NHRA New England Nationals Lucas Oil Preview
Lucas Oil Sportsman preview for the 2019 NHRA New England Nationals
EPPING, NH – After a few weeks off, the Lucas Oil competitors return to competition at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. After the Lucas Oil competitors were left out in Norwalk due to weather and parking issues, they’ll be eager to hit the track this week.
Lucas Oil sportsman moved to future date for the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk
The NHRA New England Nationals will showcase over 280 Lucas Oil sportsman racers competing in seven different classes. The schedule includes Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster.
2019 Event Schedule
Sportsman racers will hit the track on Friday morning for qualifying and time trials. After a couple of qualifying rounds, Super Stock and Stock will move into class eliminations Friday afternoon.
Final eliminations kick off Saturday morning as Super Stock, Stock, and the Super classes are scheduled for three rounds of competition. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will compete in two rounds on Saturday.
Sunday’s Big Show will wrap up eliminations with the final few rounds before crowning class champions Sunday afternoon.
Before making our 2019 picks, let’s review the class champions from the 2018 event.
2018 NHRA New England Nationals Champions
Super Stock – Anthony Bongiovanni
Stock Eliminator – Randi Lyn Shipp
Super Comp – Mike Robilotto
Super Gas – Ken Bowers
Super Street – Peter Maduri
Top Sportsman – Dave Testa
Top Dragster – Deborah DiGenova
2019 NHRA New England Nationals Predictions
With each NHRA national event DragChamp’s sportsman preview includes an overview of each class. In addition, we select the DragChamp Picks to win the race. Here are this week’s picks.
Super Stock – 42 Car Field
2018 event winner Anthony Bongiovanni returns to defend his title. To do so he’ll have to work his way through a talented field that includes Joe Santangelo, the Worner brothers, and many more.
Santangelo is currently third in the national standings on the strength of two national event victories. He’ll look to improve on his Charlotte runner up in New England. Read more on his wins here and here.
DragChamp picks to win:
James Antonette – Former JEGS Allstars winner should be in the mix.
Michael Iacono – Talented racer has a knack for finding his way to the late rounds.
Bryan Worner – The Worner brothers have been too quiet lately, look for a big weekend from one or both of them.
Stock Eliminator – 55 Car Field
We’ll crown a new champion in Stock as defending champ Randi Lyn Shipp is not entered this week. Look for some big names to step up including Allison Doll, Anthony Fetch, Dan Fletcher, and more.
Similar to Super Stock, Joe Santangelo sits third in the Stock national championship chase. Although he’s performed well on the divisional side, he’ll need a good showing this week in order to move up the standings.
DragChamp picks to win:
Dan Fletcher – Fletchburg has never won when I picked him but I’m hoping to break that streak. It’s been a long dry spell for the winningest driver in sportsman racing.
Allison Doll – With her recent divisional success, I expect big things from Allison in New England.
Gary Richard – A win waiting to happen, I’m feeling this is the week.
Super Comp – 55 Car Field
The 8.90 class is always one of the largest and toughest classes to predict. Pretty much everyone has the same equipment so it really becomes a drivers race.
Mike Robilotto will be on hand looking for a repeat performance of his win here last year.
DragChamp picks to win:
Kyle Bigley – The Division 1 champ is still looking for his breakthrough national event win. This week would be a great opportunity.
Jason Kenny – One of the best top end drivers in the class should be in the mix on Sunday.
Richard Stroud – Quietly putting together a solid year, currently ranked in the top 20 nationally.
Super Gas – 34 Car Field
Like the 8.90 field, the Super Gas class is loaded this week. 2019 National event winners Ray Sawyer and Tom Goldman are joined by 2018 event winner Ken Bowers and runner up Justin Lopes.
DragChamp picks to win:
Iggie Boicesco – Look for the former world champion to get it done this week.
Charlie Kenopic – Talented racer who knows his way to the final round.
Mike Sawyer – Look for Big Mike to follow in his Dad’s footsteps and grab his first win of the season.
Super Street – 41 Car Field
While the Super Street class runs a limited national event schedule, this week’s racing should be exciting. Several big name racers will be in the mix including Brian Sawyer, the Fletcher brothers Timothy and Thomas, along with Chris DePascale.
DragChamp picks to win:
Brian Sawyer – Look for Sawyer to better his runner up finish from last season.
Shawn Fricke – Talented index racer should be a player come Sunday.
Chris DePascale – Always a player in the .90 classes. Over due for a national win.
Top Sportsman – 28 Car Field
Thunder Valley champ Johnny Brooks is in the field at New England and he’s been on a tear lately. Look for him to battle with the Division 1 regulars at New England Dragway.
DragChamp picks to win:
Nick Willard – Tough racer that can get it done anywhere he races.
Johnny Brooks – I’m betting on momentum here and he’s got a lot of it right now.
Top Dragster – 32 Car Field
Defending event champ Deborah DiGenova is back for more of the same this year. After winning the Maple Grove divisional, she looks primed for a repeat of her 2018 performance.
Dan Fletcher is giving the class another shot this week. Although he rarely enters the fast dragster class, he’s made great laps when he competes. His last couple of attempts ended by him coming out on the wrong end of some extremely close races.
DragChamp picks to win:
Kyle Cultrera – Look for big things from Kyle who’s coming off a big win at the SFG 500 in Michigan.
Dan Fletcher – I think this is the week he finally wins in Top Dragster.
DragChamp is your source for NHRA Lucas Oil sportsman drag racing news and drag race results.
Follow DragChamp for daily updates throughout the weekend from the New England Nationals.
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