FALLON, NV (Sept. 17) — Due to myriad of problems this season at Top Gun Drag Strip was shortened. Despite this the track was able to run the season’s final races this weekend.
First up to finish Sunday’s eliminations were the Junior Dragsters. In the final round Sparks racer Nicholas Morris beat Kellen Schmid. The 2023 Junior Dragster champ was Jayce Schmid and the Rookie of the Year was Chayson Schierost.
Next the eliminations proceeded. At one time a driver that lost their run, for a small contribution, would race in a By Back where the winner went back into their class eliminations.
Zac Eling, from Rohnert, California was Sunday’s Pro winner when he bested Carson City resident Mason Marlin. In Super Pro Lonnie Grace, from Fallon, won when he beat Minden racer Steve Schmid.
After his final run Grace said, “It’s a been pretty abbreviated season so it’s pretty tough to cut a good light after four months off. Finally got it together, yesterday I couldn’t buy a win. And I have to thank my wife, without her I couldn’t do this.”
The Super Pro 2023 champion is Steve Schmid, who races a Corvette.
For Motorcycle racer Zach Clarke from Dayton it was a great day, as he not only won his class by besting Don Palmer. In addition Clarke is the 2023 Motorcycle champion.
After his runs ended Clarke said, “I’ve had a really good year, my first one back since my big wreck two years ago. Felt really good to be back at home and racing with everybody else so I had a good time. Need to thank my wife Crystal, family, my work and everybody at the track for all the hard work they did to get it going.”
Moving down the classes Fallon local Philip Sabatino capped his shortened season with a win and championship. In the Sportsman final he bested runner Bublitz and that clinched the 2023 class championship for Sabatino.
One of the season ending event is MOPAR VS THE WORLD. Here any Mopar racer faces off with other makes of cars.
There were all types of cars, on the Mopar side drivers races Plymouth, Duster, Road Runner and a Barracuda. On the other side there were Corvettes, Novas, Falcon and an El Camino.
At the end the Uncle-Nephew team of Mike Eling and Zac Eling chose not to race each other. As this is a money class they chose to split the title winnings.
Finally it was time for the final event to determine the 2023 King of the Track. No money but there are bragging rights, a special trophy and their car will be featured on next year’s announcements.
Only the 2023 class champions would race in this two-round elimination set.
In the first round Pro Class champ Kevin Morris bested Sportsman champ Phillip Sabatino. Next up Steve Schmid, Super Pro champ, beat Motorcycle champ Zach Clarke.
In that round it appears that Kevin Morris had a huge advantage in reaction time and won. Steve Schmid didn’t have such a good reaction time and lost the race.
Asked about his day Morris said, “There’s been challenges, it’s been really great, first runs locked in on a .74. Slowed real bad to an 88, then creeped up on it. Was able on the run off for the championship and raced my buddy Stevie Schmid for King of the Track. Thanks to my dad, my mom my son, daughters and family, God is good.
On Saturday the Junior Dragsters did one round while those competing in the Summit ET series had two rounds of racings. All the results are at the end of this article.
• Before Sunday’s eliminations began this reporter had a chance to talk with association president John Stauverman about the season and the challenges they all faced.
“It’s been quite a season,” he said. “Started out with some computer glitches we didn’t know about until we started running cars. So we did a cancellation at the first weekend’s event.
“Followed up with our season opener technically. We had a real good time, we had over 80 cars show up at our second race which was then our season opener. On Saturday night we did the awards presentation for the 2022 year.
Out next event was the NHRA Open Junior Dragster divisional. We did a junior dragster event on Friday afternoon, had a phenomenal time, crowned some winners and some trophies were handed out.
Saturday we were making time runs for all the bracket cars, junior dragsters and lo and behold it rains. The skies opened up and flooded out our facility, ended our season up to this weekend.”
In addition to that first storm there were two other times the track was flooded and washed out. While the track had to pay for a lot of work he expressed his appreciation for the construction firms that helped with equipment. But the bad news didn’t stop there.
“We also had a well collapse the well casing at 400 feet and wound up having to have a new well put into the tune of $50,000,” he said.” We’ve done multiple fund raisers through concerts, go fund me accounts, car shows, personal donations from everybody doing what ever they can to help us out and we’re for ever grateful and appreciate it.”
He added that Sonoma Raceway did a fund raiser at one of their event. All this allowed the track to end 2023 on a positive note.
Then he continued, “So this is our second race of the season technically and this is also the end of our season. We did two Summit bracket races yesterday and we did Mopar VS The World. It’s the Mopar cars against everybody else. It’s a wonderful event, plenty of prizes to go around and money.
“This year we’re doing a guaranteed pay out for our Summit series. And we’re going to crown some champions this afternoon.”
Of course in the end of a season means planning for the next season starts. Top Gun is no exception.
“Next season looks a lot more promising, we’ve already penciled in our schedule, we’re going to have 10 point’s races, five weekends, a handful of test and tunes, some other fun things coming up but have to work all the details,” he said. “Mopar vs the World next year and the NHRA Nationals has tentatively changed to the end of June rather than the start of June.”
