ProCharger EFI Renegade drew more than a
dozen entries at US 131, and Aaron Stapleton clinched the top slot in
qualifying with an 8.705 pass at 159.10 mph. The top half of the field
qualified solidly in the eights, with another four cars making
nine-second passes and the rest of the field trailing behind. Once the
real fun started on Sunday, Stapleton had his mojo working again,
breezing through his first round odd-field single, then taking out Rich
Groh in round two despite giving up the holeshot.
That earned Stapleton a rematch of the
Maple Grove finals against George Seeger, but this time the roles were
reversed and Stapleton advanced again into the finals, cutting a
too-close-for-comfort .401 light in the process. Meanwhile on the other
side of the ladder, defending Renegade champ Scott Lovell had made his
way past the still-struggling Zoop Zellonis in the opening round, then
trailered the overmatched Chris Van Gilder in the quarter-finals. Though
he might have been looking for a little payback for fallen teammate
Zellonis’ loss, Jay Mingolelli didn’t get the chance in the semis
when he left before the tree came down and gave the uncontested go-ahead
to Lovell.
That left just two cars and one race
left, and when the tree dropped, Lovell was away first but couldn’t
hold off Stapleton’s charging S197, and Stapleton was rewarded with a
trip to victory lane for his 8.677-to-8.863 win.
(photos and text courtesy from NMRA Digital)
Next
|
STREET CARS 
Aaron is ready to go...Video
