Evans, Barker claim Citrus Nationals titles

National Dragster, Jan 30, 2004 by McKenna, Kevin

MOROSO MOTORSPORTS PARK, West Palm Beach, FIa. (Nov. 29-30) - Moroso Motorsports Park has hosted the Citrus Nationals for 22 seasons, making the race one of NHRA's longest running events in the Southeast Division. This year, the event featured open competition in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Sportsman, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. Also on tap was a Top Fuel match between 18-year-old high school student Josh Starcher, driving the Colhart Motorsports entry, and Marshall Topping, who was wheeling Paul Smith's car. Starcher swept the best-of-three match and recorded a track record 4.93.

In his first Top Alcohol Dragster event, Bill Evans, of Miramar, FIa., defeated low qualifier Bruce Horner in the semi's with a 5.63 before besting Don Fiorelli's Olds-powered entry in the final, 5.60 to 5.74. Fiorelli had earlier upset Artie Allen and multi-time Division 2 champ Michael Gunderson.

The 2003 NHRA John Bleakley Motorhomes Top Sportsman Series came to a close at the Citrus Nationals with Jeff Barker claiming a final-round victory over series founder Ronnie Davis. Driving his '00 S-10, Barker won the final by recording a 7.72 (7.68 dial) to beat Davis' .03-over 7.19 from his '63 Corvette. Davis was the low qualifier of the event with a 7.13.

The Super-class champions were Jeff Burnett, who posted a perfect 8.90 in the Super Comp final against Ken Wood; Gene Abbott, who stopped Todd Thompson in the Super Gas final, 9.91 to 9.88; and Steve Dweck, who claimed Super Street honors after David Polichena red-lighted in the money round. - Kevin McKenna