Ford Mustangs Take Top Honors at 2016 Pennsylvania Dutch Classic

Michelle Bongiovanni | October 20, 2016

Every October, dedicated fans and racers gather at Maple Grove Raceway for the 45^th Annual NHRA Dutch Classic. The crisp autumn weather paired with a well-treated track makes for near perfect conditions for record performances and some pretty solid runs. Along with the usual Stock and Super Stock classes, the Dutch also features specialty races such as a “Balls-t 14-camaro o-the-Wall” Stock and Super Stock class, the Hemi Shootout, and the Factory Stock Showdown for Drag Pack Dodge Challengers, Chevy COPO Camaros and Ford Cobra Jet Mustangs.

Although Thursday upheld clear skies and chilly weather, Friday unfortunately put a damper on the mood with complete cloud coverage and scattered showers that led into Saturday night. With this, FSS, BTTW and Stock and Super Stock winners were then based off of top qualifiers. Don Carson, in his 2014 5.0 FS/F Cobra Jet claimed the BTTW title with his 9.71 ET. David Barton took home the FSS win in his 2015 COPO Camaro with Anthony Bongiovanni tailing behind as runner-up with an 8.37 pass at 163 mph in his 2016 Cobra Jet. Stock and Super Stock had to prepare for eliminations on Sunday without a final qualifying pass.

Anthony Bongiovanni – Stock winner

Anthony Bongiovanni proved victorious in Stock Eliminator in his first ever final round win. His opponent, Larry Hill in his Plymouth Barracuda, was tardy on the tree, so Bongiovanni in his 2016 CJ was able to catch him at top end and run dead on his 8.32 dial-in. With a runner-up in FSS and a final round win in Stock, it’s definitely safe to say this was a respectable way to close the season for Bongiovanni Racing.

Bobby Fazio earned his second win at the Dutch Classic in Super Stock with his 1964 ½ SS/L Mustang Coupe. Fazio had a .048 light giving him a slight starting line advantage against his opponent, John Armstrong with a .053 light in his 1969 Chevy Corvette. Armstrong broke out by seven-thousandths on his 8.71 dial, in turn, giving Fazio the win. Not only did he claim the win Super Stock title after 7 rounds, but he also ran his fastest past ever, a 10.48 at 124.76 mph.