Lagana Edges out Mother Nature for a Saturday World Series Win

The 62nd Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing cackled up race fans in epic fashion over the weekend with nonstop racing action and thrills. While Mother Nature threw a wrench in the weekend with rain Friday night and Saturday morning, the race still went on to a huge crowd of almost 8,000 on Saturday night. “Mother Nature has been anything but kind to us this year,” General Manager, Bobbi Jo Cox, said. “Despite her best efforts to keep us from racing, we were able to get a great show in on Saturday night. We appreciate everyone’s effort to get the most racing done possible. With a five hour late start Saturday, we weren’t sure what was going to happen but the racers all stepped up. We know fans wait a whole year to see the Pro Show and nothing was going to stop us from racing! Kudos to our staff for working their butts off to make the track as safe and amazing as it was.”

Race fans were initially concerned over the weather but Mother Nature kept any significant rain from coming down Saturday afternoon, leaving a full night of World Series racing. Top Fuel Dragster legends Dom Lagana, Clay Millican, Bruce Litton, along with rising new-comer Jenna Haddock, took to the track at speeds over 300 MPH and 10,000 horsepower. Dom Lagana, in his first appearance at Cordova International Raceway, came out on top as World Series Winner with a top speed of 282.48mph and 3.142 ET.

Jason Krueger took home the 2015 Victory NSS Championship with his 1964 Plymouth with an ET of 10.443 and 127.82 MPH, edging out runner up Jerry Kuenster in the 1959 El Camino with his ET of 12.637 and 102.15 MPH.

Tim Wilkerson and son, Daniel, challenged each other at the World Series with Daniel taking the win in the father/son Funny Car challenge with a final ET of 4.409 and 270.32 MPH.

The Fuel Altered class had John Lawson with the win with 5.421 ET and 258.81 MPH, while Jeff Rudisill of North Carolina in the Eckman/Orndorff car came in first in Nostalgia Pro Stock at 7.460 ET and 183.74 MPH.

The popular and much anticipated Chassis Concepts/West Racing Heads Quick Series Shoot Out had its finale at the World Series with David Jamison Jr. taking the win in Top Dragster with a 6.41 ET and 200.47 MPH while runner up Lucas Smith came in with a 6.805 ET and 198.17 MPH. Top Sportsman in the Shootout had Scott Lindle grab the win at 7.956 ET and 174.89 MPH against runner up Rick Verkler with a 7.517 ET and 182.95 MPH. The Pinks Bus Service Low Qualifier Quick Series Shoot Out winners had BJ Verkler with Top Dragster qualify with a 6.123 ET and Keith McCoy with Top Sportsman qualifying time of 7.431 ET.

Sunday Sportsman Eliminations had Dave Johnson of Edwards, IL take the win in Top Eliminator with 9.125 ET and 142.97 MPH to runner up Pat Richardson of Moline, IL with 8.205 ET and 165.66 MPH.

Darren Burkhart of Winnebago, IL claimed the win in Modified with 10.750 ET and 126.05 and runner up Todd Hohn of Woodstock, IL with 9.404 ET and 145.14 MPH.

Super ET had Drew Beale of Hillsdale, IL for the win with 12.107 ET and 109.72 MPH against runner up Ed Guenther from Walnut, IL who came in at 11.531 ET and 12.51 MPH.

Andrew Quinn of Cedar Rapids, IA took the win in True Street with a 14.321 ET and 87.07 MPH over runner up Denny Rankin with 13.989 ET and 92.79 MPH.

Super Junior saw Brennan Weets of Clinton, IA take home the win with 8.079 ET and 74.86 MPH to runner up Avery Heath of Blue Grass, IA in at 9.001 ET and 69.47 MPH.

Heidi Leander claimed the win in Novice Junior at 12.136 ET and 53.47 MPH against runner up Hannah Ince of Kewanee, IL who ran a 12.281 ET at 49.85 MPH.

Trophy Classes’ winner was Ryan Robinson of Camanche, IA took the win at 10.459 ET at 99.99 MPH over Super ET winner Drew Beale of Hillsdale, IL who had car issues on the line. Congratulations to all!

Cordova International Race Way would like to extend a huge thank you to the best group of racers and race fans out there that attended this year’s O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing. We hope to see you in the coming months of the 2015 race season and remember, it is only another 360 days until the next World Series!