (Super Rod) and Ray Knight (Hot Rod) all walked away champions and earned a berth into the year end Tournament of Champions at the World Finals in Rockingham.

With the Bingham sweep in Top Sportsman and Quick Rod, the pair became one of the few father-daughter combinations to ever win at the same national event.

With eight races in the books, the IHRA Nitro Jam series heads to Maryland International Raceway Sept. 25-27 for the IHRA President’s Cup Nationals in Budds Creek.