SPECIAL TO THE MORNING JOURNAL Vincent Nobile celebrates after winning the $50,000 K&NR Horsepower Challenge Saturday at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk.
NORWALK ? Vincent Nobile wasn?t just racing for himself.
While becoming the youngest champion by winning the $50,000 K&NR Horsepower Challenge Saturday during the Sixth Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Nobile helped out Peggy Coleman of Joplin, Mo. His win over Jason Line in the finals helped her win a 2012 Toyota Tundra.
?Honestly, it?s not the money and not even the trophy,? Nobile said. ?It?s the story behind Peggy. Her house got wrecked by a tornado. It was her day to win something back. I?m glad I could do that for her.?
The 20-year old from Dix Hills, New York became the youngest champion of the Challenge and is only the fifth one to win it in his first attempt. Qualifying sixth in the Challenge, Nobile got a hole-shot win to knock off team mate Allen Johnson in the first round. Continuing his strong racing, he defeated Mike Edwards in the semifinals.
In the finals, another strong start gave Nobile a .03 lead at the beginning over Line. He held off Line to claim the Challenge, the money and the trophy. More importantly to Nobile, Coleman won the truck.
?She was my full inspiration to win this thing,? he said. ?Without her and her story, I might not have won it. I can?t thank everyone enough.?
The 2011 Pro Stock defending champion has taken to the quite a liking to the track in Norwalk. After qualifying fifth in Pro Stock and winning the Challenge, he is hoping for a weekend sweep.
?Norwalk has treated me well,? he said. ?I don?t see why not we can?t win it again (Sunday) and double up. That would be just a dream come true.?
Role reversal
After losing to Erica Enders in the finals last Sunday at Chicago, Greg Anderson gained a measure of redemption in the first round of the K&N Horsepower Challenge by knocking out Enders. Getting off the line .05 faster than Enders, Anderson was able to hold off her late charge for the win. Continued...
The winner of the last two Challenges, his bid for a three-peat came to an end in the semifinals where he lost to team mate Line.
Things happen
Johnson made his way to the top spot in the Pro Stock qualifier with solid runs Friday, but Saturday proved to be a different story. Though Johnson was able to hold onto the top spot ? his sixth of the year ? he ran into trouble before even getting to the starting line in the first round of the K&N Horsepower Challenge. The tough start translated into a lost to Vincent Nobile.
?When we backed up, I (almost) ran over the starter and the Christmas tree because our crew chief was confused,? Johnson said. ?He was telling me to go right and he meant left. So we got the right tire in the rubble and stuff all over it.
?In 12 years, we have never made that mistake. (Sometimes) you figure out a way to lose every now and then.?
Blistering
For the second day in a row, the heat was a major factor. With temperatures reaching into the mid 90?s with a heat index close to 110 degrees, the heat on the track was much worse registering over 140 degrees. The weather tested the drivers as well as their cars during the qualifying rounds.
?It?s like the Mojave desert out there.? Funny Car legend John Force said after his qualifying run.
Local flavor
Sporting a purple and yellow car, Avon?s Dave Roemer moved into the second round in the Pro Mod series with a win over Jay Payne in the first meeting between the two drivers. Roemer was just a touch off at the start, but quickly made it up finishing the race in 6.098 at 236.88 MPH. His qualifying time of 6.097 put him seventh at the start of the elimination round. Continued...
Scare
In the fourth round of qualifying in the Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith of King North Carolina crashed off the track when she was unable to stop her motorcycle.
Smith ran a 7.10, but couldn?t slow down the bike. Going across the road and through the sand pit, Smith eventually slid her bike down in the cornfield. She was quickly attended to by medical personnel.
Her husband, Matt was at the other end of the track getting ready for his final qualifying run when the accident happened.
?I?m a little sore,? she said. ?It was a wild ride?it sucks the motorcycle is messed up.?
When asked if she is planning on racing in the eliminations, she replied ?I?m racing.?
Race day
The Full Throttle Series eliminations will start at 11:00 a.m. Pre-race ceremonies will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Source: http://morningjournal.com/articles/2012/07/07/sports/doc4ff8bcd5c1103007456243.txt
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