Daniels Earns Win in Rain-Shortened Mopar(R) HEMI(R) Challenge at JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals
Jim Daniels, of Bristol, Pa., claimed his second career Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series victory on Saturday, Sept. 26, after all class eliminations were canceled due to persistent rain showers at the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway.
NHRA canceled all Saturday racing activities, including final class runoffs, due to the inclement weather. Class winners were determined by the lowest ET of the qualified runs. Daniels earned the win in the SS/AH Mopar HEMI Challenge class based on his 8.511 elapsed time (ET) in his Ray Barton Racing 1968 Dodge Dart during the second qualifying session on Friday, Sept. 25.
"It feels really good, for no lack of trying and hard work," said Daniels, who took home the $5,000 winner's purse with the victory. "It was a lot of hard work by everybody and it worked out really well. I wish we could have run the race. We had the car to beat, but there are a lot of other good drivers, and as I learned at Indy, it's not only the car, but the driver is a big component as well."
Daniels' first career Mopar HEMI Challenge win came last year in the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Raceway. He'll look to defend his event crown and claim his second-straight Mopar HEMI Challenge triumph next month.
Next up is the final 2009 Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series event, the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., Oct. 22–25.
MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE FINISHING ORDER (BASED ON FRIDAY QUALIFYING)
1) Jim Daniels, Bristol, Pa., 1968 Dodge Dart, 8.511 seconds, -1.239 (under index)
2) Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma, Mich., 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, 8.533, -1.2.17
3) David Barton, Robesonia, Pa., 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, 8.571, -1.179
4) Gary Wolkwitz, Annandale, N.J., 1968 Dodge Dart, 8.599, -1.151
5) Stephen Herbert, Westlake, La., 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, 8.640, -1.110
6) John Rains, Santa Paula, Calif., 1968 Dodge Dart, 8.689, -1.061
7) Jim Pancake, Delaware, Ohio, 1968 Dodge Dart, 8.692, -1.058
8) John Baughman, York, Pa., 1968 Dodge Dart, 8.727, -1.023
9) Don Bales, Connersville, Ind., 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, 8.867, -0.883
10) Russ Campbell, Springfield, Mo., 1968 Plymouth Cuda, 9.102, -0.648
11) Jerry Daily, Dayton, Ohio, 1968 Dodge Dart, 9.496, -0.254