by Neil Van Zile

While there was a lot of great drag racing action this past weekend, the weather continued to play havoc with not only the schedule but also the equipment at a couple of area dragstrips.

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New Oxford Dragway had to cancel the Friday Night racing due to a lightning strike that took out the timing system. Repairs are underway and should be completed in time for next Friday night’s racing. 

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Lightning also damaged the timing towers at Lebanon Valley Dragway. The system still works but the win lights on the scoreboard currently do not work. This kept the announcers busy at this weekend’s Dover Dragstrip Nostalgia Drags since they had to announce the winners for every round.

LVD was also the site of one of the scariest accidents this writer has ever seen when Bobby Wilko of the Long Island-based Wilko Brothers Racing team crashed hard into the concrete stand holding the track’s christmas tree. The beautiful supercharged Corvette got completely sideways on the burnout and hit the stand head-on, rupturing the fuel cell and causing an almost instantaneous fire that was very difficult to get under control. 

Bobby’s crew members got him out of the car with only minor burns to his face, but the impact inflicted multiple bone fractures. Sources tell us that the 75-year-old Wilko suffered a broken neck and back, as well as a fractured foot. We wish him a swift recovery. 

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New England Dragway was host to the Steve Reis Memorial Shootout on Sunday. They also had two rounds of the .90 Index classes over the weekend. 

The .90 Index classes also crowned their champions for the 2021 season this past weekend. 

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Lebanon Valley Dragway – Wednesday night’s racing was a washout, but nearly perfect weather greeted racers and fans alike for the 13th Annual Dover Dragstrip Nostalgia Drags. Promoter Dino Lawrence pulled off another great event, even with numerous race teams canceling due to the Covid-related shortage of parts to repair broken race cars. Dino made a lot of last-minute calls and was able to put on a great show for the fans. On top of the nostalgia bracket racing, a number of clubs and associations held ran eliminators over the weekend, including the East Coast Gassers, Northeast Timing Organization, Northeast Old Drag Racers, and Musclecar Association, and the East Coast Fuelers. Nearly 400 show cars also filled the front parking area on Sunday, making for one of the year’s best drag racing events.

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Winterport Dragway hosted a $4.5k Bracket Bash, but the event ran late and the track was unable to finish the race before the sun went down and ended racing for the day. They plan to finish the race next weekend.