Each one of them works extremely hard to get out to events and races extremely hard. We have had an amazing time this year working with fans all over the U.S. and its because of you that keeps us going.
This past weekend showed off just how strong out GM Race Teams are as competitors. The NDRA rolled into Budds Creek, MD this past weekend, which brought the NOPI Series to a close.
On Sunday, a few of our Chevy teams walked away very happy at the season finale at Maryland International Raceway after impressive race wins and series championships for GM drivers in Pro Outlaw FWD, Turbo Street and Pro Extreme.
Driving an ECOtec-powered Chevy Cobalt, Jason Hunt captured his fifth NDRA event victory of the year, drove in his seventh final round and put the finishing touches on his third-consecutive Pro Outlaw FWD championship.
Hunt qualified in the No. 1 position on Saturday after a 7.465-second run at 199.02 mph. During eliminations on Sunday he was unopposed in the final round, but the Maryland resident still posted a 7.337-second run at 199.08 mph.
"That's a great way to finish up the NDRA season," said Hunt. "This is our home track, and for (team owner) Charlie Schafer and myself, you couldn't ask for a better venue to put the exclamation point on another championship year for Matco Tools, Chevrolet, GM Racing and ECOtec.
"We've still got a lot of work to do, though, and it's off to Indianapolis to see if we can't win NHRA Pro FWD category at the U.S. Nationals. That 7.33 lap in the finals was a nice tune-up run for Indy."
Hunt's teammate, Brian Ballard, had a tough road to his race win in the Turbo Street category. Ballard qualified the K & N Filters Chevy Cobalt in the No. 3 position after running 9.745 seconds at 137.18 mph. On race day, Ballard defeated Mikey Williamson in round one with a 9.667-second run at 136.37 mph, Dave Campos in round two with a 9.570-second run at 149.25 mph and Jason Greenewalt in the semifinals with a 9.479-second run at 152.83 mph. In the finals against Joe Simpson, Hunt's Chevrolet crossed the finish line with a winning 9.588-second run at 148.53 mph. Simpson followed in 9.693 seconds at 155.76 mph. Ballard's margin of victory was .268 of a second.
For Ballard, it was his fourth win of the year in six final-round appearances in the NDRA series. It was also his fourth straight NOPI championship, and his second consecutive title in a Chevy Cobalt in the TurboStreet category. Earlier this season, Ballard clinched his first NHRA Quick 16 East crown driving the same K & N Filters ECOtec-powered Chevy Cobalt.
"This is an awesome group to work with," said Ballard. "Charlie Schafer has put together a great program at CSI Racing and to win a second TurboStreet championship was a tremendous team effort."
Don Nase, Jr. also won his second straight NDRA Pro Extreme championship. Nase drove his ECOtec-powered dragster to his seventh victory of the season to claim his second NDRA crown.
We are excited to bring these three champions back together at the NOPI Nationals Event on September 15 and 16 in Atlanta, GA. We will have all three cars on hand and drivers will be signing autographs throughout the two-day event. Make sure to come by the GM Tuner Tour display to check out the three champions.
