Spectacular Day Of Racing At The 28th Annual Mopar Nationals
It was a spectacular day of racing action as July 21st showcased the 28th running of the Mopar Nationals, special thanks to Mopar Musclecars. This event featured every type of Mopar imaginable: from lifted pick-up trucks, to lowered Challengers, to 12-second Jeeps, this event had everything. Alongside racing winners Dave Biancalana (Super Pro), Jeff Marchi (Pro), Justin Hoffman (Sportsman), Alik Osheim (Stick Shift) and Brandon Wesselink (Run Tuff), there was also a car show and swap meet, entertaining fans for the entire day.
The Super Pro category is one that features vehicles running 7.00 to 11.99, who have the assistance of electronics (delay boxes or throttle stops) in their vehicles. Final round appearances were earned today by Dave Biancalana, who defeated Cory Williams and Roger Weddle, and Forest Fincher, who defeated Richard LaChance and Cab Burue. In the final round, Fincher had a massive starting line advantage and drove the ’03 Stratus to the finish line first…but unfortunately broke out by just twenty six thousandths of a second, giving the automatic victory to Biancalana, who for good measure ran exactly on his 8.62 dial-in with an 8.622.
Pro bracket competition features drivers who run between 9.00 seconds and 13.99, and are also allowed to use a trans brake in their cars. After six rounds of grueling competition, there were only two drivers left: Jeff Marchi and Mike Saucy. Marchi’s trip to the final round was through competitors Gary Cosmer, who scored a perfect reaction time, Dennis Dormaier, Chris Williams, a single pass and Ron Parks. On the other side of the ladder, Mike Saucy had to go through opponents Dan Gaylor, ‘Hippie’ Joe Kirkwood, Dave Wheeler, Travis Holt, and then a single in the semi-final round. The final round was one for the ages as Marchi had the better reaction time, but Saucy ran closer to his dial-in. The race came down to who had the best package: Marchi ran a 10.237 on his 10.19, and with a .037 reaction time (packages are figured by taking elapsed time – dial-in + reaction time) to compile a .084 package. For Saucy, who ran a 10.819 on his 10.78 with a .048 reaction time, resulted in a package of .087! Meaning that by just .0031, Jeff Marchi was the winner in the Pro Bracket category.
The Sportsman category is one for vehicles traveling 12.00 seconds and slower that does not have a trans brake or the assistance of electronics, and is usually the host for the majority of street vehicles. Today though, it was all about the race-specific vehicles as Justin Hoffman’s ’67 Charger and Russell Smith’s ’70 Duster lined up in the final round matchup. Hoffman, out of Shingletown California, raced into the final round by defeating Tim Roede, Roger Knowles, Angelo Palamaris, Pete Peterson, and Mark Reebson. For Smith: Ramon Cooper, Earl Stoddard, Jerry Durant Jr, Derrick Jackson, and a single pass were the racers of whom he sent to the trailer. In the final round, the ‘California Hot Shot’ of Hoffman scored big off the starting line and used that to help break out opponent Smith at the finish line, earning himself the Woodburn Dragstrip Winner’s Plaque.
The Stick Shift category is for manual shifting cars, and featured 16 cars to qualify and race for the Win. In the end though, there could only be two in the final: Alik Osheim and Jim Devine. Osheim’s adventure into the final round came at the hands of Dwayne Howard, Brandon Bowman, and Eric Ericksen. For Devine, the Lemon Twister ’70 Duster made it by downing Doug Watkins, Rick Livengood, and Jay Phillips. In the final round, Osheim got the large starting line advantage and Devine broke out at the finish by just .003, meaning that on this date Osheim was the best manual shiftin’ machine on site!
As is accustom at Woodburn Dragstrip, first round losers didn’t have to immediately go home, as a Second Chance race was run. With a massive 43 cars in attendance as almost all first round losers signed up, it was a battle royal for the ages, which came down to competitors Brandon Wesselink (Sportsman) and Jeff Zimnisky (Stick Shift). What was built up and ready to be an exciting race was over before it even began which Zimnisky turned on the red light, handing the automatic victory over to Brandon Wesselink. Ric Jenkerson was the lone semi-finalist.
Listed are final round results, in order of driver name, city/state, (vehicle year and model) [reaction time], elapsed time, miles per hour, and (dial-in).
Super Pro
W: David Biancalana, Springfield OR (’70 Cuda) [.073] 8.622, 156.82 (8.62 dial).
R/U: Forest Fincher, Pasco WA (’03 Stratus) [.011] 9.674, 140.27 (9.70 dial).
Semi’s: Roger Weddle, Brooks OR; Cab Burue, Bend OR.
Pro
W: Jeff Marchi, Estacada OR (’67 Belvedere) [.037] 10.237, 128.31 (10.19 dial).
R/U: Mike Saucy, Beavercreek OR (’68 Valiant) [.048] 10.819, 115.01 (10.78 dial).
Semi’s: Ron Parks, Salem OR.
Sportsman
W: Justin Hoffman, Shingletown CA (’67 Charger) [.045] 12.202, 111.23 (12.15 dial).
R/U: Russell Smith, Milwaukie OR (’70 Duster) [.124] 12.197, 112.02 (12.23 dial).
Semi’s: Mark Reebson, Tigard OR.
Stick Shift
W: Alik Oshein, Beaverton OR (’09 Challenger SRT8) [.095] 3.102, 109.64 (12.99 dial).
R/U: Jim Devine, Yakima WA (’72 Duster) [.204] 11.507, 110.57 (11.51 dial).
Semi’s: Eric Ericksen, Dalles OR; Jay Phillips, Aumsville OR.
Run Tuff
W: Brandon Wesselink, Beavercreek OR (’70 Duster) [.106] 13.859, 99.82 (13.85 dial).
R/U: Jeff Zimnisky, Bonney Lake WA (’09 Challenger) [-.119] 15.038, 67.50 (12.30 dial).
Semi’s: Ric Jenkerson, Portland OR
