Words by Eric Lotz – NHRA
Photos by Bob Johnson – NHRA Pacific Division
In the final results from the NHRA Summit Racing Series Pacific Division Finals held at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California, local racer CW Hoefer along with three racers from Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park took individual wins and are heading to the NHRA Summit National Championship next month at Auto Club Dragway at Pomona.
The four were joined by five other racers who took home trophies along with the team from Auto Club Dragway who won the Team Championship.
Hoefer, Calimesa, Calif., faced off with Jack Swanson, Yucaipa, Calif., in the Sportsman final for Sunday’s Summit Showdown with Swanson taking the early lead only to run too fast giving Hoefer the win. Hoefer clocked in at 7.683 seconds at 83 mph in his ’91 Firebird. Swanson went 7.896 on his 7.93 dial-in.
Hoefer, along with Brian Fritz, Tony Marconi, Don Caesar and Phil Watkins will all advance to the national championship where they will face off with winners from the six other NHRA Divisions across the country.
All Summit Division Champions competing in Pomona, Calif., will receive $3,000 from Summit Racing Equipment and will be competing for an additional $5,000 winner take all in each of the four classes.
Fritz, Gilbert, Ariz., and racing for Wild Horse Motorsports Park, used a holeshot to knock out Janice Myhre, Sheridan, Calif., in the Super Pro class. Fritz was out first by .031 seconds and out ran Myhre for the win by six feet running 5.646, 116.40 mph in his ’27 roadster to Myhre’s 5.163, 134.20.
Myhre’s son David also advanced to the final round in Pro and took on Tony Marconi, Surprise, Ariz., (Wild Horse Pass). David was a bit too anxious and left early with the red light foul start handing Marconi the win. Marconi ran it out to a 5.923 at 115.38 mph in his ‘78 Arrow.
In the Motorcycle class, it was Don Caesar, Antelope, Calif., with the win over Mikey Magallanes, Santa Ana, Calif. Magallanes had a big lead off the start with his ’06 Suzuki but gave it all away running too quick as Caesar crossed the finish line in 5.999 seconds at 120.78 mph for the win.
Rounding out Sunday’s Summit Showdown winners was Krishton Trimp of Wilton, Calif., and Sacramento Raceway who took the High School honors over AJ Cameron, Bakersfield, Calif. The pair were close at the start with just a .004 seconds difference as Trimp was a tick better at both ends of the track on a double breakout. Trimp went 8.079, 82.95 in his ’71 Mustang to Cameron’s 7.363, 90.47 in his ’66 El Camino.
Watkins led the list of winners from Saturday’s action along with Ryan Mangus who led the Auto Club Dragway team to the team championship. Watkins, Tucson, Ariz., took the win in Pro and will advance to the national championship via the wildcard as the NHRA Pacific Division was drawn for the Pro Class earlier this year. Watkins used a holeshot to run down Hoefer who was pulling double duty this weekend driving in both the Sportsman and the Pro classes.
Mangus went seven rounds in Sportsman, defeating Nick Marconi in the final and helped lead the Auto Club Dragway team to the team championship by more than 20 points. Auto Club Dragway racked up 84 points while Auto Club Famoso Raceway held onto second at 60 with Sonoma Raceway taking third with 55.
In Super Pro and Motorcycle it was a pair of Las Vegas racers taking home the trophies as Chad Axford and Kahea Woods both won. Axford drove his ’06 dragster to a lap of 7.619 at 170.41 with a .022 second package to defeat Kevin McClelland with a .033 second package in his ’27 T-Ford. Woods was better at both ends taking the early lead on a ’95 Suzuki and running 8.526 at 147.12 to defeat Mike Burkhart, Huntington Beach, Calif., on his ’98 Suzuki.
The following are Sunday’s final results from the 2015 NHRA Summit Racing Series Pacific Division Summit Showdown:
SUPER PRO
Brian Fritz, Gilbert, Ariz., ’27 roadster, 5.646, 116.40 def. Janice Myhre, Sheridan, Calif., dragster, 5.163, 134.20.
PRO ET
Tony Marconi, Surprise, Ariz., ’76 Arrow, 5.923, 115.38 def. David Myhre, Sheridan, Calif., ’94 S-10, foul.
SPORTSMAN
CW Hoefer, Calimesa, Calif., ’91 Firebird, 7.683, 83.75 def. Jack Swanson, Yucaipa, Calif., ’67 Camaro, 7.896, 83.14.
MOTORCYCLE
Don Caesar, Antelope, Calif., ’07 Suzuki GSXR, 5.999, 120.78 def. Mikey Magallanes, Santa Ana, Calif., ’06 Suzuki, 6.107, 114.00.
HIGH SCHOOL
Krishton Trimp, Wilton, Calif., ’71 Mustang, 8.079, 82.95 def. AJ Cameron, Bakersfield, Calif., ’66 El Camino, 7.363, 90.47.
The following are Saturday’s final results from the 2015 NHRA Summit Racing Series Pacific Division Team Finals:
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
- Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway – 84
- Auto Club Famoso Raceway – 60
- Sonoma Raceway – 55
- Wild Horse Pass Motor Sports Park – 48
- Sacramento Raceway – 42
- Barona Dragstrip – 40
- The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 38
- Irwindale Dragstrip – 26
- Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway (2) – 23
- Redding Dragstrip – 22
- Sonoma Raceway (2) – 12
- Albuquerque Dragway – 8
- Top Gun Raceway – 8
- Wild Horse Pass Motor Sports Park (2) – 8
- Samoa Dragstrip – 4
SUPER PRO
Chad Axford, North Las Vegas, Nev., ’06 American, 7.619, 170.41 def. Kevin McClelland, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., ’27-T Ford, 8.628, 150.92.
PRO ET
Phil Watkins, Tucson, Ariz., ’89 Beretta, 9.087, 149.96 def. CW Hoefer, Calimesa, Calif., ’79 Camaro, 10.362, 123.77.
SPORTSMAN
Ryan Mangus, Rialto, Calif., ’71 Nova, 12.571, 105.79 def. Nick Marconi, broke.
MOTORCYCLE
Kahea Woods, Las Vegas, ’95 Suzuki GSXR, 8.526, 147.12 def. Mike Burkhart, Huntington Beach, Calif., ’98 Suzuki GSXR, 8.051, 163.99.