Looks good for next year at Top Gun Drag Strip.
REPORTER’S NOTE: For pictures please check with Problem Child Design as he takes good ones and is the track photographer. A great way to show a sponsor you appreciate them is an autographed photo.
Have to apologize for this being so late in posting. Tuesday was busier than I thought. The results for both days are at the end of this article.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Here is an opportunity for equipment operators in our area. I believe Zeb may have purchased the Sand Box and if so wants to get it up and running soon. If anybody has further information please let me know.
• For those racing in the next round of the BBMX series signups are now open. This time the event will be at the motocross track at Fernley 95A.
• Daveys American Racing is usually on Face Book at 6 p.m. Wednesday evenings. One can see the show on Face Book and get into the chat was well.
Davey covers national series as well as racing in the western United States. His focus is on oval tracks.
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There is medical that covers visits to the ER, ambulance rides and if a person has to stay in a hospital. In addition trailers as well as tools and tools in shops can be covered with additional policies.
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RESULTS:
TOP GUN DRAG STRIP: FINAL RESULTS
• Sunday, Sept. 17:
+ Pro:
- Champion: Zac Eling, ET 10.773, MPH 1125.334
- R/U: Mason Marlin, ET 9.813, MPH 131.01
- #1 Qualifier: Dan Gaylor, ET 10.420.
+ Super Pro:
– Champion: Lonnie Grace, ET 8.816, MPH 155.52
– R/U: Steve Schmid, ET 8.501, MPH 159.99
– #1 Qualifier: Lonnie Grace, ER 8.811
+ Motorcycle:
- Champion: Zach Clarke, ET 10.353, MPH 120.04
- R/U: Don Palmer, ET 9.872, MPH 139.98
- #1 Qualifier: Don Palmer, ET 9.998.
+ Sportsman:
- Champion: Philip Sabatino, ET 11.929, MPH 112.41
- R/U: Nick Bublitz, ET 13.129,MPH 92.32
- #1 Qualifier: Nick Bublitz, ET 14.169.
+ Jr. Dragsters:
- Champion: Nicholas Morris, ET 8.133, MPH 79.28
- R/U: Kellen Schmid, ET 8.186, MPH 76.94
- #1 Qualifier: Crue Casteel, ET 0.014.
+ King of the Track:
- Champion: Kevin Morris, ET 10.904, MPH 119.16
- R/U: Jayce Schmid, ET 8.538, MPH 156.37
+ Mopar VS World*:
- Round 4 Winners:
- Mike Eling, 1965 El Camino, ET 10.950, 113.14 MPH.
- Zac Eling, 1991 Corvette, ET10.807 MPH 120.08
* The Elings are a Uncle-Nephew pair. The decided not to compete in the final round and are splitting the money and trophies.
• Saturday, Sept. 16 (Race #1):
+ Pro:
- Champion: Nick Bublitz, ET 14.109, MPH 93.41
- R/U: Erik Doukas, ET 10.99, MPH 119.00
- #1 Qualifier – John Kriner, ET 10.751
+ Super Pro:
- Champion: Tom Brown, ET 11.271, MPH 128.69
- R/U: Jim Schmid, ET 7.855, MPH 172.06
- #1 Qualifier: Jim Schmid, ET 7.697
+ Motorcycle:
- Champion: Will Shoemaker, ET 10.149, MPH 134.26
- R/U: Zach Clarke, ET 10.445, MPH 124.14
- #1 Qualifier: Will Shoemaker, ET 10.177
+ Sportsman:
- Nick Bublitz, ET 14.097, MPH 96.71
- R/U: Philip Sabatino, ET 11.947, MPH 112.26
- #1 Qualifier: Mike Holland, ET 13.392
+ Mopar VS World:
- Champion: Cliff Hall, ET 9.889, MPH 132.86.
- R/U: Brandon Clark, ET 9.643, MPH 139.88
+ Jr. Dragsters:
- Champion: Jayce Schmid, ET 8.099, MPH 75.05
- R/U: Nicholas Morris, ET 8.360, MPH 75.63
- #1 Qualifier: Crue Casteel.
• Saturday, Sept. 16, Race #2:
+ Pro:
- Champion: Eric Doukas, ET 11.003, MPH 121.00
- R/U: John Kriner, ET 13.957, MPH 64.99
- #1 Qualifier: Steve Tintinger, ET9.467.
+ Super Pro:
- Champion: Steve Schmid, ET 8.463, MPH 158.28
- R/U: Jim Schmid, ET 7.900, MPH 171.58
- – #1 Qualifier: Eric Setterberg, ET 8.958.
+ Motorcycle:
- Champion: Zach Clarke, ET 10.498, MPH 110.70
- R/U: Will Shoemaker, ET 10.656, MPH 131.32
- #! Qualifier: Will Shoemaker, ET 10.310.
+ Sportsman:
- Champion: Ben Conseur, ET 12.801, MPH 107.90
- R/U: Walt Stacey, ET 13.706, MPH 97.23
- #1 Qualifier: Ben Conseur, ET 12.659.
