Carolina Nationals Recap

As the Carolina Nationals came to a close this past weekend, and we are starting to hit tracks for the second time on the tour, it means only a few more weekend of racing. Then it’ll be time for teams to tear down, freshen, upgrade and build back up for the 2018 season which is only 5 short months away. This weekend was another beautiful race weekend with moderate temps and moderate car counts. Even with only 50ish cars in each class, each competitor was given 2 time trials and into 1st round, some people are in favor of that and some are not. Regardless, at the end of the day it was a picture perfect weekend for racing that was completed on time with no hiccups. This weekend there were multiple first time winners, along with 2 drivers splitting on the “double up” weekend.

On to the last east coast race of the year!

Comp: Frank Aragona over David Rampy

In pretty much a heads up comp final, Aragona gets his 8th title and 2nd at this event. Aragona was away first with a .038 light and up against a 7.92 index, Rambo was away shortly after with a .048 light chasing the 7.73 index. With Rambo down .09 and Aragona down .07 coming into the final, neither driver could take much more or face permanent CIC penalty. At the end of the track, Rampy wasn’t willing to risk taking permanent index and hit the brakes. Aragona may have been slightly out of it, running 7.388, but took the win and not any permanent index.

Super Stock: Nick Chiles over Byron Worner

I would say it was definitely Nick Chiles weekend scoring his 1st ever National event win and had not just one but two .000 perfect reaction times in competition. Chiles outlasted a group of very competitive drivers and was making the runs to put them all on the trailer. In the final Chiles was slightly behind on the tree, .024 to .016 but won a double breakout by .004 by running only .008 under his predicted dial of 9.09.

Stock: Kenneth Stott over Mickey Whaley

Stott has never been to a National event final round up until this weekend, Whaley has been to 5 finals and has won 4 of them. Stott was away first with a .034 reaction time and ran on the plus side of his dial in (11.673 on an 11.66). Whaley was mathematically ineligible with a .072 light and ran under the predicted 10.70 at 10.688.

Super Comp: John Labbous Jr. over Amanda Boicesco

Labbous is working on doubling up here this weekend in Super Comp and Super Gas, which would be his 2nd double up on the year. This has to be one of his easiest races as Boicesco was way late on the tree with a .123 light and ran 7.974 on the 8.90 index. Labbous was .013 on the tree and got out of the gas at 1000’ to coast to the win.

Super Gas: Dean Mathauser over John Labbous Jr.

We have another first time winner as Mathauser picks up the double breakout win and stops Labbous from doubling up. Not to take anything away from Labbous because he had one of the most impressive strings of reaction times leading up to the final, by being .00 in 4 out of 5 of the prior rounds. But Mathauser knew it, and was only behind .003 when they left the starting line (.013 to .016). At the end Labbous decided to take the stripe and ended up running 9.882 on the 9.90 index, Mathauser was right in letting Labboous take the stripe because he only broke out by .005, running 9.895 and taking the win.

Top Sportsman: Jerry Albert over Todd Ewing

Albert collects his 3rd title and also denies Ewing of the double up. This race was decided by just .001 as Albert runs dead on 0 to his 6.89 dial with a .024 light for a .024 total package. Ewing was better on the tree but took .001 too much at the end and ran out by .001 at 6.799 on the 6.80 dial.

Top Dragster: Todd Ewing over Barry Brown

Ewing would not go 0 for 2 as he knocks down his 7th National event win. Brown was out .015 after the green after his 7.67 dial, Ewing dialed in at 7.20 would try and run him down. Fortunately for Ewing, getting to the stripe 2nd was a good choice as Brown breaks out by just .004. Ewing had a .008 light and ran 7.226 on the 7.20, going home 50% in final rounds here this weekend.

Photos By – Auto Imagery