Gulbransen, Stone Speed to Drag Race Victories

by Michael Giacone

Samoa – Ron Gulbransen and Brian Stone won the featured Street classes at Samoa’s Run-Tuff Eliminator held Sunday at the drag strip. Other winners include Wayne Cox, John Antongiovanni, James Raines, Tyler Hutton and Scott Tucker.

Gulbransen drove his 1968 Mustang to victory in the Quick Street class with an elapsed time of 14.09 seconds at 95 mph. He defeated the 1972 Nova of Chuck Tibbets in the final round while Bill Walters finished third.

Stone won his first title ever by holding to win the Street bracket in his 1967 Firebird. His time of 16.46 at 79 mph was quick enough to beat runner-up Sandy Blakely and his 1992 S-10 pickup. James Smith and Bill Lackey were the semifinalists.

Cox won his first Super Pro bracket on his 1986 Suzuki by running the quarter mile in 10 seconds flat at 126 mph. Dale Waddell finished second in his 1927 Ford while Shelby Allen and Kyle Skillings were the semifinal losers.

The Pro title was won by former point champion Antongiovanni in his 1965 Chevy II with a time of 12.50 seconds at 105 mph. Jerry Toledo was runner-up for the second straight race. Dan Hodge and Harlan Tucker were the third place drivers.

Raines topped all motorcycle bracket riders on his 2001 Yamaha running a winning time of 12.82 at 105 mph. Nathan Bareis-Smith was second on his 1999 Buell and Colin Ott finished third.

Hutton won his first Samoa title in the Junior Dragster class by defeating Robbie Waddell with a time of 9.06. Kara Pettit finished third and Neel Hill won the Consolation bracket.

Scott Tucker captured the Gamblers bracket title in his 1968 Barracuda by running 11.29 at 114 mph. Jeff Barth finished second in his 1973 Nova and Curtis Daniels was the third place driver.

Nearly 100 race cars competed in the day’s racing. The next race is scheduled for June 13 and will be the first of the three important races in which cars will qualify for the Super Pro bracket.