Harry Phelps and Mark Herbold are TNT Super Series Winners at Cayuga – Paul Young takes points lead…
Twenty-five highly competitive sportsman drag racers descended on Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park this past weekend for the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series. Races 3 and 4 presented by Ian Hill Racing / RPM Magazine saw Harry Phelps light the final beacon on Saturday and Mark Herbold cutting down the field on Sunday. And making it to his second final in 2015, Paul Young sits atop of the championship points standings.
Saturday June 6 – Results:
Moisture concerns on the top end of the track forced a reduction in distance to 1/8th mile on Saturday and a change in index to 7.00 seconds. Harry Phelps from Newark, New York won the event after earning the bye in round one with a 7.001 qualifying effort, picking up the $100 Hoosier Tire Canada #1 Qualifier certificate.
George Mayer went red on him in round two as did Ron D’Alessandro in round three. He took out two-time TNTSS champion JJ Jablonski in the semi’s with a .006 to .049 starting line advantage.
That set him up to face 2009 TNTSS champion Paul Young in the money round. Both drivers got away clean with Phelps in the lead .008 to .033. At the stripe, Phelps took the stripe and the win in a double breakout 6.999 to a 6.988.
Phelps said he was fortunate to get the win in the second round because his car got loose and he had to lift. “Thanks to Bill Elekes for getting me lined up in the burnout box after that for the last three rounds. My family couldn’t come with me this weekend, so thanks to Anastazie Boniferro for the round by round Facebook posts keeping them updated. Also I want to thank Ian Hill Racing / RPM Magazine for sponsoring this weekend and Joe Boniferro at Joe’s Transmission and our race directors Ted Barnes and Jim Thomson.”
This is Phelps’s second event win in the TNTSS, first with his 77 Pinto and his fourth time in a TNTSS final round. The 2013 TNTSS Driver of the Year, Phelps is no stranger to a sportsman winner’s circle.
Specialty Awards – Saturday:
• Hoosier Tire Canada $100 certificate – Number One Qualifier
◦ Harry Phelps (Newark, NY) with a 7.001
• J&S Collision $50 – Closest to the Index (1st Round Loser)
◦ Larry Pulver (Palmyra, NY) with a 7.000
Sunday June 7 – Results:
Mark Herbold from Elma, New York had a rough start on Sunday arriving late to the track and missing the first qualifying session. Didn’t phase him and his team as they proceeded to make easy work of the 25 car field.
Herbold was .008 to Rob Holden’s .006 red light in round one. Then in round two he was .009 to Chris VanBaalen’s .025 and pushed last week’s event winner under the index to a 10.876.
Then he had an .019 advantage against 2008 TNTSS champion Ted Barnes in round three pushing him under as well. In the semi’s, he and Bill Elekes had identical .012 lights with Herbold running closer at 10.934.
In the final, Herbold was .025 to Gary Saska’s .067 with Saska going nine thousandths too fast at 10.891 trying to take the stripe. Herbold took the event win running 10.965 at 146.77 mph.
“I had to take my wife to the airport this morning and we missed the first qualifying session,” said Herbold. “I have to thank my girls Janice, Stephanie, Sarah. Also Dave and Janet Kennedy for all their support and of course Opie and Crockett both long time crew members. There’s just so many people who make this possible – Reid’s Tires, KTR, Transmaster and JanCen Motorsports.”
Herbold was chasing gremlins all day. “We were changing coil wires, ignitions, even had a cracked collector. The car actually quit in the shutdown after the final.” None of that mattered because these guys know how to get it done under pressure.
“I also want to thank everyone who helps with this series. Joe Boniferro of Joe’s Transmission, Ian Hill for the weekend and everyone who makes it happen,” he added.
Herbold now has four TNTSS event wins in six final round appearances, but this is his first in quarter mile trim. The 1994 Corvette is powered by a 321 Buick-headed small block Chevrolet that spins to 8600 rpm and tops out at around 148 mph.
Specialty Awards – Sunday:
• Hoosier Tire Canada $100 certificate – Number One Qualifier
◦ Alex Lepp (Wainfleet, ON) with a 10.907
• J&S Collision $50 – Closest to the Index (1st Round Loser)
◦ Sam LoVetro Jr (Webster, NY) with a 10.903
Photos by: Stacee Kenington
Post by Lewis Robinson
Next up for the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series is this Friday June 12 at Lancaster Speedway & Dragway for race #5 of the 10 race season. Gates open at 3pm with the first of two qualifying sessions at 5pm and eliminations to follow. Visit www.lancasternationalspeedway.com for all the details.
