Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Highlights from the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Jeff Veale, runner-up earlier this year at the Gatornationals, collected his second Top Alcohol Dragster win in the last three years and his third overall when he drove his dragster to a solid 5.35 pass to defeat reigning world champ Julie Nataas’ trouble-plagued run in the final round.

A month after breaking the track record en route to a regional event win at Summit Motorsports Park, Sean Bellemeur returned to the Top Alcohol Funny Car winner’s circle in Norwalk after defeating fast-rising rookie Maddi Gordon in final round, the continuation of a power struggle that raged for years between Bellemeur and Gordon’s now-retired father, Doug.

Royce Freeman became the latest member of the Elite Motorsports team to reach the winner’s circle, driving his B/AA Camaro to a (-.50) 6.95 to victory in Comp to defeat nine-time tour winner Robert Bailey’s (-.44) 6.67. Freeman previously was a two-time runner-up in Top Sportsman.

Jeff Dona collected career win No. 4, and his first since 2020 when he drove to a double-breakout win against Monty Bogan in the Super Stock final. Dona won with a 9.787 on his 9.80 dial.

There was a first-time winner in Stock as Ken Whitcher drove his G/SA ’69 Camaro to a final round win against Brenda Grubbs. Whitcher was nearly perfect on the starting line with a .003 light.

Ten years after winning the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals for the first time in Super Gas, Phil Smida was back in the Norwalk winner’s circle in Super Comp after surviving the math of a tight double-breakout bout with Jamie Elrod, Smida turned on the win light with an 8.896 to Elrod’s further-under 8.892.

Bob Prose scored his second career NHRA win and his first in Super Gas when he drove his popular '65 Rambler wagon to an easy victory after red-hot Michael Handras fouled by 007-second in the final round.

Al Peavler joined his son, Blake, as an NHRA national event winner when he stopped Chris Sullivan in the final of Right Trailers Top Dragster. Peavler left with a great .002 light and won the double-breakout bout with a 6.121 on his 6.14 dial.

James Hinkle’s incredible 2024 season continued in Norwalk as he won his third national event of the year in Right Trailers Top Sportsman. Hinkle, the current championship leader, put together a .008-second package in the final against Zach Sackman.

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