MADISON, IL - The first points race at Gateway was highlighted with wins by a first time winner in Street E.T., wins by drivers who struggled in ’05, and the ever changing St. Louis April weather which consistently threw everyone a curveball.
All winners we’re big winners, but the biggest win came in Gateway’s Street E.T. class where crowd and racer-favorite Nick Brem (Belleville IL) picked up his first win in Street E.T. Brem’s legend has been brewing for the past three years, as he was campaigning a vehicle that probably didn’t appraise for more than $200, yet Brem had many paydays with it. All along Brem and his dad were piecing together the Yellow Nuclear Banana 78 Datson 280Z. The Belleville IL driver was forced to debut the Nuclear Banana after his old car burned to the ground, or was burned to the ground by someone who was sick of seeing it, or losing to it. Brem debuted the Datson last week at Gateway’s NHRA Open and the first points race was only it’s second time in competition. The bugs weren’t completely out as the Banana blow up an alternator cooling fan that went through the new hood of his car, nothing a little electrical tape, standard on Nick’s old car, couldn’t fix. All problems aside, Brem was deadly on the tree all night and even had a perfect .000 in the first round of the footbrake class. Brem raced through seven rounds of competition to win his first race in Street E.T.
The story doesn’t end there. After taking the win light, Brem’s long-time mentor Bret Kepner (who was wearing long pants at the time) fake-fainted at the start line out of shock, happiness, and probably more shock. And then Brem honored his win, the other racers, and the staff by treating everyone to a Polish victory run which included Brem coasting backwards down the return road to a standing ovation from everyone present.
The night also saw some winners who haven’t been in victory lane for a while in their respective class. Mike Vishino’s (St. Louis, MO) win in Pro E.T. wasn’t that much of a surprise after his runner-up finish at the NHRA OPEN a week prior, but Vishino struggled through 2005. As did Pro Bike winner Dusty Katich (Collinsville IL), who had his worst Pro Bike season in’05. Street Bike Winner Denny Slusser (Chamois MO) hadn’t even competed in Street Bike for 2 years but won on his return to 2 wheels.
In the Super Pro Classes, (1/4 mile and 1/8 mile) familiar names were racing at the end of the night as George Atchison (Centralia IL) defeated NHRA Open runner-up Scott Offerman (Highland IL) in the final of Gateway’s $2000 to win Weekly Mini-Megabucks Class, and Corey Landolt (Hermann MO) defeated Brian Gardner (O’Fallon MO) in Gateway’s SX Performance Fuel Systems Super Pro ¼ mile points class.
Gateway’s Weekly Drag Racing Points Season takes a break this week for the American Drag Racing League Event at Gateway, but returns on April 22.
All winners we’re big winners, but the biggest win came in Gateway’s Street E.T. class where crowd and racer-favorite Nick Brem (Belleville IL) picked up his first win in Street E.T. Brem’s legend has been brewing for the past three years, as he was campaigning a vehicle that probably didn’t appraise for more than $200, yet Brem had many paydays with it. All along Brem and his dad were piecing together the Yellow Nuclear Banana 78 Datson 280Z. The Belleville IL driver was forced to debut the Nuclear Banana after his old car burned to the ground, or was burned to the ground by someone who was sick of seeing it, or losing to it. Brem debuted the Datson last week at Gateway’s NHRA Open and the first points race was only it’s second time in competition. The bugs weren’t completely out as the Banana blow up an alternator cooling fan that went through the new hood of his car, nothing a little electrical tape, standard on Nick’s old car, couldn’t fix. All problems aside, Brem was deadly on the tree all night and even had a perfect .000 in the first round of the footbrake class. Brem raced through seven rounds of competition to win his first race in Street E.T.
The story doesn’t end there. After taking the win light, Brem’s long-time mentor Bret Kepner (who was wearing long pants at the time) fake-fainted at the start line out of shock, happiness, and probably more shock. And then Brem honored his win, the other racers, and the staff by treating everyone to a Polish victory run which included Brem coasting backwards down the return road to a standing ovation from everyone present.
The night also saw some winners who haven’t been in victory lane for a while in their respective class. Mike Vishino’s (St. Louis, MO) win in Pro E.T. wasn’t that much of a surprise after his runner-up finish at the NHRA OPEN a week prior, but Vishino struggled through 2005. As did Pro Bike winner Dusty Katich (Collinsville IL), who had his worst Pro Bike season in’05. Street Bike Winner Denny Slusser (Chamois MO) hadn’t even competed in Street Bike for 2 years but won on his return to 2 wheels.
In the Super Pro Classes, (1/4 mile and 1/8 mile) familiar names were racing at the end of the night as George Atchison (Centralia IL) defeated NHRA Open runner-up Scott Offerman (Highland IL) in the final of Gateway’s $2000 to win Weekly Mini-Megabucks Class, and Corey Landolt (Hermann MO) defeated Brian Gardner (O’Fallon MO) in Gateway’s SX Performance Fuel Systems Super Pro ¼ mile points class.
Gateway’s Weekly Drag Racing Points Season takes a break this week for the American Drag Racing League Event at Gateway, but returns on April 22.
