Records Smashed In All Five Pro Classes - Englishtown New Jersey

When will the E-Town madness stop? We seem to ask ourselves this questions every time we leave Englishtown's famed Raceway Park. The fact that there are two NHRA races per season at E-Town only compounds matters. The sport's evolutionary progress has been astounding. Coming into the 2004 season the buzz was about the first front driver running a 7-second pass. Lisa Kubo was first by an hour or so early in the season. After that event, as the engines were cooling both Kubo and Nelson Hoyos felt 7.50s were in the cards. Half a second? Come on. Leaving E-Town the bar is at 7.40.

Living life about a second quicker, the Pro RWD racers have also assaulted the record books. In one of the most awe inspiring runs ever, Stephan Papadakis and Matt Hartford unleashed the quickest and fastest side-by-side duel in history. Even the Powerade Pro Stockers have to give up props as Steph ran a 6.541 at 211.73 mph, edging out Hartford's crazy 6.593 at 211.16 mph.

In Hot Rod, Ron Lummus and the Garrett Turbo/Bothwell Motorsports Sunfire scorched the track and set the national record in the 7s. That's right, 7s from a uni-body car driving the front wheels. Lummus powered his way through the field and met up with Kenny Tran in the finals. Kenny, who had run a personal best 8.453 at 171 mph earlier in the meet, crossed the line behind Lummus while posting an 8.742. But Lummus' Sunfire failed the post-race tech inspection due to tire size issues.

The accompanying charts outline why Englishtown is the epicenter of import drag racing and runs down the points chases going into the final race at Pomona.

Note: This pre-dates the formation of the Pro FWD class. Steph was racing his AEM FWD Civic Coupe in the Modified class.