Orlando final report

Four Florida residents Claim Top Spot in Winner's Circle

ORLANDO, FLA. -- The final results from Orlando Speed World are in and the champions have been crowned. After final eliminations, Comp Eliminator racer Arnie Martel of Tewksbury, Mass., piloted his '07 GTO to victory with a time of 9.081 seconds. Rodger Brogdon from Tomball, Texas showed great promise in qualifying and ended up finishing in second behind Martel.

In the Super Street class Mike Desio from Seminole, Fla., drove his '67 Nova to victory. All the while, his fellow Florida resident Ron Raymond of Ft Lauderdale, Fla., accomplished the same feat in the Top Dragster category. In Top Sportsman Mike Thompson, a Naples, Fla., resident took the victory with a time of 7.405 seconds at 185.56 mph.

Super Stock competitor Jim Harrington from Chapel Hill, N.C., continued his dominance at Orlando Speed World taking victory for the second straight year. His run down the ¼ mile at 10.855 seconds was good enough to relegate Mark Nowicki of Gaylord, Mich., to second place when he fouled at the light. Brenda Grubbs of Plant City, Fla., narrowly missed the top spot in Stock Eliminator. She was only bettered by Belleville, N.J., resident Anthony Fetch who drove his '68 Cheverolet to the winner's circle.

In other action Frank Altilio from Ocoee, Fla., took the No. 2 spot in Super Comp losing only to Steve Cohen of Trilby, Fla. who hit a top speed of 165.70 mph. Finally in the Super Street class David Watson hailing from Atlanta, kept a handle on his '67 Chevy II, driving to a time of 9.895 seconds at 157.25 mph.

The next stop for the Southeast division racers on the Lucas Oil Drag Racing series is South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga., April 18-20.

-credit: nhra