SUMMIT #7 & 8

​The Barona 1/8th Mile Drags Summit Series came to a conclusion over Labor Day weekend, with Summit Race #7 on Saturday September 2nd, and the Summit Series Finale coming on Sunday September 3rd, along with the NHRA All Access Challenge on top of it, as the prestigious Wally trophies are handed out.

Saturday started off in the late afternoon, as the race started off with the Gambler. The final in which came down to Todd Ferguson and Ernesto Covurnice. Todd's 64 Falcon got the better start off the line, his .021 to Ernesto's .059 giving him nearly 4 hundredths of a second of wiggle room, and he made sure to take advantage of them. Todd got a 6.429 on a 6.39 dial, but Ernesto's 05 GTO got a 7.395 on a 7.36 dial. Good, but not good enough to overcome that reaction disadvantage, and enough to give Todd the Gambler win.

Next up, in the Summit Motorcycle bracket, Russ Collins Jr brought his 08 Suzuki to go against Gary Moore's 09 Suzuki Busa. Gary gave it a valiant effort, pushing his bike over 115 MPH, but Russ's 5.697 dial on a 5.60 E/T was too much for him, giving Russ the Saturday Summit Bikes championship.

In the Summit Sportsman bracket, Gary Harfield was bringing his Corvette up against young Remy Reynolds. The lined up, as Remy's slower car would have to go first, but her eagerness got the better of her, as she launched 4 thousandths of a second early, giving Gary the Summit Sportsman win before he even stepped on the gas pedal.

But Gary was not done today, as he also fought his way into the Summit Pro final. His opponent: Greg Crecely and his 63 Ford Falcon. This time, Greg would get the better jump off the line, giving him a .018 second advantage going down to the finish line. But, a 6.319 E/T on a 6.27 dial will not do, as Gary's 8.064 on a 8.05 dial was far closer to his dial, as Gary doubles up with the Summit Pro win.

And finally, all that was left was the fasted bracket of all, the Summit Super Pro. Track owner Rick Reynolds brought his 66 Fairlane to the line, and opposite him was Jorge Courarrubios and his 07 GTO. Rick got a head start, as Jorge's dial was over a second under Rick's 4.94. Both were near even down the line, as Jorge's 148 MPH beast was pushing to cross the finish line first. Rick got a 5.966 on a 5.94 dial, while Jorge got a 7.673 on a 4.65 dial. By 5 thousandths of a second, Jorge got the better E/T to dial, and thus, got the Summit Super Pro win.

And with Saturday wrapped up, they all went right back at it again Sunday, where the afternoon sun gave way to the start of some rain, and the NHRA All Access challenge was in effect. Every winner of the 4 Summit brackets today would bring home a coveted Wally trophy.

Starting with the Summit Motorcycles: Gary Moore seeked vengeance for Saturday's loss at the hands of Russ Collins Jr. He'd seek it against one of the same the same kin, as he faced David Collins' 83 Kawasaki in the Summit Motorcycle finals. But once again, Gary Moore was slow off the line, getting off over 1 tenth of a second late once again. David, with over a full tenth of a second of wiggle room, easily closed Gary out with a 5.855 E/T on a 5.82 dial, taking the win, and getting a Wally for the Summit Motorcycles.

The Summit Sportsman came down to a battle between David Puetz's 68 Firebird and Paul's 70 Dart. Both cars had even dials, leaving this a heads up race. Or at least, it would be a race, if Paul didn't leave .017 seconds early, red lighting and giving David the coveted Wally.

Up in the Summit Pro bracket, Randy Koser was lining up in the final against Remy Reynolds, who was seeking her first ever Wally. Both racers were determined not to lose at the line, as Randy nearly gets a perfect launch with a .005 reaction time. But Remy did him one better with a .002 reaction time. Both being hot off the line, they sped down the track, as Remy crosses the finish line with a 8.514 E/T on a 8.51 dial, having a complete package of 6 thousandths of a second off a perfect run. Randy would have to be faster than a 6.282, but not faster than a 6.280. He'd need a perfect run. He got a 6.269 E/T, breaking out, and awarding the Summit Pro bracket win, as well as her first Wally, to Remy Reynolds.

​And finally, in the Summit Super Pro bracket, Jorge Couarrubio's 07 GTO was back after his Saturday Super Pro win. It was nice, but with a Wally on the line for this one, it was a tad bit more important. Noel Cuevos was there too, also seeking Wally gold. Both racers pushed as hard as they could to finish first, as both of them beat their dials, and broke out. Jorge's 4.657 on a 4.68 dial was 23 thousandths early, but Noel's 6.427 on a 6.48 dial was 53. With a closer time, Jorge got the Summit Super Pro Sweep, and a Wally to call his own!

With the season wrapped up, it's only a matter of adding up all the points to crown our champs. While you wait, be sure to mark your callenders for Saturday, September 14th as the Renegade Gambler series returns at last to  Barona 1/8th Mile Dragstrip. RAcing starts at 10 AM! See you there!