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Sportsman champs crowned at Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals

In addition to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, six champions were also crowned in Lucas Oil Series action at Route 66 Raceway.
20 May 2024
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Chicago

In addition to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, six champions were also crowned in Lucas Oil Series action at Route 66 Raceway.

After a pair of runner-up finishes, Jimmy Ronzello claimed his first NHRA national event title in Super Stock. In the final, Ronzello topped Dave Dupps Jr. with a 9.291 against his 9.27 dial. [video]

Julie Biermann rode a string of solid lights to the final round of Stock eliminator and then scored her first national event title by beating Johnny Diekema, who slowed in his ’70 Challenger. [video]

Rick Hughes collected career win No. 2 in Super Comp in Chicago, backing up his 2018 St. Louis victory with a thrilling double-breakout final-round bout with Brad Cole. After gaining a slight starting line advantage, Hughes turned on the win light with an 8.897 to defeat Cole’s further-under 8.891. [video]

2019 Super Gas world champ Jeremy Mason scored his fourth win in the class and seventh overall when he drove his ’66 Nova to a 9.913 to defeat Steve Hoyt’s 9.919 in the final. Mason’s seven wins have come at six different national events. [video]

Second-generation racer Dalton Deffenbaugh followed father, 2019 SPORTSnationals winner Scott, to the winner’s circle, sealing the deal in Super Street with a .005-second win against Carl Dresback in a race in which both ran 10.926. Route 66 raceway was also the site of Deffenbaugh’s first divisional win, back in 2018. [video]

Larry Demers is now 5-1 in national event final rounds after taking care of business in the Right Trailers Top Sportsman final against Zach Sackman at Route 66 Raceway. Demers left first and then sealed the win with a 6.901 against his 6.89 dial-in. [video]