NOSTALGIA NATIONALS

mph , but came up short to Thompson ’ s slightly quicker 5.747 at 248 mph run .

In the final round , Thompson had the edge on Cottrell at the starting line , but spun the tires . Cottrell in the other lane made another flawless run , 5.660 at 260 mph , to claim yet another win as well as the championship trophy , which makes him a six-time NHRA Heritage Series champion .

Five Fuel Altereds entered the event , trying to get into the four-car field . After qualifying concluded , Mark Whynaught inherited the top spot with his best run of 6.049 at 241 mph . On race day , he advanced straight into the finals against Dylan Winefsky on a bye run . After a long burnout he wasn ’ t able to get the car into reverse to stage it , which allowed Winefsky to just coast down the track to earn his first-ever event win .

Bret Williamson was on double duty , competing in Top Fuel as well as in Pro Mod . While he went out in the first round of Top Fuel against the eventual event winner Pete

Wittenberg , he had more luck in his Pro Mod Corvette . He not only went 5.709 at 255 mph to grab the No . 1 spot , but he also beat Andy Kouerinis in the Pro Mod final with a 5.917 at 253 mph to Kouerinis ’ slower 6.038 at 245 mph .

Winners in other categories were Steve Whitemore in AFX , Mike O ’ Connor in AA / Super , Don Momi in Hot Rod , Cliff Boyles in A / Gas , Mike Rabener in B / Gas , Gary Lynch in C / Gas , Steve Barta in D / Gas , Daniel Engle in Nostalgia Eliminator 1 , Troy Moyle in Nostalgia Eliminator 2 , Neil Schindler in Nostalgia Eliminator 3 , Wayne Ramay in A / Fuel , Kevin Rapozo in 7.0 Pro , and Brad Woodard in Junior Fuel .

With the 2023 NHRA Heritage Series concluded , we are already looking forward to a thrilling 2024 season , which will kick off again with the March Meet held at Famoso Dragstrip . DI

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