Recap of ZMax Dragway’s National Dragster Challenge, August 18th – by Steve Foley

August 24, 2012   ·   0 Comments

Article and Photos by Steve Foley, DragCoverage.com

Saturday, August 18 was the last points race for Zmax Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte N.C., as well as the National Dragster Challenge when NHRA tracks offer Wally’s to the winning participants. Many walked away with track championships, a few wallys and some cash.

Azarias Govin won the Junior Dragster class A championship. Scottie Keller won the Motorcycle track championship. Aimee Najarian won the pro street championship. Douglas Foley Jr. won the 1/4 super pro track championship.

Allen Furr, sportsman track champion at zmax dragway

Allen Furr gained Sportsman track Championship, but the big winners of the day were the Strickland Family. Noah Strickland won the Junior Dragster Class B track championship which gained him his second track championship this year as he won Mooresville dragway’s Junior Dragster track championship a week prior. His older sister Ashley Strickland won everything a driver could possibly win in one day.

Miss Strickland, coming into the race three rounds behind points leader Ed Pauley, had a tough task ahead needing to win the race and hope Pauley went out early. With five cars left Ashley faced the points leader Pauley, having to beat him and win the race to win the Track Championship. Strickland did just that. She took out Pauley at five cars, gained a bye run at three, and won in the finals gaining her a track Championship along with the prestigious Wally Trophy.

She wasn't done yet. Strickland came back and won the track points run off beating Foley at four cars and Najarian in the finals which gained her another Wally. With two Wally's in one day, she walked away with a track Championship and was named "King of the Track" at Zmax dragway, which was then changed to Queen of the track.

Ashley Strickland said, "Its a dream come true. Every time my win light came on, I did a little dance. I'm just so excited. I was having water pump issues from about second round to the end of the race. My poor car's tongue was hanging out by the end of the day. I want to thank my Parent's Charles and Sherry Strickland and congratulate my Brother Noah on his track championships as well. It's really awesome that my brother and I won track championships the same year at the same race track. In addition, my boyfriend Steve Foley helped me tremendously serving as my crew chief in the race!."

The Strickland's, from Concord N.C., plan on racing IHRA bracket finals, and NHRA Div. 2 Bracket finals as well as hitting up a few other races towards the end of the season.