2006 NOPI NATIONALS @ Rockingham dragway Qualifiers

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Points leader Jason Hunt of Crofton, Md., won an all-Chevy Cobalt final round Sunday to win the Pro Outlaw Front Wheel Drive championship at the Chevy Cobalt Southeast Nationals at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway.

Hunt, the No. 1 qualifier at 7.537 seconds, was clocked in 7.587 seconds in the final round to beat Bryan Jimenez of Houston, Texas. Other winners included Terris Hicks of Finksburg, Md., in Pro Outlaw Rear Wheel Drive; Kevin McCurdy of Hamburg, Pa., in Pro Compact; Krystos Efantis of Frederick, Md., in Pro Street Tire; and Norris Prayoonto of Springfield, Va., in Pro Stock.

The two-day event, which also featured show car judging, music and various lifestyle events, is part of the NOPI Drag Racing Association series.

The biggest upset of the weekend may have been Hicks victory in Pro Outlaw
RWD. He drove his 2001 Ford Mustang to an upset victory over points leader and former series champion Paul Efantis of Frederick, Md., in the semifinals and then beat Luis Conujo of Glenndale, Md., in the final after Conujo had beaten No. 1 qualifier Dennis Lugo of Apopka, Fla.

In the popular NOPI Chic sportsman class, Sharon Griffin of Monroe gave North Carolina its only victory outside of the bracket classes when she drove her 1998 Honda Prelude past the ‘94 Civic of Teresa Sherrill of Vinton, Va., in the final. Sherrill beat points leader Jessica Fountain of Monroe, Ga., in the semifinals.

Event sponsor Cobalt got an unexpected second victory when Brian Ballard of
Sloatsburg, N.Y., and his 2006 Cobalt got a free pass to the Turbo Street title when No. 1 qualifier Sam Mahdavi of Loganville, Ga., was guilty of a final round foul start in his unique right hand drive 1992 Toyota Supra.

Results from NOPI Drag Racing Series Chevrolet Cobalt Southeast Nationals at Rockingham Dragway:

PRO OUTLAW FWD
Qualifying –
1. Jason Hunt, Crofton, Md., 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 7.537, 192.22 mph
2. Bryan Jimenez, Houston, Texas, 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 8.198, 139.16 mph
3. Joe Demaree, Whitestown, Ind., 1992 Honda Civic, 10.204, 152.09 mph
4. James Jones, Macon, Ga., 1995 Honda Civic, 11.361, 120.96 mph

Semifinals –
Jason Hunt, Crofton, Md., 2006 Chevy Cobalt, .143, 7.721, 180.89 mph, def. James Jones, Macon, Ga., 1995 Honda Civic, .143, 11.554, 116.92 mph; Bryan Jimenez, Houston, Texas, 2006 Chevy Cobalt, .214, 8.371, 139.93 mph, def. Joe Demaree, Whitestown, Ind., 1992 Honda Civic, .186, 10.175, 110.72 mph.

FINAL –
Jason Hunt, Crofton, Md., 2006 Chevy Cobalt, .114, 7.587, 191.43 mph, def. Bryan Jimenez, Houston, Texas, 2006 Chevy Cobalt, .162, 7.964, 173.36 mph.

PRO OUTLAW RWD
Qualifying – 1. Dennis Lugo, Apopka, Fla., 1993 Ford Mustang, 7.414, 199.85
mph; 2. Paul Efantis, Frederick , Md., 2003 Toyota Supra, 7.647, 188.81 mph;
3. Terris Hicks, Finksburg, Md., 2001 Ford Mustang, 7.915, 159.85 mph; 4.
Luis Conujo, Glenndale, Md., 2004 Toyota Celica, 9.147, 164.75 mph.
Semifinals – Luis Conujo, Glenndale, Md., 2004 Toyota Celica, .445, 8.038,
161.61 mph, def. Dennis Lugo, Apopka, Fla., 1993 Ford Mustang, .330, 9.118,
129.73 mph; Terris Hicks, Finksburg, Md., 2001 Ford Mustang, .160, 7.596,
181.62 mph, def. Paul Efantis, Frederick, Md., 2003 Toyota Supra, .154, 7.666,
188.78 mph.
FINAL – Terris Hicks, Finksburg, Md., 2001 Ford Mustang, .336,15.209, 56.56
mph, def. Luis Conujo, Glenndale, Md., 2004 Toyota Celica, broke.

