Route 66 Nationals Winners
Chicago Recap
The Fallen Patriots Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N filters in Joliet, IL is the next stop on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yellow tour. This 4 day event would host every sportsman class the NHRA has to offer, this being because Joliet is also the home of the Jegs All-Star race. Beautiful weather and a lot of great racing is pretty much all this weekend had to offer, with no major hiccups to the program the race went along smooth as planned and had veteran drivers such as Rampy, Fletcher and Bogacki holding the trophies on Sunday.
Comp: David Rampy over Brian Hyerstay
Rampy takes home his 95th National Event Wally and 76th in Comp Eliminator. Rampy was qualified #6 at .635 under the index but came into the final round down .06, Hyerstay qualified #2 and was down .11 on his index. Hyerstay was ahead first going after the 9.38 index but lit the cherry going -.040 red, Rampy had a 7.80 index and didn’t even need to leave the starting line for his 95th Wally.
Super Stock: Aaron Stanfield over Greg Stanfield
It was an all Stanfield final as Aaron prevails over his father Greg, in only the 10th ever father-son final. Aaron was given the head start with his 9.75 dial to dads 8.58 dial, and both drivers were a tad off of their game on the starting line being .050 and .066. At about 800’ Greg seemed to have problems and backed out of the gas, likewise did Aaron when he noticed dad’s car no longer gaining ground and collect his 3rd trophy.
Stock: Brad Burton over Justin Picillo
Burton. holds off Emmons to collect his 8th National Event Win. Burton was away first with a 10.39 dial and a .025 reaction time, slightly after that, Picillo swapped feet chasing down his 10.02 dial. At the stripe it was Burton hitting the brakes and getting behind running 10.412 on the 10.39 dial, Picillo went under his 10.02 dial at 10.010 trying to run him down and still get there first but couldn’t make up for his .041 reaction time.
Super Comp: Luke Bogacki over Nick Folk
Bogacki gets his 13th National Event title and keeps his chances alive to complete the “double up”. Both of these drivers have been on fire so far this year with multiple wins a piece, so racers knew this would probably be the best final of the event, and they did not disappoint. Folk was a thou behind Bogacki on the tree, .010 to .011, but was .010 behind at the stripe running 8.918 on the 8.90 index while Bogacki was dead on 9 (8.909) for a .019 total package.
Super Gas: Luke Bogacki over Mike Sawyer
Bogacki is able to complete the double up and become only the 24th driver to ever do so. With a perfect .000 reaction time, Bogacki made the right choice at the stripe and was able to get behind to run 9.930 on the 9.90 index. Sawyer was just a little too quick on the track running 9.890 with a .013 light.
Super Street: Dan Fletcher over Greg Ventura
Fletcher is able to get National Event Win #100 and become only the 3rd ever driver to accomplish triple digit wins. Working off the 10.90 index Ventura was able to run it out the back door and go dead on 3 (10.903), but unfortunately that run was null and void as he was just a few ticks too early going -.004 red. Fletcher had a great .012 reaction time and shut it down at the 1/8th mile to save on parts and coasted to his milestone victory.
Top Sportsman: Mark McDonald over Todd Ewing
McDonald smacks the tree with a .005 reaction time to get his 2nd National Event Wally and double up on the weekend by winning the event and the All-Star race. Ewing has nothing to be ashamed of with a .015 light but didn’t have enough steam as McDonald drove around him at the end to run 6.677 on the 6.65 dial. Ewing ran just off the dial, going 6.833 on the 6.80 but came out on the wrong end of a good race.
Top Dragster: Zach Sackman over Shanna Snyder
Sackman gets his First National Event Win in his first ever final round. In the fastest bracket race of the weekend, Snyder was given the head start dialed in at 6.23, Sackman was dialed in at 6.08. Sackman left with a .021 light and it was all over from there as Snyder missed the tree badly being .162 on the let go. Snyder ran closer to the dial going 6.262, but Sackman was in control of the race and slowed the car down to a 6.206.
Photos By – Auto Imagery