National Dragster: Driskell dominates day, wins crown; Smith doubles for season titles

HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, Topeka (Oct. 16) - Matt Driskell dominated the competition at the final bracket race of the season by scoring a Super Pro win, locking up the points title, and taking the crown in the NHRA King of the Track competition.

Driskell outlasted a field of 16 competitors to claim the NHRA King of the Track title. In the final, he used a 7.169 to send Bob Gilmore to the pits with a 9.874. With the victory, Driskell claimed an NHRA Wally, "his" and "hers" Seiko watches courtesy of the Diamond House of Topeka, a one night stay at Harrah's Prairie Band Casino, and a $100 gift certificate to Food-4-Less of Topeka.

In the Super Pro final, Driskell got the win and championship when Joe Smith red-lighted. Driskell had 2,560 points to hold off Bobby Mount (2,065), Gilmore (2,052), Gary Stinnett (1,858), and J.R. Lobner (1,847).

Doug Baumgardner followed Driskell's formula for success, taking the Pro win and locking up the season title on the same day. Baumgardner got the win after Randy Taylor fouled at the start, which gave him a slim 58-point margin in the final standings over Paul Gomez, Jack Hassett, Robby Winkle, and Jim Nelson.

J.P. Smith had a great season by winning titles in Sportsman and Motorcycle. In the final round of Sportsman, Roger Broers took the win after Chris Bell red-lighted. Smith held off Broers for the championship, followed by Warren Cox, Bob Lash, and Dave McGee.

Smith saw his string of seven straight Motorcycle wins come to an end thanks to Zach Roose, but it didn't matter in the grand scheme, though, as Smith finished with a commanding lead, 1,101 points to Roose's 451 for the championship.

Matt Brink won the Trophy title with 1,899 points, followed by Dorothy Woodworth (1,681), Luke Siebert (1,435), Dana Henderson (1,420), and Chad Olinger (1,416).

- Jamie Overocker