Jim Whiteley’s Y-Not dragster won the race with Bill Reichert, but lost the semifinal to Hillary Will, making Reichert the TAD champ.  (Tim Marshall photo)

NHRA Division 7 championship at Las Vegas

Reichert goes 4 for 4

Words compiled from press releases by Kay Burk
Photos by Tim Marshall, James Drew and courtesy JEG’S

Bill Reichert needed some help from Hillary Will and Tom Conway in doing so, but he clinched his fourth straight NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster National Championship Nov. 8 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
          
Reichert, Owosso, Mich., had the point’s lead coming into this race with only Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., and Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., within striking distance.  Whiteley took out Reichert in round one to keep his hopes alive but Shields lost to Will ending his, and setting up a semifinal match up between Will and Whiteley. 

Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., driving for veteran racer and car owner/tuner Tom Conway ran down Whiteley at the finish line ending his chance at the title and securing the championship for Reichert. Jimmy DeFrank advanced to the semifinals in Super Stock, which should assure him of the National Championship as well.  DeFrank lost to event winner and former national champion Michael Iacono, Wading River, N.Y., who beat Bo Butner in the final for the win.

In the Top Alcohol Dragster final round Will (near lane) matched up against No. 3 qualifier Michael Manners with Manners, Willis, Texas, setting the low elapsed time and top speed of the event at 5.332 seconds and 265.33 mph for the win.  Will, who drove a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series last year, left first but lost traction almost immediately, ending her day. (James Drew photo)

Hillary Will, driver of the Get Screened America A/Fuel Dragster, blasted her way into the final round of Top Alcohol Dragster at what has been called the most difficult Divisional race of the season, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, Short Line Express Gambler Showdown. En route to her runner-up finish, Will crushed the World Championship dreams of not one but two stalwarts in the Alcohol ranks behind the wheel of her Tom Conway-owned and tuned dragster.