PRO COMPACT
Qualifying – 1. Kevin McCurdy, Hamburg, Pa., 2001 Pontiac Trans Am, 6.935,
201.85 mph; 2. Jason Wilson, Wellston, Ohio, 2002 Ford Mustang, 7.122, 192.44
mph.
Semifinals – Jason Wilson, Wellston, Ohio, 2002 Ford Mustang, .045, 7.065,
195.48 mph; Bill Devine, Lake Worth, Fla., 2001 Ford Mustang, .140, 7.965,
137.57 mph; Kevin McCurdy, Hamburg, Pa., 2001 Pontiac Trans am, .934, 7.271,
197.83 mph, bye.
FINAL – Kevin McCurdy, Hamburg, Pa., 2001 Pontiac Trans am, .253, 6.667,
208.94 mph, def. Jason Wilson, Wellston, Ohio, 2002 Ford Mustang, .101, 9.532,
91.53 mph.

PRO STREET TIRE
Qualifying – 1. Alex Vrettos, Burlington, N.J., 1995 Ford Mustang, 8.472,
175.59 mph; 2. Krystos Efantis, Frederick, Md., 1997 Toyota Supra, 8.520,
167.12 mph; 3. Tod Amandus, Orlando, Fla., 1995 Ford Mustang, 8.618, 163.33 mph;
4. Chris Anderson, Suwannee, Ga., 1996 Toyota Supra, 11.029, 88.55 mph.
Semifinals – Krystos Efantis, Frederick, Md., 1997 Toyota Supra, .100
reaction time, 8.437 quarter mile time, 142.70 mph, def. Tod Amandus, Orlando,
Fla., 1995 Ford Mustang, .183, 8.778, 161.25 mph; Alex Vrettos, Burlington,
N.J., 1995 Ford Mustang, .186, 7.898, 178.85 mph, def. Chris Anderson, Suwannee,
Ga., 1996 Toyota Supra, .146, 9.173, 168.14 mph.
FINAL – Krystos Efantis, Frederick, Md., 1997 Toyota Supra, .175, 8.527,
164.61 mph, def. Alex Vrettos, Burlington, N.J., 1995 Ford Mustang, .185, 9.588,
159.12 mph.

PRO STOCK
Qualifying – 1. Norris Prayoonto, Springfield, Va., 2004 Honda Insight,
9.784, 136.11 mph; 2. Saul Salceda, Gardena, Calif., 2000 Acura Itegra, 9.871,
137.62 mph.
FINAL – Norris Prayoonto, Springfield, Va., 2004 Honda Insight, .053,
11.835, 83.45 mph, def. Saul Salceda, Gardena, Calif., 2000 Acura Integra, foul.

PRO 4 CYLINDER
Qualifying – 1. Chuck Seitsinger, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1992 Honda Civic,
8.518, 168.98 mph; 2. Michael Blackwell Jr., Concord, N.C., 1998 Honda Civic,
10.764, 136.94 mph.
Semifinals – Michael Blackwell Jr., Concord, N.C., 1998 Honda Civic, .932,
10.580, 133.32 mph, def. Bill Lowe, Toledo, Ohio, 1992 Eagle Talon, .502,
13.140, 95.61 mph; Chuck Seitsinger, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1992 Honda Civic,
.711, 8.609, 165.23 mph, bye.
FINAL – Chuck Seitsinger, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1992 Honda Civic, .327,
10.213, 84.30 mph, def. Michael Blackwell Jr., Concord, N.C., 1998 Honda Civic,
.601, 11.781, 125.46 mph.

NOPI CHIC
Qualifying – 1. Anna Comigore, Bryan, Texas, 1994 Toyota Supra, 12.413,
117.12 mph; 2. Devane Rushing, Monroe, N.C., 13.963, 82.19 mph.
Semifinals – Teresa Sherrill, Vinton, Va., 1994 Honda Civic, .419, 15.676 on
a 15.650 dial-in, 84.45 mph, def. Jessica Fountain, Monroe, Ga., .200,
15.149 on a 14.150 dial-in, 93.86 mph; Sharon Griffin, Monroe, N.C., 1998 Honda
Prelude, .369, 17.039 on a 16.650 dial-in, 82.74 mph, bye.
FINAL – Sharon Griffin, Monroe, N.C., 1998 Honda Prelude, .377, 16.819 on a
16.650 dial-in, 83.02 mph, def. Teresa Sherrill, Vinton, Va., 1994 Honda
Civic, .275, 16.203 on a 16.650 dial-in, 82.35 mph.

