Nelson and his father, Mickey Nelson, had a problem, but it was a good problem to have. With the younger Nelson’s victory in the Summit SuperSeries Top Class, the Nelson family had to get the car that won the title in the truck along with their brand new Custom-built American Race Cars Dragster that came along with a host of prizes for winning one of the most prestigious sportsman races in the world.
The new dragster features Trick Flow Specialties 572 Big Block Chevy engine and custom paint from Imagine That Customs. Nelson, who defeated Tony Lafever in the finals, also won $10,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a seven-night vacation for two on the island of Aruba, a World Championship diamond ring, and of course, a world championship Ironman Trophy.
“It feels great, awesome, awesome,” the younger Nelson said. “I told him (the elder Nelson) this morning in the first round when I hit the tree .004, I said ‘Today’s my day; I feel good.’ My worst light was in the finals; until then, I was .007 or better. I kept telling myself, ‘It’s just you and the tree’ and it worked every round. I’m gonna put gas in these two dragsters and wear ‘em out! I knew coming here I was gonna have to be good because everyone here’s a champion.”
Ellinger defeated Bobby Paul Arnett to claim the Mod World Championship; the Mod champ also took home an impressive haul of prizes. In addition to his World Championship Ironman Trophy and diamond ring, Ellinger won a 28-foot enclosed Performax trailer, $10,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a $2,500 Trick Flow Specialties gift certificate, a two-post Gemini Auto Lift, a seven-night vacation for two on the island of Aruba and a Jones Transmission cooling system.
“It was a nail biter,” Ellinger said in the winner’s circle. “Honestly, that finish line was a blur. I always try to have a little snap shot of what it looked like at the finish line, and it didn’t look like eight thou to me, but it worked in my favor so I’m more than thankful. I don’t know how this feels yet – I’m afraid to go back to my phone. I’m sure it’s dead from all the messages, but seriously, it’s a dream. I’ve raced 26 years since I was 14 years old, and we didn’t have Junior when I started at Norwalk Raceway Park, my home track. I’ve been trying to win the bracket finals for 26 years, and I thought was enough. Then I said, ‘I have to go Memphis – all I can do is try and treat it like Jerry Pennington’s World Footbrake Challenge because it’s the best of the best every summer.’ One year I won a Sunday race there and felt that was the best I could do for my career, but here we are – I’m a World Champion; it’s pretty amazing.
“I always feel privileged to make a final whether it’s Saturday night for $800 or something as fabulous as the Summit SuperSeries. I want to thank Mark Cook at Bad Man Race Engines – he built that motor and tested it for me in five days. I also need thank Wiseco Pistons, JE Pistons, Mickey Thompson Tire, Summit Racing Equipment, Cometa Gasket, Firecore50 Wires, AutoMeter, Trend Performance and especially the Summit program – it makes you feel like you’re a pro – I want to thank all of those guys; we couldn’t do this without them. We all work on stuff and do extra stuff to make money, borrow, beg and steal whatever can to go racing, so it’s really cool to win an event like this and get this payday.”
The final round in Summit SuperSeries Junior Dragster was an all-female affair with Lloyd taking the title over Emily Million. With the World Championship, the 17-year-old driver won a Custom-built JR Race Car Junior Dragster featuring Custom Paint from Imagine That Customs, $3,000 from Summit Racing Equipment as well as the World Championship Ironman Trophy and diamond ring.
“When they revealed that car yesterday, I said I was winning it so I just stuck with that,” Lloyd,17, said. “It was a long day – I feel great. I’d never felt it (seeing the win light) before; it was crazy, but it was a good experience. I have one more year (in Junior Dragster); I have a big dragster I’m going to get in after that; then I want to drive Pro Stock.”
The $240,000 program is the championship competition for IHRA member track sportsman racers. To qualify for the season finale, drivers either won their Summit SuperSeries track championship or the Summit Team Finals main event for their division.
Summit SuperSeries Final Eliminations Results – 1/8 mile:
Summit SuperSeries Top Category (Box): Mickey Nelson, Leonardtown, Md., ’05 Racetech, 4.838 secs. at 141.91 mph (.020 rt) - def Tony Lafever, Cookeville, Tenn., ’72 Vega GT 5.826 secs. at 116.78 mph (.024 rt)
Summit SuperSeries Modified (No Box): Vic Ellinger, Cleveland, Ohio, ’80 Volvo Bertone, 6.302 secs. at 108.50 mph (.018 rt) - def Bobby Paul Arnett, Winchester, Ky., ’70 Chevelle, 6.383 secs. at 102.67 mph (.015 rt)
Summit SuperSeries Junior Dragster: Allison Lloyd, Doswell, Va., ’12 Mike Bos, 7.947 secs. at 72.67 mph (.058 rt) - def Emily Million, Castlewood, Va., ’14 East Coast PBRF, 7.964 secs at 80.07 mph (.093 rt)
Champions of the Summit SuperSeries Awards:
Top Class Champion (Box):
- Custom-built American Race Cars Dragster featuring Trick Flow Specialties 572 Big Block Chevy engine and custom paint from Imagine That Customs
- $10,000 from Summit Racing Equipment
- Aruba Vacation for Two: Seven night/eight-day trip for two people; includes airfare, car rental, island tour, hotel and dinner/lunch packages courtesy of AroundAruba.com, El Gaucho Restaurant, Tropicana Resorts, More 4 Less car rentals and the crew of Don Flip Racing Team.
- IHRA Gold Card
- World Champion Ironman Trophy
- World Champion Diamond Ring
Modified Class Champion (No Box):
- $10,000 from Summit Racing Equipment
- 28-foot enclosed Performax Trailer
- $2,500 Trick Flow Specialties Gift Certificate
- Two Post Gemini Auto Lift
- Aruba Vacation for Two: Seven night/ eight-day trip for two people; includes airfare, car rental, island tour, hotel and dinner/lunch packages courtesy of AroundAruba.com, El Gaucho Restaurant, Tropicana Resorts, More 4 Less car rentals and the crew of Don Flip Racing Team
- Jones Transmission Cooling System
- IHRA Gold Card
- World Champion Ironman Trophy
- World Champion Diamond Ring
Junior Dragster Champion:
- Custom-built JR Race Car Junior Dragster featuring Custom Paint from Imagine That Customs
- $3,000 from Summit Racing Equipment
- IHRA Gold Card
- World Champion Ironman Trophy
- World Champion Diamond Ring
