DINWIDDIE, Va. – National records were broken in two classes, Hot Rod and Modified, this weekend at the NHRA Virginia Sport Compact Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va.
The weekend got off to a wet start when Saturday qualifying was cancelled due to severe weather in the area. So, on Sunday the racers ran one round of qualifying before getting to the eliminations. That is when the racers began breaking the records.
Ron Lummus Ron Lummus, defending Hot Rod NHRA world champion, drove his Sunfire to both time and speed records. In the second round of eliminations he drove his car to National record time of 8.03 seconds at a national record speed of 179.78.
In the final, Lummus went on to beat Stephane Beauregard, who left before Lummus had even staged. He finished with a time of 8.10 seconds at 178.76 mph. This was Lummus’ ninth Wally of his career.
Lummus said of his win, “It feels great. I was hoping Frenchy (Beauregard) would come back to the line, and then I just waited for him to clear the track so I could run. I think the mph is right there for the car. I was very happy with Virginia Motorsports Park.”
Paul Efantis The other record setter of the day was Paul Efantis in the Modified class. He set both ends of the national record. In the final Efantis, in which he earned his twelth Wally, drove his Solara to a record time of 7.60 seconds, to beat Mike Lowe. Lowe, driving his Mazda, had the holeshot against Efantis, but Efantis reeled him in with the class fastest time of 180.74 mph.
Efantis said, “It’s great to win. We wanted a really strong showing at our first race of the year. We came out with a vengeance. Our team is out here for MSP Racing. I want to thank Justice Racing Engines and Pro Port Cylinder Heads.”
Other winners were Matt Scranton (Pro RWD), Ed Bergenholtz (Pro FWD), and Saul Salceda (Honda Tuning All Motor).
Matt Scranton Scranton, driving his Ride Revolution Toyota Solara, beat newcomer to the Pro RWD class Gary White in the final round. In earning his fourteenth win Scranton tied Jesus Padilla for most career wins. He beat White, who was driving his Toyota Celica, with a time of 6.93 seconds at 192.19. White had to slow up halfway down the track after loosing control.
Scranton said, “The win is awesome. It’s great. I felt like a zero after Moroso (Fla.) when I lost in the final round in front of my family and friends. Now I’m a hero. This win goes to my brother Jay. He worked his rear off and put in hours getting the car ready.”
Scranton’s final-round appearance, his 23rd, also tied a series record, which he now shares with former Pro FWD champ Nelson Hoyos.
Ed Bergenholtz Bergenholtz in his Audiobahn Mazda earned his second win of the year by defeating Marty Ladwig. His holeshot start was all he needed to win the race. Ladwig, driving his Chevy Cobalt, tried reeling Bergenholtz in, but Bergenholtz’s speed of 191.70 second was too much to overcome. He finished with a time of 8.04. Ladwig’s time was 7.88 at a speed of 182.70 mph.
“We had to thrash to make the last round,” said Bergenholtz. “It feels great to win again. We ran the Nitto 1320 tire and won with it. We are the first ones to win with the tire. So, the proof is in the pudding.”
The victory was the seventh in Berrgenholtz’s career, all of which have come in the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Saul Salceda Salceda, in his Clutchmasters Acura, won his second consecutive and second career race by defeating Jeremy Lookofsky. He raced to the finish line with a time of 9.78 seconds at 135.78 mph over Lookofsky’s time of 10.00 seconds at 138.71 mph.
Combined with Honda Tuning All Motor teammate Norris Prayoonto’s runner-ups at the season’s final two events, the Clutchmasters All Motor team now has appeared in four straight NHRA final rounds.
Salceda also has to his credit a win in the BFGoodrich Street Stock last season at Atco, N.J., and a runner-up at the spring event in Englishtown, N.J.
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