A Quick (32) Update!
The thriving Eastern Canadian-based Napa Quick 32 series produced multiple winners last weekend during the Inaugural Canadian Nitro Nationals held at TMP’s Cayuga Dragway. Scott Wildgust won the rain-deferred Grand Bend runoff (Round #2) while Buddy Forrest and Darren Grubb also collected Q32 event titles during a very cool weekend “triple header” of class racing.
Race Summaries by: Tim Miller
The fourth event of the 2010 Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts came down to the Top Dragster of Buddy Forrest of Rochester, New York versus the Top Sportsman entry of Wilson and Gray with Rob Gray of Ingersoll, Ontario in the 2002 Chevy Cavalier at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park Sunday.
And at the end of the day, Forrest took the Morgan and Forrest dragster to the win by the slimmest of margins, recording a 7.18, 185 pass against Gray’s 7.35, 196 for a .0023 margin of victory.
“We had a great day,” said Forrest after the race. The car was good and everything worked.
“I want to thank my sponsor Precise Tool and Manufacturing, Inc., along with the crew, Doug Morgan and Allen and Chad Forrest ,” he continued. “I also want to thank my wife Jeanette and the children.”
Buddy Forrest - Sunday Q32 Champ
Forrest took out Jamie Tupper of Tillsonburg, Ontario in the Top Dragster final, while Gray eliminated Tom Orr of Shawville, Quebec in the Top Sportsman final.
In the semi-finals, Spencer Hyde of Stratford, Ontario had some problems with his 2007 Chevy Cobalt, losing to Orr on the Top Sportsman side, while last year’s Quick 32 champion, Kevin Wicke of Stratford, Ontario, fell victim to Gray.
Jamie Bridge of Napanee, Ontario, red-lit in his Top Dragster semi, giving Tupper the win. Scott Wildgust of Wartburg, Ontario, and Forrest both did a break-out in their semi, but Forrest was declared the victor with the lowest break-out time.
Second round Top Sportsman racing saw Orr win over Paul Martin of Breslau, Ontario, Gray win over Steve Parkhurst of Belleville, Ontario, Wicke take out previous series winner Darrin Grubb of Pine River, Ontario, and Hyde took his bye run.
In second round Top Dragster action, top Marydel Qualifier Michael Hinbest of Orangeville, Ontario, was bested by Tupper, Bridge advanced with a win over Bill Moloughney of Shawville, Quebec, Wildgust took out Michael Kalin of Youngstown, New York in a double-breakout match, and Tony Positano of Toronto, Ontario lost to Forrest.
In first round TD racing, Steve Jones of North Gower, Ontario, lost to Hinbest, number three qualifier Melanie Simmons of Orillia, Ontario, lost to Moloughney, previous TD class winner Sam Christian of Kenmore, New York, red-lit in his race against Wildgust, as did another former winner, Paulo Giust of Osgoode, Ontario, who red-lit against Positano. Peter Hyde of Stratford, Ontario fell victim to Kalin, Forrest took out Gary Basaraba of Sudbury, Ontario, Tom Bene of Smithville, Ontario, fell victim to Tupper, and Bridge sent John Hipwell of Saint Catharines on the trailer.
On the TS side, Steve Corriveau of Fonthill, Ontario, broke out and lost against Parkhurst, Phil Sampson of Granton, Ontario, went down to Orr, previous winner Grubb took out Ben Grevers of Paris, Ontario, former series winner Dan Aitken Jr. of Belle River, Ontario lost to Martin, and Darryl McMillen of Goderich, Ontario, lost to Wicke. Both Hyde and Gray had bye rounds.
Leading the Championship Point Award Series is Wildgust with 839, with Parkhurst in second with 812 points. Third is Grubb with 811 points, and fourth is the team of Wilson and Gray with 807.
Round #3 — Darrin Grubb worked his way through a 40-car field to win the third round in the 2010 Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park Saturday.
Round #3 — Darrin Grubb worked his way through a 40-car field to win the third round in the 2010 Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park Saturday.
Driving the Grubb Racing 2004 Chevy Cavalier Top Sportsman car out of Pine River, Ontario, Grubb won the championship round over Top Dragster driver Sam Christian of Kenmore, New York.
With a .007-second reaction time, Grubb ran a 7.260, 185.51 winning pass over Christian, who posted a 7.254, 180.21 clocking after his .054-second reaction time.
It’s been a very good day,” noted Grubb after his win, the team’s first in Quick 32 racing. “We’ve got the car right where we want it,” adding that the team struggled somewhat with the new engine combination but had all figured out for the race.
Darren Grubb's nitrous injected Cavalier TS
“We’re very happy,” said team crew chief Mike Dennis. “We had everything in place for the race. I also want to mention the Cayuga track surface was in great shape for the race. It was awesome.”
During the Marydel Homes qualifying session, Grubb started seventh in the 16-car TS field. He eliminated Fred DeJonge of Puslinch, Ontario in the class final to advance to the title round. Christian, in his 2008 Spitzer dragster, won over Jamie Bridge of Napanee, Ontario in the Top Dragster final round.
Grubb took out number one qualifier Top Sportsman qualifier Tom Bene of Smithville, Ontario in the first round, Ben Grevers of Paris, Ontario in the semi-final, and then DeJonge for top spot on the Top Sportsman class.
On the Top Dragster side, Christian eliminated previous event winner Scott Wildgust of Wartburg, Ontario in the first round, Steve Jones of North Gower, Ontario in the second round, Buddy Forrest of Rochester, New York in the semi-final, and Bridge in the final.
Round #2 — Rain Delayed Finale is All Stratford!
“You know it’s been a while since I won a race.” – said Scott Wildgust. Wildgust won in fine fashion on the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park, winning the postponed Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts finals.
With the final rounds postponed at the Grand Bend Motorplex last week, the last races of round two in the six-race series were held at Cayuga. When the racing was postponed at Grand Bend, the Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, and overall event champion had yet to be decided.
Driving the White and Wildgust dragster out of Stratford, Ontario, Wildgust was pitted against another Stratford, Ontario entry for the event title, as Kevin Wicke and his K&K Racing Dodge Stratus Top Sportsman car advanced to the final round.
Scott Wildgust's awesome new Mike Bos dragster
The Mike Bos dragster of Wildgust was off the line with a .026-second reaction time, while Wicke recorded a .074-second reaction time. At the stripe, Wildgust and his supercharged dragster recorded a 6.669-second, 195.70-mph lap, besting the nitrous-fueled doorslammer of Wicke with a 6.692-second, 196.02-mph posting.
Wildgust was running a 6.65-second dial-in, and Wicke was running a 6.92-second dial-in.
“The track was good and we were on our game plan,” said Wildgust after the win. “And I want to thank the crew. We have a group of great guys.”
He also wanted to thank Stratford Automation, Bosco Pool and Spa, Ajax Engines, and ERD for their support.
Wildgust eliminated Melanie Simmons of Orillia, Ontario in her new supercharged Toyrific Racing entry, and Wicke took out the 1955 Chevy doorcar of Steve Parkhurst of Belleville, Ontario.
Next event in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts is during the Stratford Days at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
