John Leibham wins Super Street at the Fall Nationals

October 31, 2019October 31, 2019

John Leibham earned his first NHRA national event victory at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in the Super Street class.

ENNIS, TX – Super Street racer John Leibham earned his first NHRA national event win at the recently completed AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Driving the same ’68 Camaro his dad once drove to multiple Division 4 victories, Leibham continued the family tradition at the famed Texas Motorplex. Earlier in the season, John picked up his first divisional win at the Division 4 LODRS double-header at the same facility.

Leibham was on our radar prior to the event when we picked him to win the class in our Fall Nationals sportsman preview. He began his run to the championship with a first round win over Wayne Pratt. Pratt was .035 and 10.874 in the breakout loss to Leibham’s .024 and three above 10.932.

2019 Fall Nationals Super Street Final Round

In round two, Leibham got the best of multi-time world champ Gary Stinnett. Stinnett was .042 and six above giving Leibham plenty of room to take the win. John was .038 at the tree and .038 over the dial for the win.

Greg Parsons left second and got there first to lose his double-breakout race with Leibham in round three. This advanced Leibham to the round of five where he benefited from a -.002 red-light from Tom Philips.

Leibham received a huge break in the semifinals when opponent Eddy Plaizier took a train length of stripe to go -.009 under the 10.90 index. Plaizier’s .002 to .059 starting line advantage didn’t turn on the win light after he beat Leibham to the stripe by .080. Leibham posted a safe 10.914 to advance to his first final.

Also appearing in his first final round was Jim Burrell. Burrell drove his ’70 Torino past a talented lineup including Landon Neely and Super-class hitter Tommy Phillips. Phillips let go -.002 too early in the semifinals sending Burrell to his first national event final.

The battle of first time finalist was over at the hit after Burrell just missed the tree with a -.001 red-light start. Leibham was .037 at the tree and threw a 10.802 on the scoreboard in his victory lap.

Congratulations to John Leibham and his family on a great win!