May 25, 2011

Pacific SPORTSnationals finally wrapped up

Craig Wack, Senior Editor

Steve Wann, Rick Takahashi, and John Widmann each earned victories and took home trophies for the delayed JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N. The event was postponed for a handful of classes due weather the weekend of May 15, at Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway and completed this past weekend at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event.

In Super Stock it was a pair of former Lucas Oil champions with Wann, Modesto, Calif., taking out Jimmy DeFrank , Thousand Oaks, Calif., with a 9.742 second run in his ’69 Barracuda at 134.85 mph.  The win was Wann’s first of the season and DeFrank’s second final round appearance in Super Stock.

Takahashi, San Gabriel, Calif., held on for a close win over last year’s event winner Kevin Kleinweber in Top Sportsman.  Takahashi covered the quarter mile in 7.530 seconds at 171.53 mph to Kleinweber’s 7.545, 177.30.

Widmann also made the week long wait worth it grabbing the win in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson.  The Garberville, Calif., resident road his ’97 Kawasaki to a lap of 8.577 seconds, 140.33 mph in defeating Dennis Sacco, N. Las Vegas, Nev., and his ’05 Harley Davidson.

The three winners join the five winners that were crowned at the original event including Jeg Coughlin Jr. who became the first driver in NHRA history to win in six different categories.  Coughlin now has wins in Pro Stock, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Top Dragster.

SUPER STOCK

Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/HA, 9.742, 134.85 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Thousand Oaks, Calif., '10 Cobalt, SS/CM, 8.904, 144.53.

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, 8.577, 140.33 def. Dennis Sacco, N. Las Vegas, Nev., '05 H-D, 10.484, 122.98.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Rick Takahashi, San Gabriel, Calif., '02 Cavalier, 7.530, 171.52 def. Kevin Kleinweber, Westlake, Calif., '94 Lumina, 7.545, 177.30.

Craig Wack, Senior Editor

Craig Wack has been covering motorsports since 1994, including eight years at The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, Tenn. From drag strips and dirt tracks to the hallowed Brickyard in Indy, he's told the stories of racers at all levels of competition.

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