Grossi takes Super Stock in NHRA Lucas meet

Seven California racers took home wins from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series presented by Korbel at Sonoma Raceway this past weekend.

Racers from all over the state were represented in the final rounds making this a golden weekend for NHRA racing in California.

Jim Grossi Jr., from Brentwood, took home the trophy in Super Stock and the second of his career. Grossi posted a winning run of 9.725 seconds, 112.50 mph over Dennis Paz, from Stockton, 11.842 seconds, 102.98 mph runner-up finish. Paz had a big starting line advantage, but Grossi took the win with a margin of victory of .0400 seconds – approximately 6 feet. This is a comeback performance for Grossi, who earned his first win in Super Stock in 1997.

Val Torres, from Valinda, who won here last year, was better off the line posting a 0.013 second reaction time and a winning run of 8.959 seconds, 159.87 mph. Jerry Dean, of Olathe, Kansas, who was making his first final round appearance, posted a runner up finish of 8.902 seconds, 159.83 mph.

In Super Street, it was a battle of California natives with Joseph Greco, from San Jose, running 10.891 seconds, 146.23 mph and taking the double breakout win. Greco ran closer to the index over Richard Tucker, from Acampo, who posted a 10.869 second, 127.91 mph runner- up finish.

Mike DePalma, from Glendale, Arizona, finished his run in Comp Eliminator posting a time of 9.044 seconds, 139.70 mph over Scott McClay, from Tehachapi. McClay had been recording great lights in the prior rounds, but he just missed the tree by -0.003 in the final to give the automatic Competition Eliminator win to DePalma.

Other racers visiting the winner’s circle this weekend were Greg Harrison, from Livermore, in Super Gas, and Jody Lang, from Puyallup, Washington, in Stock Eliminator. Garrett Richards, from Tacoma, Washington, ran 6.031 seconds at 241.80 mph and took the win in the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Series. In the division’s Top Sportsman class it was Keith White, from Paradise, taking the win, while Dean Hall, from Guerneville, won in Top Dragster.

In the Sportsman Motorcycle class presented by Harley-Davidson, Jake Havens, from Edmonds, Washington, was first off the line and held the win. Mike Beland, from West Palm Beach, Florida, grabbed the win in Top Fuel Harley over 2014 National Champion Tommy Grimes. Janette Thornley laid down a 7.328 second 180.40 mph over Dennis Fisher, Dayton, Ohio, to capture the Pro Fuel Harley win. Back in the winner’s circle was Michael Beland, for Hot Street Harley; Dani Grimes, from Grass Valley took the trophy for Pro Gas Harley; and the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Harley went to John Cabral, from Tracy.