PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY |
Pennsylvania ’ s Numidia Dragway has had a busy year , kicking off its 2022 season in mid-April , slightly later than anticipated due to rainy conditions . Regardless of the later start , a test-andtune session was held mid-month , followed by a pair of back-to-back bracket points races to launch the new season . Unfavorable weather returned in May , forcing a postponement of the scheduled import vs . domestic race known as Cinco de Mayo . “ The weather was rough on us early on this season , but we ’ re doing better now ,” says track owner Bob DiMino , who ’ s been operating this scenic NHRA-sanctioned , quarter-mile facility along with his family for the last 15 years .
Typically , they schedule roughly 18 bracket points races per season , figuring on completing about 14 of them . No matter the event , the Di-
|
Minos are famous for never cutting the purse ... ever ! “ We ’ re a racing family , so we try to do things that we ourselves would appreciate . If I tell you that you ’ re coming to race for 10 grand , then I ’ m paying you 10 grand ,” DiMino says .
In May , the track held its second annual Spring 150 with tremendous results . “ My son , Vinny , runs this race , and it sold out last year in 10 minutes ,” DiMino says .
With that kind of success , it ’ s no surprise that Vinny decided to make this a twice-yearly attraction at Numidia , holding one event in the spring and then again later in the year . The events feature a hefty purse and a catered meal on Friday night , featuring Numidia ’ s legendary food offerings , which are regarded as some of the best in the business . “ All of our food is homemade from ingredients we get out of New York ,” Bob says . The track is widely known for its cheesesteak
|
sandwiches and homemade Italian Ice .
Another successful event held in June was the Mutt and Jeff Promotions race , which was heavily attended over the course of four days . July was a huge month of racing and featured the Independence Showdown , followed by the Lucas Oil divisional , and also the Jim Harrington Bracket Nationals , a featured race that Drag Illustrated attended . The event featured three days of big-money purses , including $ 50,000 to win in Saturday ’ s Top ET main event .
Kyle Bigley took home the huge payday on Saturday , as the 2019 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 honoree got past Jesse Alberts in the finals . Other winners from the weekend include Dan Northrup , who collected Friday ’ s $ 20,000 payday after getting around Adam Bochon . Grant Nichols collected the $ 10,000 Top ET 64-car Shootout win on Friday night after defeating Greg Hicks . In Pro
|
|||||
September / October 2022 |
DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 75 |