COMP 4
Qualifying – 1. Brian Fisher, Springfield, Va., 1995 Honda Civic, 10.938,
123.36 mph; 2. Loan Nguyen, Burke, Va., 1999 Honda Civic, 11.372, 116.56 mph.
Semifinals – Loan Nguyen, Burke, Va., 1999 Honda Civic, .221, 11.562, 116.22
mph, def. Mike Hatcher, Pasadena, Md., 1990 Honda, Foul; Brian Fisher,
Springfield, Va., 1995 Honda Civic, .138, 11.025, 121.39 mph, def. B.J. Faas,
Goose Creek, S.C., Honda Civic, .132, 13.079, 103.75 mph.
FINAL – Brian Fisher, Springfield, Va., 1995 Honda Civic, .097, 11.430,
120.91 mph, Def. Loan Nguyen, Burke, Va., 1999 Honda Civic, .149, 11.473, 116.28
mph.

TURBO STREET
Qualifying – 1. Sam Mahdavi, Loganville, Ga., 1992 Toyota Supra, 9.412,
151.10 mph; 2. Brian Ballard, Sloatsburg, N.Y., 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 9.481,
149.80 mph.
Semifinals – Brian Ballard, Sloatsburg, N.Y., 2006 Chevy Cobalt, .130,
9.634, 152.42 mph, def. Dan Dixon, Maysville, Ga., 1993 Toyota Supra, .372, 9.632,
153.98 mph; Sam Mahdavi, Loganville, Ga., 1992 Toyota Supra, .478, 11.197,
87.60 mph, def. Aaron Thorpe, Baltimore, Md., 1986 turbo-Buick, foul.
FINAL – Brian Ballard, Sloatsburg, N.Y., 2006 Chevy Cobalt, .255, 9.930,
117.81 mph, def. Sam Mahdavi, Loganville, Ga., 1992 Toyota Supra, foul.

POWER STREET
Semifinals – Mark Remick, Louisville, Ky., 2002 Subaru WRX, .442, 11.126,
127.51 mph, def. Andrea Koury, Easton, Pa., 1995 Honda, .605, 11.298, 135.44
mph; Jonathan Reynolds, Springfield, Va., 2000 Acura Integra, .337, 10.817,
142.19 mph, def. Ryan Price, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 1993 Mazda MR2 turbo, .540,
11.934, 121.89 mph.
FINAL – Jonathan Reynolds, Springfield, Va., 2000 Acura Integra, .296,
10.875, 144.94 mph, def. Mark Remick, Louisville, Ky., 2002 Subaru WRX, .278,
11.162, 127.84 mph.

SATURDAY BRACKET
Semifinals – Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, N.C., 1994 Toyota Supra, .100,
11.489 on an 11.440 dial-in, 117.29 mph, def. Gary Sanders, Eagle Springs, N.C.,
1992 Ford Mustang, .085, 12.784 breakout on a 12.810 dial-in, 96.17 mph;
Chris Yates, China Grove, N.C., 2000 Pontiac, .072, 12.122 on a 12.090 dial-in,
110.42 mph, bye.
FINAL – Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, N.C., 1994 Toyota Supra, .103, 11.473
on an 11.330 dial-in, 117.59 mph, def. Chris Yates, China Grove, N.C., 2000
Pontiac, .038, 12.074 breakout on a 12.090 dial-in, 108.05 mph.

SUNDAY BRACKET
Semifinals – Amy Kawalczyk, Lynchburg, Va., 2003 Hyundai, .191, 15.983 on a
15.650 dial-in, 86.77 mph, def. James Lawthis, Lynchburg, Va, 1993 Nissan
240 SX, foul; Barry Jenkins, Matthews, N.C., Honda S2000, .142, 14.949 on a
15.000 dial-in, 69.90 mph, bye.
FINAL – Barry Jenkins, Matthews, N.C., Honda S2000, .177, 15.060 on a 15.000
dial-in, 67.44 mph, def. Amy Kawalczyk, Lynchburg, Va., 2003 Hyundai, .417,
15.866 on a 15.800 dial-in, 82.99 mph.