News Release

For Immediate Release: Aug 20, 2007

Oahe Speedway

National Dragster Challenge Sponsored by Pioneer Garage, Inc.

and

Dales A-1 Transmission Super Class Series  Race #4

Oahe Speedway's 3rd Annual National Dragster Challenge was held on Saturday.  The victors in all classes, with the exception of Junior Dragster, receive a replica of the trophy awarded to winners of NHRA national events.  The trophy , affectionately  referred  to as a "Wally", is modeled in the likeness of  Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Association.

In the finals of Super Pro, Joe Wolf, Pierre, and Roland Rang, Sioux Falls, both broke out with Wolf running closer to his dial in.  In earlier competition, both drivers accomplished perfect reaction times.   Wolf singled into the final round and Rang defeated Grant Pederson, 2006 National Dragster Challenge  winner, in the other semi final match.

Pro competition came down to John DeMots, in his front engine dragster against Steve Boke, Gettysburg.  In the Potter County match race, Demots,  Lebannon, was able to hold off Boke, the 2006 National Dragster Challenge winner,  by running right on his 13.42 dial in.  Demots defeated Ken Standiford, Midland in the semi finals and Boke was unopposed in the remaining semi.

Rookie sled driver, Allen Pope, Pierre, took home his first "Wally" when he got around "Ninja" Charlie Snyder, Belle Fourche, in the finals.  Snyder defeated 2006 National Dragster Challenge champ Chris Boom.  Boom drew the red light in that semi final contest .  Pope, running brother Ed's,  '05 Arctic Cat snowmobile,  was  unopposed in his semi final run.

The field of Street Trophy competitors faced off with Gettysburg's Alan Vetter and 2006 National Dragster Challenge winner, Bert Bogner, Oral, meeting in the finals.  In a double breakout match, Vetter bested Bogner.  Vetter's '73 Mustang got around Ron Winterberg, Timber Lake to gain the final round and Bogner singled into the finals.   

Sportsman eliminator saw Brian Humann, and Steven Campbell, Pierre, meet in the final.  Campbell gave the race away at the starting line, when he left the line a scant one thousandth of a second too early.  Humann,  brother of Super Pro competitor, Curt, Pierre, makes the tow from Aberdeen for race weekends at Oahe Speedway.    Campbell took on Pierre's Eric Serbousek in a double break out semi and Human defeated Ann Hirsch, Pierre, by way of a quicker reaction time in the semifinals.

Carl Morris, Pierre, defended his 2006 National Dragster Challenge win by defeating Alyssa Colson, Blunt, in the finals.  Morris ran only .004 over his dial in, pairing that with a quicker reaction time to defeat Colson.  Colson defeated Sonnie Boke, Gettysburg, in their semifinal match and Morris singled into the final.

BankWest Junior Dragster finals paired rivals Carly Ellingson, Rapid City, and James Morris in the finals.  Identical dial ins of 9.02 seconds for the pair came down the the differences in reaction times.  Morris's rapid .010  reaction time proved to be Ellingson's downfall in the final.  Toni Vetter, Gettysburg, was defeated by Ellingson, in the semis. First time competitor at Oahe Speedway, Darcy Hagberg, Spencer, NB, met Morris in  the other semi final match, with Morris scoring the win.

 The Gambler's race saw 15 entrants, with another Morris, Kerri, big sister of James and Carl, taking the win.  Morris, Pierre, took home the winners cash over Roger Hanson, Pierre.  Hanson ran Kevin Lomheim, Gettysburg, in the semis and Morris raced to a win over Travis Falcon, Pierre.

Dale's A-1 Transmission Series Race, #4 of 5,  brought together Grant Pederson, Brookings, and Jeremy Demers, Carroll , IA, in the finals.  Demers, another first time visitor to Oahe,  utilizing a rapid .017 reaction time won the final when Pederson broke out. Tom Nygaard was the victim of a similar reaction time from Demers in the semis when Demers clipped off a .018 in the semis.  Demers was lightning quick on his reaction times throughout eliminations.  Pederson singled in to the finals. 

Racing action resumes at Oahe Speedway, located 15 miles north of Pierre, on September 1-3. On September 1, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Junior Drag Racing League Challenge will be contested. Oahe Speedway Shootout races sponsored by Fine Line Auto and Anderson Contractors and the 5th and final round of the Dales A-1 Transmission  Super Class Series will also be run on Saturday.  The champion in the first ever Super Class Series at Oahe Speedway will be crowned that day. Sunday, September 2nd, will see the 9th race in the Oahe Speedway Coca Cola/Budweiser points series.  Monday, September 3rd, champions will be determined in all classes of the speedway's Coca Cola/Budweiser points series.  The final standings will determine the roster for the Division 5 ET Finals set to run at Heartland Park in Topeka, KS September 14th-16th, 2007.

Saturday and Sunday's races get underway at 1pm,  with qualifying and final eliminations at 5pm.  Monday's action begins at  9am,  with qualifying and finals starting at 1pm.