NC: Indy ORP final summary

REICHERT, MARTIN GRAB FIRST WINS OF SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS (April 26, 2009) -- In the final rounds from O'Reilly Raceway Park defending NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster National Champion Bill Reichert scored the win at this the opening event in the North Central Division.

Reichert, of Owosso Mich., posted a run of 5.476 seconds at 267.91 mph over Jacksonville, Fla., resident Artie Allen for his first win of the season. Reichert coming out of the No. 2 qualifying position took out Paul Fishburn, Rensselaer, Ind., and Ken Perry, Richmond Hill, Ont., in rounds 1 and 2 respectively.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car it was Bobby Martin taking home the hardware over No. 1 qualifier Mick Snyder for his first win of the season. Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., posted a lap of 5.853 seconds, 252.61 mph to Snyder's slowing 6.281, 170.95. Marin looks to defend his division championship from a year ago.

A pair on Indiana racers also scored wins this weekend with James Monroe of Bloomington, going to the winner's circle in Top Dragster and David Walther of Lanesville, did the same in Stock Eliminator. Monroe covered the famed Indianapolis quarter-mile in 6.868 seconds at 187.13 mph over Mike Trauth of Cold Springs, Ky., while Walther drove his '69 Camaro passed Edmond Richardson of Greenbrier, Tenn.

Veteran racer Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., took the win in Comp Eliminator and Matt Morris, Boston, Ky., won in his '65 Nova ousting Charlie Buhannon of Valley Station, Ky., in his '67 Corvette.

Leading the super categories was TJ Shippling in Super Comp out of Shakespeare, Ont., and Dale Barnard, Meadville., Pa., in his '34 Chevy. Ricky Shipp, Needham, Ind., came up one round short as he feel to Dwight, Ill., resident Bill Worby in Super Street and Chris Nyerges won in his Top Sportsman '00 Firebird over Brian Stultz, New Lebanon, Ohio.

North Central Division racers head to Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio, for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, May 15-17.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at O'Reilly Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

Round 1

4) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.439, 261.22 def. 5) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 12.022, 93.65

6) Ken Perry, Richmond Hill, Ont., 5.476, 244.43 def. 3) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.640, 258.32

2) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.339, 269.94 def. 7) Paul Fishburn, Rensselaer, Ind., 5.727, 247.88

8) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.393, 252.00 def. 1) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, 5.940, 174.26

Semifinals

Allen, 5.391, 257.33 def. Hirata, 5.459, 263.00

Reichert, 5.345, 270.81 def. Perry, 5.434, 262.39

Final

Reichert, 5.476, 267.91 def. Allen, 5.707, 238.34

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

Round 1

4) Andy Bohl, Racine, Wis., '08 Mustang, 5.710, 252.99 def. 5) Thomas Carter, Victoria, Texas, '09 Monte Carlo, 5.727, 252.24

7) Terry Munroe, Beaver, Pa., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.757, 253.14 def. 2) Fred Hagen Jr., Des Plaines, Ill., '09 Mustang, 7.165, 146.30

3) Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '09 Charger, 5.658, 253.71 def. 6) Chris Foster, Davenport, Iowa, '06 Monte Carlo, 5.795, 250.41

1) Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., '08 Mustang, 5.827, 251.63 def. 8) Kevin Newburgh, Rock Falls, Ill., '06 Avenger, 12.386, 63.25

Semifinals

Martin, 5.673, 254.81 def. Munroe, 7.493, 130.18

Snyder, 5.634, 255.05 def. Bohl, 5.676, 255.00

Final

Martin, 5.853, 252.61 def. Snyder, 6.281, 170.95

COMP ELIMINATOR

Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, J/AA, 7.806, 167.88 def. Rick Brown, Lebanon, Ohio, '00 S-10, B/TA, 8.261, 163.20.

SUPER STOCK

Matt Morris, Boston, Ky., '65 Nova, SS/JA, 10.729, 123.00 def. Charlie Bohannon, Valley Station, Ky., '67 Corvette, SS/HA, 9.877, 130.49.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

David Walther, Lanesville, Ind., '69 Camaro, F/S, 11.024, 120.14 def. Edmond Richardson, Greenbrier, Tenn., '02 Camaro, B/SA, 10.667, 120.90.

SUPER COMP

TJ Schippling, Shakespeare, Ont., dragster, 8.901, 168.70 def. Sean Graham, Gahanna, Ohio, dragster, 8.867, 177.53.

SUPER GAS

Dale Barnard, Meadville, Pa., '34 Chevy, 9.930, 154.21 def. Doug Gumbert, Amelia, Ohio, '63 Corvette, 9.970, 154.65.

SUPER STREET

Bill Worby, Dwight, Ill., '88 Camaro, 10.893, 132.76 def. Ricky Shipp, Needham, Ind., '70 Nova, 10.890, 131.65.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Chris Nyerges, Burton, Ohio, '00 Firebird, 10.897, 97.88 def. Brian Stultz, New Lebanon, Ohio, '99 Monte Carlo, 7.418, 182.38.

TOP DRAGSTER

James Monroe, Bloomington, Ind., dragster, 6.868, 187.13 def. Mike Trauth, Cold Springs, Ky., dragster, 6.877, 190.54.

-credit: nhra