Update: Sunday of the NAPA Auto Parts Halloween Classic

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Classic Grand Championship to Utah’s Brian Sanderson

This year’s NAPA Auto Parts Halloween Classic presented by Peterson Toyota arguably had the nicest weather in the fifteen year history of the event. All together, 595 entries competed at our season closing event as temperatures climbed into the upper 60’s and lower 70’s throughout the duration of the five-day race. Racers competed for a purse topping $45,000 and when all was said and done, Utah’s Brian Sanderson outlasted all challengers.

Driving his A/SA `63 Savoy with a brand new motor combination, Sanderson waded through a whopping 10 rounds of racing to garner the Classic Grand Championship. The 46 year old Pro eliminator winner from South Jordan, Utah ran 10.73 on a 10.71 dial in at 116.48 miles per hour to score the combined $5,000 cash top prize. Twenty-five year old Cody Hiatt, the Super Pro champ, claimed second overall with his all-new Boise Refrigeration Dragster, running 7.38 (7.34 dial)-181.45.

The day also saw Jennifer Barr, Nampa, win in Heavy and A.J. Armstrong, Nampa, in the Sportsman class. In the Top Gun Shootout featuring the event's quickest racers, the championship was collected by Mike Dever who stopped Jake Neibauer in an all Billings, Montana, final round clash.

Saturday night’s Air Firebird Wheelstanding Show was hands down one of the wildest to date. There were several jaw dropping efforts, but when all the voting (by the crowd and judging panel) was in—the overall winners were Bill Heard (Longest and Wildest) and Steve Stuart (Highest). The two `stands were just totally 100% off the proverbial charts in front of the biggest crowd in Classic history.

There were many, many other winners throughout the weekend, most which are noted below.

On behalf of the entire New family and one of the hardest working track crews in the entire sport of Drag Racing, thanks again for supporting our last blast of 2008.  As we think most will agree, it was one of the smoothest and most festive events we’ve ever produced. This one fact alone is testimony to how well everything flowed – how `bout not one single oil down occurred over the five days of racing. Yes, not one! That’s thousands upon thousands of runs down the quarter-mile by 595 entrants and the event went 100% incident free. That’s a pretty remarkable statement until itself.

Here’s a few images to wet your appetite from the weekend. We’ll have more to release (hopefully) within the next week or so.

Thanks again for making our season closing event such a memorable affair.
 
Sunday Final Round Results

Classic Grand Championship
Champion-Brian Sanderson, S. Jordan, Utah, 10.73 elapsed time at 116.48 miles per hour.
Runner-up-Cody Hiatt, Boise, 7.38, 181.45.

Super Pro
Champion-Cody Hiatt, Boise, 7.37, 181.23.
Runner-up-Ken Nelson, Hayden, 7.33, 179.56.
Semi’s: Tom Bailey, Soda Springs, and Liz Sasser, Meridian.
Qtr’s: Sean Page, Meridian, Frank Greenough, Idaho Falls, and Rod Langley, Boise.

Pro
Champion-Brian Sanderson, S. Jordan, UT, 10.77, 117.15.
Runner-up-Bob Bundy, Yakima, WA, 11.33, 110.30.
Semi’s: Troy Pecht, Caldwell.
Qtr’s: Jesse Sanderson, South Jordan, Utah, and Melanie Hodge, Nampa.

Heavy
Champion- Jennifer Barr, Nampa, 12.08, 109.58.
Runner-up- Tom Bittick, Caldwell, 11.71, 116.79.
Semi’s:  Molli Wingert, Boise, Brad Plourd, Maple Valley, WA.
Qtr’s: Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash., Cory Dykema, Emmett, and Rex Petersen, Boise.

Sportsman
Champion-AJ Armstrong, Nampa, 14.54, 86.22.
Runner-up-Robert Classen, Portland, OR, 15.73, 87.37.
Semi’s: Tyler Lee, Nampa, and Terry Downard, Plumer.
Qtr’s: Cody Christian, Kuna, Ryan DuBois, Boise, and Ryan Brecht, Eagle.

Top Gun Shootout
Champion-Mike Dever, Billings, Mont., 7.73, 137.04.
Runner-up-Jake Neibauer, Billings, Mont.. 12.51, 67.13.

Top Gun Open Wheel
Champion-Mike Dever, Billings, Mont., 7.44, 177.33.
Runner-up-Anita Olsen, Grand Junction, Colo., 7.41, 183.48.

Top Gun Full Bodied
Champion-Jake Neibauer, Billings, Mont., 7.61, 169.61.
Runner-up-Craig Olson, Camino Island, Wash., 11.12, 61.14.

Jr. Thunder
Champion-Kurtis Asbury, Yakima, WA, 11.49, 54.75.
Runner-up-Greyson Wolfe, Spokane, WA, 11.62, 54.80.
Semi’s: Mason Euteneier-Asbury, Yakima.
Qtr’s: Michael Jaggers, Middleton, and Chandler Steen, Idaho Falls.

Jr. Lightning
Champion-Casey Tehle, Billings, MT, 9.28, 76.12.
Runner-up-Zack Salo, Billings, MT, 8.00, 81.80.
Semi’s: Ricky Bax, Draper, Utah.
Qtr’s: Courtney Widhalm, Yakima, Rayce Kidd, Twin Falls, and Bruce Adsero, Des Moines, Wash.

Last Chance
Champion- Steve Pyburn, Melba, 10.34, 119.64.

Runner-up- Mike Novosel, Winnemucca, NV, 9.61, 141.11.

Special Awards

Air Firebird Wheelstand Show, Longest – Bill Heard, Portland, and Highest – Steve Stuart, Estacada, Ore.
Best Appearing Open Wheel – Brian Preszler, Kennewick, Wash.
Best Appearing Full Bodied – Craig Olson, Camino Island, Wash.
Best Appearing Jr. Dragster – Tyler Myrup, Sandy, Utah.
Best Appearing Crew – Matt & Mardee Schoenfeld, Magna, Utah.
Best Appearing Snow/Bike – Cody Cumpton, Vancouver, Wash.
Long Distance – Darcy Clark, Spruce Grove, Alberta, 1,232 miles one-way.
Bader Family Founder’s Award – Gary Stemple, Lacey, Wash.
Staff Costume Winners – Vance Gabiola (Barkeep), Joel Eggers (Indian Chief), Jason Fry (Sundance Kid), and Laura Jewett (Saloon Girl).
Costume Contest, Sexiest – Sadie Floyd, Portland, Ore.
Costume Contest, Funniest – Brittany Alley, Sammie Pierce, Katlyn Garside, Jamil & Yila Adaman, Eagle (Village People).
Costume Contest, Most Original – Juliet Barnhart, Emmett & Mike Dever, Billings, Mont. (Boxer & Ring Girl).
Costume Contest, Scariest – Dave Frickey, Meridian (Idaho Biker Babe).
Kid’s Costume Contest, Most Unique – Bryce Crosby, age 2 (Drag Racer).
Kid’s Costume Contest, Scariest – Daphne Martinez, age 10, Alicia Adams, age 7, Desiree Martinez, age 10 (Gothic Girls).
Kid’s Costume Contest, Most Original – Preslie Ball, age 7, and Mariah Barlow, age 8 (USO Girls).
Kid’s Costume Contest, Cutest – Brianna Archabal, age 1 (BSU Cheerleader).
Best Decorated Pit Area – Ore-Ida-Wa Racing (Circus), Randy & Deana Bullington (Spook House), and Panunizio (Casper the Ghost – Pumpkin scene).
Best Decorated Car – Nick Marsala, Dennis Twohy, and Wes Bone.