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Martin and Gasparrelli tops at Lordco B.C. Nationals

The annual event was held last weekend at Mission Raceway Park

Alcohol dragster Ray Martin won first place in his division, while Steve Gasparrelli bested Brian Hough in top alcohol funny car at last weekend's Lordco B.C. Nationals at Mission Raceway Park.

In the final, Martin, who also won this race in 2011, topped Greg Sereda, who had been running steady 5.60s, for a come-from-behind win, 5.52 to 5.64, popping the blower near the lights. Martin now has a 7-1 win-loss record and two victories in three regional starts this season after reaching three finals in five such starts in 2012.

Martin qualified third in the four-car field, 7/100ths of a second behind Joey Severance, and defeated former national event finalist Don St. Arnaud in an upset-filled first round, 5.46 to 5.68. Neither Severance, who qualified number one with a 5.36, nor St. Arnaud, who was second with a 5.38, survived the opening round. Severance banged the blower near mid-track, slowing to a 6.09 at just 130 mph and allowing Sereda to move on with a 5.68 at 232 mph.

Top alcohol funny car came down to the only two drivers to win this race in the past five years. In a rematch of last year's finale, Gasparrelli, who also won here in 2011, topped Brian Hough, who won in 2009 and 2010, getting off the mark first with a .060 second reaction time and getting the best of a tight race, 5.72 to 5.74.

Mission's Kirk Lanz advanced to the final round in both Super Gas and in the RH Racecars Top Sportsman looking for the elusive double-up. In his first test, he would meet up with Daryl Hemley and take the early lead but Hemley ran Lanz down to take the Top Sportsman trophy in 6.951 seconds at 199.42 mph.

Lanz would come back around to face off with Brian Preszler, Kennewick, Wash., in Super Gas where he would not be denied. Lanz clocked in at 9.865 at 168.91 mph for the win and his first ever NHRA Wally trophy.

The Super Comp final was a family affair as Michael Dalrymple faced off with his father John. Michael got the early lead and needed every bit of it to hold off his dad who ran 8.903 on the 8.90 dial.

Joe Sorensen also used a starting line advantage to force Mark Faul to break out in the Super Stock final round. Sorensen went 10.279 at 126 mph in his 1969 Camaro for the win.

Former division champion Dudley Gee recorded a .009 second package for the win in Super Street over Arron Spitzer and last year’s finalist in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson. Jeff Havens went the extra round for the win over Doug Rathbun.

Brandon Huhtala took the early lead in Comp Eliminator and held on to beat Joe Roubicek while Tom Clark held on to defeat Peter Saruga for the Top Dragster title.

Other winners this weekend were Mick Alley, Eagle, Idaho, who beat Jim Storms in Stock, Al Quigley, Aldergrove, B.C., defeated Jon Bradford in Super Pro and Stefan Kondolay, Chilliwack, B.C., knocked out Chris Stone, Mission, B.C. in Pro ET.



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