NHRA Summernationals in Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey

19 Jun 2017

Englishtown NHRA winners: Jerry Savoie, Greg Anderson, Jack Beckman, Steve Torrence

Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence continued his torrid run through the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and added to his already impressive record at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey.

Torrence won the Top Fuel title at the 48th annual NHRA Summernationals, his third win of the season and the fifth time he has reached the finals in the past six events. He won for the third time in his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Jack Beckman won in Funny Car, Greg Anderson won in Pro Stock, and Jerry Savoie won in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Anderson won his second Pro Stock title of the season and his first since the races at Phoenix in February.

Greg Anderson races to victory at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park

“It certainly was a tough weekend but everything worked out for us, but this Wally is going to my son for getting through high school,” Anderson said. “This track has been magical for me, I have a lot of great memories here. To win eight times here makes it a pretty special place.”

Anderson beat Vincent Nobile in the final round by a fraction of a second. Anderson’s run was at 6.613 seconds and 210.44 mph to Nobile’s 6.665 seconds and 210.21 mph. Anderson qualified fifth in the Pro Stock ladder and knocked out Kenny Delco, Allen Johnson, and Bo Butner on his way to the final round.

Anderson also took a chunk out of Butner’s lead in the Pro Stock standings after 10 events. Anderson is 40 points behind Butner. The two Pro Stock drivers met in the semifinals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Nobile is in seventh place in the Pro Stock standings, 275 point behind Butner.

Torrence beat Antron Brown in the Top Fuel final. Torrence has raced Brown in 24 finals and this was his second career win against Brown in a Top Fuel final.

Jack Beckman races his way to a funny car win in Englishtown, New Jersey at the NHRA Summernationals

“All day long I was confident because we have historically done well in Englishtown, since I have won here twice and don’t have that chip on my shoulder,” Torrence said. “Both Antron and I have cars that can win and we know we just have to do our jobs to win. I know my record against him isn’t the best, but it’s always fun to go up against one of my best friends in the final round.”

Torrence won back-to-back events in Charlotte and Atlanta six weeks ago. He was the second fastest qualifier at New Jersey and beat Smax Smith, Clay Millican, and Doug Kalitta before meeting Brown in the final. Brown, the No. 1 qualifier, reached the final round for the fifth time this season.

Brown moved into first place in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He has a seven-point lead over Torrence after 10 events. Leah Pritchett, who came into the races at New Jersey as the leader in the Top Fuel standings, fell to third after a first-round exit.

Beckman earned the 25th victory of his NHRA career and his first of the season with a 4.100-second run at 312.42 mph defeating Ron Capps to a 4.143-second run at 299.66 mph. This was Beckman’s first final-round appearance since St. Louis in 2016. Capps, Beckman’s teammate and reigning Funny Car champion, reached his sixth final round of the year after beating Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, and Robert Hight.

Jerry Savoie's seventh pro stock motorcycle win at the NHRA Summernationals

Beckman’s win places him third in the NHRA Funny Car standings. He is the fifth different Funny Car winner of the season. Capps maintained his lead in the Funny Car standings after 10 events with the runner-up finish in New Jersey.

Savoie won his first event of the season, defeating Hector Arana Jr. in the final. Savoie, the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, moved up to third-place in the standings. He is 36 points behind Eddie Krawiec, the leader in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings. LE Tonglet is second in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, two points behind Krawiec. Savoie is the third different winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle this year.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the 17th NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

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