Vernon Rowland Wins Super Gas at Lucas Oil Nationals

Vernon Rowland picked up his second NHRA national event victory of the season after winning the Super Gas title at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals.

BRAINERD, MINN. – Earlier this season, Vernon Rowland claimed his first NHRA national event Wally at the Spring Nationals in Houston. After waiting years to win his first, the second came just months later at Brainerd International Raceway.

Rowland drove through a tough Super Gas field for his latest triumph. The Division 4 competitor made the long tow from Oklahoma pay off after defeating Pro Stock racer Bo Butner in the final round.

Rowland kicked off eliminations with a win over fellow Division 4 competitor Jim Rod Capp. Capp has had a big year and was coming off of a win the week prior at the Division 5 LODRS at Brainerd.

Beginning with the second round, Rowland nailed the tree in the next four rounds. His lights varied from a .000 to a .011 in those rounds. In three of those rounds Rowland defeated Chris Bishop, DragChamp pre-race pick Mark McMasters, and Bill Cawsey.

This setup a semifinal clash with NHRA Spring Nationals S/G champ Robert Rowan. Rowland was .000 to Rowan’s .012 at the hit. At the finish, Rowland “got behind” to send Rowan through the traps with a -.018 under 9.882. Rowland’s 9.927 moved him into his second national event final of the season.

Pro Stock racer Bo Butner made up the other half of the final round. Coming off of a huge win at the Sonoma Nationals, Bo was looking to go 2 for 3 in Super Gas competition.

Like Rowland, Butner had also been stellar at the tree during eliminations. At the hit, both drivers left together with .02x lights. Butner’s .021 take .007 came up short in the double-breakout final. Rowland’s 9.876 was closer to the index than Butner’s 9.871.

Rowland has now has a Super Gas Wally to go with his Spring Nationals Super Comp trophy.

For more NHRA Sportsman coverage from the Lucas Oil Nationals, click here.