IHRA Division 4 Racers Pick Up Wins at Race of Champions, Gamblers

FERRIS, Texas — More than a dozen racers found the winning formula during Race of Champions and Gamblers races at the IHRA Division 4 (Renegades) Team Finals.

The races were an exciting part of the weekend event at Xtreme Raceway Park.

Todd Robinson was dead-on his dial-in with a 4.604-second run at 141.82 mph paired with a .024 reaction time to win the Top (Box) class at the Race of Champions. Mikel McQueen took runner-up honors with a 5.307-second run at 128.57 mph on a 5.27 dial-in. He had a slightly quicker reaction time of 0.019 seconds.

Chad Sandlin also matched his dial-in with a 6.125-second pass at 112.22 mph in the Mod (No Box) final. Again, the runner-up was better at the start. Benny Gossett had a .034 to .047 reaction time, but broke out with his 6.212 seconds at 108.12 mph.

Larry Young won on a holeshot in Sportsman with a .037 reaction time to .100 to runner-up Clay Gossett. Young posted a 7.571 elapsed time at 85.89 mph on a 7.53 dial-in. Gossett was closer to his 7.50 dial-in time with a 7.528 seconds at 85.55 mph.

It was a .003 reaction time, which propelled Don Hrometz to the Motorcycle victory. He finished in 5.864 seconds at 116.46 mph. Runner-up William Keele powered down the track in 5.709 seconds at 118.48 mph, but fouled by -.010 too quick at the start.

Ty Janousek, one of the top-ranked Junior Dragster racers in the nation, posted another big win. He had a .032 start and then eased to an 8.630-second effort at 55.93 mph when his final-round opponent, Tristan Enox, triggered the red light.

FRIDAY GAMBLERS
Max McGlothin won on a holeshot in the Top (No Box) final at the Friday Gamblers race. McGlothin’s .012 to .052 advantage at the tree was key as he went 6.205 seconds at 107.73 mph. Cole Herbold was runner-up with a 6.092-second pass at 111.17 mph on a 6.07 dial-in.

Michael Turman proved he’s just as tough behind the wheel as on two wheels. The accomplished Motorcycle racer drove his orange Chevy Camaro to the Mod (No Box) win with a 6.114-second pass at 108.88 mph on a 6.08 dial-in. Runner-up Nicholas Hightower was dead-on at 6.553 seconds and 104.14 mph, but Turman’s .017 to .056 better reaction time was the difference.

Andrea Ruffin, who would go on to win the main event a day later, won the Sportsman race. She went 7.463 seconds at 90.18 after a .046 reaction time. Coleton Gossett, who had a .044 start, broke out with a 7.442-second pass at 88.51 mph.

It was an all-Landers final in Motorcycle as Chaz Landers got the win after Steve Landers fouled by just -.002 at the start. Chaz Landers had a 5.849-second pass at 119.08 mph on a 5.82 dial-in with a .045 reaction time. Steve Landers went down the drag strip in 5.890 seconds at 117.96 mph on a 5.85 dial-in

Karmin Nelson was the Junior Dragster winner with a package of 7.659 seconds and 79.18 mph, along with a .021 reaction time. Triston Lowery ran 8.164 seconds at 78.88 mph with a .048 reaction time in the final round.

Emily Galindo Torres won the TCR race with a .036 light and a 9.675-second run at 74.23 mph.

THURSDAY GAMBLERS
Clark Humprey headlined the list of Thursday winners, going 5.701 seconds at 120.77 mph on a 5.69 dial-in for the Top (Box) win. Larry Harrison broke out on his 5.72 dial-in with a 5.716-second pass at 117.89 mph. Humprey was better .022 to .043 at the tree.

The start of Mod (No Box) and Junior Dragster finals ended in incredibly close fouls. Justin Enox was right on his dial-in with a 6.221-second run at 108.72 mph, which was good enough to win, along with his .016 reaction time. Tim Ray red-lighted by just -.001 before his 6.131-second run at 110.08 mph.

Tristian Enox won on a foul by the closest possible margin in Junior Dragster when Shundale Campise triggered the red light by -.0001 second. Enox was dead-on with a 7.956-second elapsed time at 81.26 mph. Campise posted an 8.129-second run at 78.59 mph.

Joe Boner prevented an Andrea Ruffin sweep of the Sportsman races. Boner was dead-on with a 7.655-second run at 89.62 mph. Ruffin broke out with a 7.466-second pass at 88.99 mph. Boner had the better reaction time, .032 to .060.

David Baugh got the win over Don Hrometz in the Motorcycle final. Hrometz fouled -.005, while Baugh had a .015 reaction time. Baugh’s efforts included a 5.838 elapsed time at 121.20 mph. Hrometz posted a 5.890 elapsed time at 115.89 mph.

Photos by: Robert Grice