NORTHUP, SHAW, WITHERSPOON AND JENSEN SWEEP GOLD CUP TITLES AT PRE-NIGHTFIRE WARMUP

The Boise Muffler/Auto Body Paint & Supply Gold Cup points series kicked back into gear for the first time in just over a month. Called the Pre-Nightfire Warmup, eleven different classes were contest on the first Saturday of August.

In an impressive Super Pro final, Sam Northup drove his All American Towing Dragster to a winning 9.02 on a 9.03 dial in at 143.06 to defeat Steve Reynolds. Driving his `71 Nova, Reynolds ran under his 10.27 dial in by .05, finishing at 10.22-130.49. How can you not just love this winner’s circle photo (above) as Alex Steen shoots Sam with silly string (or maybe it’s shaving cream!) during their victory celebration.

In Pro, Rose Shaw stopped Stan Deming in a close final. Shaw hit a terrific .002 light and ran 11.626 (11.62 dial)-113.60 to just clip Demining who ran .010/11.13 (11.10 dial)-120.69.

The night race staged under Firebird’s stadium lights also featured the Bike & Sled Drags with Craig Jensen (Snow/Bike), Don Trafford (Street Bike) and Rich Pedraza (Snow/Bike Consolation) winning the annual event.

Special tip of the hat goes out to the Steen family. Both Alex and Chandler swept the Jr. Lightning and Thunder classes in spectacular fashion. For Alex, the victory helped him move 10 points in front of Rayce Kidd to earn the second and final spot at the Team Finals in Woodburn. He’ll join his brother Chandler (both of which just returned from the Western Conference Finals in Denver) along with Krystal Busby and Michael Jaggers as the first four racers to officially qualify for the 56 member “Six-Pack Attack” squad traveling to Woodburn over Labor Day weekend.

On behalf of the Firebird staff and New Crew, we just want to say thanks to everyone who participated at the Pre Nightfire Warmup. Above normal temperatures made for one hot afternoon of racing, but we most certainly admire everyone who made the trip out to compete.

Lookin’ forward to seeing everyone return for the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals, August 13-16, which marks the final opportunity to earn points for the Summit E.T. Finals.

Kidd Performance Super Pro
W: Sam Northup ('05 Dragster) .030, 9.02, 143.06 (9.03 dial).
R/U: Steve Reynolds ('71 Nova) .031, 10.22, 130.49 (10.27 dial).
Semi's: John Johnson Jr. ('78 Corvette).
Qtr’s: Kevin Higgins (`00 Dragster); Randy Bullington (`99 Dragster); Gregg Jorgensen (`71 Vega).

Performance Solutions Pro
W: Rose Shaw ('78 Volare) .002, 11.62, 113.60 (11.62 dial).
R/U: Stan Deming ('76 Nova) .010, 11.13, 120.69 (11.10 dial).
Semi's: Jeffrey Langan ('70 Challenger).
Qtr’s: Dana Drummond (`69 Nova); Lisa Johnson (`74 Duster).

United Oil Sportsman
W: Joe Witherspoon ('64 Falcon) .122, 14.04, 90.12 (14.01 dial).
R/U: Gary Krueger ('76 GMC) .033, 14.90, 91.10 (14.76 dial).
Semi's: Scott Downard ('82 Camaro); Kristi Shawver ('75 Chevy).
Qtr’s: Eldon Twitty (`66 Fairlane); Billy Peterson (`95 Camaro); Mike Ritz (`08 Corvette); Ryan DuBois (`05 Chevy).

Woody’s Snow/Bike
W: Craig Jensen ('01 Polaris) .088, 9.93, 126.42 (9.80 dial).
R/U: Darrin Burdine ('01 Arctic Cat) .168, 12.06, 93.36 (11.98 dial).
Semi's: Zane Robinson ('95 Polaris); Zak Pedraza ('94 Ultra).

Meadow Gold Jr. Lightning
W: Alex Steen ('08 Junior) .040, 9.17, 71.14 (9.15 dial).
R/U: Christopher Northup ('09 Junior) .112, 8.44, 72.47 (8.39 dial).
Semi's: Rayce Kidd ('03 Junior); Marissa Kidd ('98 Junior).

Junior Thunder
W: Chandler Steen ('04 Junior) .047, 13.15, 48.23 (13.09 dial).
R/U: Michael Jaggers ('98 Junior) -.036 foul, 11.30, 56.63 (11.21 dial).
Semi's: Connor Coulter ('05 Junior).

Street Bike
W: Don Trafford ('08 Kawasaki) .130, 10.36, 120.43 (10.34 dial).
R/U: Scott Grondahl ('06 Honda) .126, 10.44, 132.88 (10.39 dial).
Semi's: Bill Klungle ('05 Suzuki).

Nostalgia
W: Carl Youngstrom ('70 Trans Am) .066, 10.31, 131.40 (10.29 dial).
R/U: Larry Lancaster ('59 Chevy) -.029 foul, 10.43, 128.36 (10.45 dial).
Semi's: Linda Rowland ('65 Cutlass).

No Box Gambler
W: Ashton Davis ('07 Ram) .073, 18.45, 60.97 (18.23 dial).
R/U: Phil Sielaff ('80 Malibu) .757, 10.84, 123.45 (10.80 dial).
Semi's: Levi Burlile ('62 Ranchero); Jennifer Barr ('67 Mustang).

Sled/Bike Consolation
W: Rich Pedraza ('03 Polaris) .089, 11.10, 105.65 (11.10 dial).
R/U: Rich Pedraza Jr. ('97 Polaris) .204, 10.04, 127.44 (9.99 dial).

Trophy
W: Melanie Higgins ('66 Chevy II) .128, 11.10, 108.43 (11.06 dial).
R/U: Jeannie Wilson ('01 Tahoe) .288, 17.76, 76.44 (17.84 dial).