World Wide Technology Raceway played the role of host for a packed house of racers this weekend bringing in several traveling series all together for the Summer Speed Spectacular. Cars new and old lined the pits showcasing the days gone past, the present, and the future of racing with the NDRL, Mid-west Pro Mod Series, Premier Street Car Association, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Jr. Dragsters, and bracket classes.

Our portion of the event, presented by Performance Automotive Racing Engines, was the fourth stop in the RACE STAR WHEELS-NDRL Championship Series and it started with qualifying Friday evening rolling over into Saturday with a final qualifier and into eliminations. Performance Automotive Racing Engines PRO Gas hit the lanes first. Butch Steffens gave the racers four thousandths to get in and knock him off the top but it didn’t happen and he earned the Dishon Transmission low qualifier bonus and the possible bye into round number one. Semifinals found Sam Patrick leaving first and moving on to the dance over a red lighting Gary Wildy to meet up with Sal Petrulis who advanced over Nick Dishon. The final was all Petrulis as Patrick tickled it red and sending the Petrulis brothers to victory lane. Dan Mullin earned the Gift Certificate from DRE for best losing package in E!.

Renegade Racing Fuels PRO Comp pulled in behind the gassers and it took the pride of Springfield Todd Kapp one chance to climb on top running seven thousandths over his C/Comp index to take the spot. Two runs later he would have to tighten that up to dead 0 to retain it as Tom Mallak tried to sneak in a spoil the party. Kapp also earned the Dishon low qualifier bonus and the possible bye for round one. Semifinals found Kapp leaving Gary Williams on the line to meet up with last months winner Nick Melone whose better reaction time pushed Shane Rasler to go under to advance. The final was all Kapp as he left first and drug Melone across on his third dead on something run in eliminations.

Phenix Industries PRO 7.5 drivers pulled under the tower next in our first true heads up index and Jarrod Bradshaw just needed one lap to get into the chair at the front of the class hitting it dead 3 to hold the bye, the Dishon low qualifier bonus, and the 5 points towards the championship. Semifinal pairings found James Hayes and Kerry Millet leaving the line dead even with Hayes Corvette edging out the Willys to meet up with Pat Malloy who advanced after Brian Freund was unable to stage. The finals took the whole track as Malloy left second but was able to take the lead pushing Hayes under further allowing Malloy to take his second trophy in as many races on a double breakout.

Ross Racing Engines PRO rolled out last and Gordon Horn showed the kids he was ready to do work as he drilled in a dead 8 lap to take the lead only to have Art Millets coffee kick in and he came back on Q3 with a dead 6 lap to dethrone Horn and take the Dishon Transmission low qualifier bonus and the bye into eliminations. Semifinals had Michael Sexton advancing over Don Nave to earn his way into the final to meet up with Cory Millet who rode the bye into the final. The final was all Millet as he left first holding the momentum to the stripe.

The event was bittersweet as although the family was at the track it was not without some emotions. Long Time Racer Dough Dunphy died while testing his new car at Jeffers Motorsports Park in Sikeston only a few days before our event. Doug was an avid racer with a quick wit and a welcoming smile. He will be sorely missed.

Our next outing will be September 6-7 at US 131 Motorsports Park for the Freedom Racing Engines Hot Rod Nationals.

As always, we would like to thank our partners-- Ross Racing Engines, Phenix Industries, Renegade Racing fuels, Performance automotive Racing engines, Freedom Racing Engines. Gateway Kartplex, Lug Nutz, Competition Products, Howards Cams, ET Genie, DJ Safety, Sexton Wilbert Corporation Deist Safety, Xs Power, Saldana Racing Products, Moser Engineering, Hagerty, Dishon Transmission Service Powermaster, Biemer's BBQ, AACO Golf Carts and Parts, Callies Performance Products, Terry's Truck and Trailer Equipment, Chuck-A-Burger Drive-In Restaurant, Hot Heads Research, M&E Pump, Hoosier Gear, and DRE Engine Diapers.