First Time Winners at Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Vegas Nationals
Conner Statler, Jeff Connelly, and Ryan Carlson earn their first ever NHRA Wally’s at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Vegas Nationals.
LAS VEGAS, NV – You know the saying.. “Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!” For Conner Statler (SS), Jeff Connelly (TS), and Ryan Carlson (TD), they’re hoping their first NHRA National Event Wally’s go far beyond Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The 2021 Vegas Nationals were dominated by many west coast sportsman greats. Joe Mozeris (Comp) won his third NHRA Wally, all three of them he has won at Vegas. Michael Miller (SC) won his 11th NHRA Wally, his fifth at Vegas and second time at this event.
Joining them in the winners circle were Brad Rounds (SS) and Craig Maddox (SG).
2021 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sportsman Final Round Results
All final round photos courtesy of NHRA.tv
Competition Eliminator – Joe Mozeris
Mozeris loves Vegas! He defeated John Edwards in the final round with the starting line advantage, .011 to .074, and got to the finish line just before Edwards did to take the trophy. Mozeris went a 7.031 at 181 mph on his 7.52 index. Mozeris earned his third National event Wally, and all three of them being at Vegas!
Doug Lambeck and Tibor Kadar were the semi-finalists.
Super Stock – Brad Rounds
Brad Rounds defeated long time racer Jimmy DeFrank in the final round and earned his second National event Wally. DeFrank had the starting line advantage, .018 to .030, but had problems and had to shutoff giving Rounds the win. Rounds went 9.355 at 126mph, shutting off in his victory lap.
Doug Broaddus and Steve Hahn were the semi-finalists.
Stock Eliminator – Conner Statler
What a story! In an all-Bobby Brannon owned car final round, Conner Statler was given the automatic win after veteran racer Greg Stanfield turned on the red light by -.044. Statler earned his first National event Wally with an .097 reaction time and shutting off to a 10.754 at 104mph. This was his first NHRA final round.
Semi-finalist was Brad Burton.
Super Comp – Michael Miller
He loves winning! Michael Miller collected his 11th NHRA Wally after defeating Jack DeRencin in the final round after DeRencin turned it red by -.042. Miller was .045 and shut off to an 11.42 at 112mph, taking his victory lap down the strip. Miller won his fifth Wally at Vegas and his second time at the event.
Travis Theobald was the semi-finalist.
Super Gas – Craig Maddox
Craig Maddox collected his second National event Wally after defeating Marko Perivolaris in the final round. Perivolaris had the starting line advantage, .034 to .065, but gave the stripe back by .003 to Maddox, giving him the trophy. Maddox went 10.061 at 163mph on the 10.05 index, while Perivolaris went 10.095 at 166mph.
Mike Utely and Charlie Waggoner Jr. were the semi-finalists.
Top Sportsman – Jeff Connelly
First time winner! Jeff Connelly won his first NHRA National event Wally after defeating Paul Mitsos in the final round. Connelly had the starting line advantage, .013 to .049, and ran 3 over his dial-in for the trophy. He got to the starting line first by .008 of a second. Mitsos ran dead on, but his late reaction time handed the win over to Connelly. Jeff ran a 6.192 at a huge 231mph.
Monte Green and Don Meziere were the semi-finalists.
Top Dragster – Ryan Carlson
Another first time winner! Ryan Carlson defeated Tom Bayer in the final round and collected his first NHRA National event Wally. Ryan had the starting line advantage, .018 to .042, and blew past Bayer to get to the starting line first for the trophy. Carlson ran a 6.313 at 203mph.
Semi-finalists were Aaron Stanfield and Paul Nero.
The DragChamp team had their minds set right when picking the pre-race picks. They picked Joe Mozeris to win, which he did take home the trophy in Competition Eliminator. Greg Stanfield was one of their picks to win in Super Stock, which he took the runner-up spot. Marko Perivolaris was their pick to win in Super Comp, which he took the runner-up spot but in Super Gas. Michael Miller was one of their picks in Super Gas, and he took home the trophy but in Super Comp instead.
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An avid racer herself, Megan Strassweg, 28, sees her two worlds collide with DragChamp – journalism and drag racing. Megan resides in Evansville, IN, and she pilots a 2015 American Dragster in the NHRA North Central Division 3 Super Comp series, along with some local bracket racing on the side. Her passion for racing began early, having grown up at the racetrack, and she remains committed to the sport.
You can reach Megan on Facebook or email at megan@dragchamp.com
You can reach Megan on Facebook or email at megan@dragchamp.com
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