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Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals Top Sportsman winner Ken Ratzloff

07 Aug 2018
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News

Ken Ratzloff wasn’t kidding when he noted that his driving has been sharp, particularly in the late rounds. After a .040 reaction time in his quarterfinal win over Keith White, Ratzloff got serious with a .014 light in the semifinals against No. 3 qualifier Joe Roubicek, and he won the Top Sportsman presented by Racing RVs final with a .004 light against Ted Kellner, who was seeking his third Sonoma win after back-to-back Top Sportsman titles in 2014-2015. Ratzloff sealed the deal with a 7.230 on his 7.20 dial while Kellner was just four-thousandths behind with a 7.314 on his 7.29 dial. Ratzloff has previously spent time in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, where he has run in the 7.60 index A/Gas class. He built his ’53 Studebaker by himself in his shop in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The car is equipped with a 632-cid engine but does not use nitrous oxide, a supercharger, or a turbocharger.