St. Louis Recap

The 21st stop on the 2017 NHRA Mellow Yellow tour brought us to Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, MO for the 1st of 2 AAA Insurance sponsored events. The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals quotas were the best I have seen all year with every class meeting or exceeding the NHRA 55 car allowance. Also this weekend we would see the ever so popular factory showdown cars as they made their final stop on their 4 race tour, looking to crown their own class champion. With only 3 events left, every driver is looking to get in their final points claims nationally or divisionally, with the dream of putting the #1 on their ride for the 2018 season, and at this point in the season every round is crucial when you are within reach of that top spot.

Factory Stock Showdown: Peter Gasko Jr. over Kevin Skinner

In arguably the most up and coming sportsman class, Gasko Jr. dominates the weekend and gets his 2nd career showdown win. After going 8.097 at 167.70 in qualifying, which was good enough for the #1 spot, Gasko was lined up against hitters such as Welch and Barton in the first 2 rounds. But he was able to hit the tree and lay down solid 8.140 and 8.169 passes, powering him to wins. In the final Gasko was out of the gate first with a .061 light compared to a .121 for Skinner, and never trailed. Skinner unfortunately ran his worst of the weekend at 8.243, while Gasko backed up his prior 8.169 run with an 8.162 at 167.03.

Comp: Shaun Vincent over David Billingsley

Vincent outlasts a stout Comp field to collect his 3rd ever Wally. Vincent was qualified at -.671 under his index, but that was only good enough for the #17 spot, Billingsley was -.780 under his index and that had him racing out of the #2 spot. With a field that fast you would think that taking permanent CIC would be a necessity to ensure the win. Not for Vincent as he is clean every round, barely needing to get to the 330’ for the win as all of his opponents either lit the cherry or didn’t make the run. In the final Vincent left first with an 8.98 index and was .017 on the reaction timer, Billingsley was chasing down an 8.64 index but was 4 thou too soon, giving the automatic win to Vincent.

Super Stock: Slate Cummings over Tyler Wudarczyk

Cummings cuts a perfect .000 light and a .009 total package to get his 3rd Wally. Wudarczyk was denied the double up, but went down swinging with a .021 reaction time and breaking out by just .001 going after his 10.14 dial. Cummings was on kill running dead on 9 to his 9.33 dial with that .000 light, giving Wudarczyk no chance.

Stock: Tyler Wudarczyk over Matt Lund

D5 runner Wudarczyk was able to grab his 2nd ever National event title and keep his hopes alive for a possible double up, as he is also in the Super Stock final. In pretty much a heads up final, Wudarczyk in the borrowed Gary Stinnett B/SA Camaro was dialed in at 10.36 as Lund in his A/SA Firebird was dialed in at 10.30. Lund had the advantage with a .003 reaction time, Wudarczyk being right behind him with a .027 tree. The drivers were side by side the whole way down the track until Wudarczyk smashed the brakes and sent Lund sailing through the finish line. Lund took almost 7 hun stripe and ended up breaking out by 1 hun, running 10.290 @127.62, as Wudarczyk was on the safe side of his dial by going 10.395 @110.42.

Super Comp: Tommy Philips over Ryan Herem

Veteran .90 racer Tommy Phillips adds another Wally to the collection, bring his total to 39. After leaving with identical .003 reaction times, Herem and Phillips both roll down the 1320’ chasing the 8.90 index, more than likely both set up a little faster than that. At the finish line Phillips lets Herem take it and runs 8.915, giving him a .018 total package. Herem was not able to scrub enough time and ran under the index at 8.890, putting the power on in the other lane.

Super Gas: Dwight Nuest over Randy Shipp

We were guaranteed a first time winner in Super Gas this weekend, as Nuest was able to come out on top. Nuest was out of the gate first and had a slight advantage with a .024 light to Shipp’s .041. And was able to get to the stripe first by running 9.921 on the 9.90 index, Shipp ran a similar 9.924 but would have had to of been dead on 4 or less to get the win.

Top Sportsman: Rich Smith over Tom Schmidt

Smith gets his 1st National event Win in his first ever final round. Smith was given the head start dialed in at 6.67, Schmidt was dialed in at 6.49. Smith left with a .010 light and was ahead by 3 thou with Schmidt being .013, but Schmidt ran into problems and was off the throttle way early, eventually crossing with an 8.298 elapsed time. Smith noticed Schmidt was nowhere near him and back out of the gas just before the finish line, running 6.725 and collects his Wally.

Top Dragster: Danny Nelson over Mike Coughlin

Nelson comes out on top of the fastest bracket class, to go home with his 2nd National title. Nelson was given a 2 hun head start dialed in at 6.03, Coughlin was dialed in at 6.01. Out of the gate these two drivers were within 2 thou of each other with Coughlin having the edge with a .015. But judging by Coughlin’s mph, he may have made the wrong choice at the end and let Nelson back around him and take the win. Nelson runs dead on 6 for a .023 total package, as Coughlin runs 6.031 @221.92 when he qualified at 6.035 @224.96.

Photos By – Auto Imagery