Results courtesy NHRA

Racing concluded this weekend at Bradenton Motorsports Park for the first NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event of the season with some familiar names competing. A local to the track, Ed Richardson, Bradenton, Fla., took the win in Super Comp over Tyler Caheely from Rock Spring, Ga. Richardson drove his dragster to a victory with a run of 8.872 seconds at 179.10 mph.

Kris Hool, Cooper, Wyo., took home the championship trophy in Top Alcohol Funny Car defeating last year’s Southeast Division champion, Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., who broke in the final round. Hool drove his ’10 Monte Carlo to a 5.600 second victory at 258.02 mph. Another 2010 Southeast Division champion, Ray Miller, finished in the runner-up spot at Bradenton. Miller, running in Top Dragster, made the short trip from Spring Hill, Fla., and lost in the final round to Dwayne Roberts. Roberts, from Lakeland, Fla., ran 7.045 seconds at 179.24 mph in his dragster.
     
Al Moeser, Hill Town, Pa., qualified in the top spot earlier in the weekend in Top Alcohol Dragster and continued his momentum all the way to the final round defeating Artie Allen, Jackonsonville, Fla., with a 5.308-second run at 262.23 mph. Rick Twitchell also qualified in the number one spot and held on to that position throughout the weekend leading to a win in Super Stock. Making the trip from Cape Coral, Fla., Twitchell defeated Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., with a run of 10.748 at 96.74 in his ’03 S-10.
     
Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., ran his ’07 GTO in defeating the number-one qualifier, Fred Allen, Mary Esther, Fla., earning him the win in Competition Eliminator. In Stock Eliminator, Merrill Schrimscher, Lake Mary, Fla., defeated Kevin Helms, Schriever, La., in the final round at Bradenton when Helms fouled. Schrimscher drove his ’85 Camaro to a 13.111 second run at 73.57 mph for the victory. In Super Street, Rudy Mathews, Ohio City, Ohio, took the win over Mike Griggs, Ocala, Fla., in his ’69 Camaro with a run of 10.911 seconds at 140.77 mph.
     
In Super Gas and Top Sportsman, ’63 Corvettes were the big winners. In Super Gas, Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., drove his Corvette for 9.910 seconds at 155.79 mph to defeat Vince Costa, Jr., Seffner, Fla. In Top Sportsman, Kenny Burgess, Ellenton, Fla., drove his ’63 Corvette to victory over Calvin Hornes, Sr., Palmetto, Fla., by running 7.200 seconds at 157.95 mph.
     
New to the NHRA Southeast Division this year are three index classes that will run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series. Matt Powell, Ty Ty, Ga., took the win in the 10.00 class while Shane Williams, Knoxville, Tenn., won in 12.00. Bradenton, Fla., racer Trent Thomas fell in the 11.00 final to Bob George, Satellite Beach, Fla.
     
Southeast Division racers head to Gainesville Raceway for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, Feb. 18-20.