Gaines Goes to Semis at Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals
Mopar HEMI-powered Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus R/T driver V. Gaines advanced to the semifinals round at the Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals on Sunday, Sept. 14 at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C. Gaines also moved to fifth in the point standings after the first event in the six-race NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs.
The Lakewood, Colo. resident defeated former Team Mopar driver Richie Stevens Jr., in the opening round and knocked out Steve Speiss in the quarterfinals. Gaines matched up with Kurt Johnson in the semifinals and blistered the tree with a reaction time of .007 to Johnson's .027. However, Johnson tracked down Gaines at around 800 feet, snatching the victory away from the Team Mopar veteran with a 6.688/207.15 run to Gaines' 6.720/205.29 pass.
The weekend did not go so well for the only other Team Mopar driver to join Gaines in the Countdown to 1 title battle. Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T driver Allen Johnson qualified fifth for the event but was dealt a tough first-round loss in the semifinals by Speiss. Mopar-powered Vinnie Deceglie also was sent to the trailer for good after the opening stanza.
Next up is the second event of the Countdown to 1 playoffs, the 23rd annual NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, scheduled for Sept. 18-21. For more info on the NHRA, visit http://www.nhra.com.