Lane Automotive

When all the U.S Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying smoke cleared at O'Reilly Motorsports Park near Indianapolis, Bill Reichert was comfortably nestled in the Number 2 spot, between top qualifier, Aaron Tatum, and Number 3 qualifier, Zach Beard, son of nitro funny car tuner, Lee Beard. The current leader in the Top Alcohol Dragster point standings, Jim Whitely, was in the Number 7 spot. A near record 27 supercharged alcohol (B/AD) and injected nitro dragsters (A/FD) turned out to attempt qualifying for the 54th running of the "Big Go" and the action was furious.

With a very tricky right lane, which seemed to have a constant slippery spot about 200 feet out, the drivers in all classes had their work cut out for them. Facing Robin Samsel in the first round, Reichert never looked back as he ran his best e.t. thus far, defeating an up-in-smoke Samsel with a fine 5.24 @ 272.94.

Round Two found Bill continuing his march to the final with an even quicker and faster 5.22 @ 276.34 (low e.t. of the event thus far), defeating Kimmelyn Buff Pesz (she eliminated Whitely in the first round) who posted a 5.32 @ 264.80.

In the semi-final round, Bill faced perennial hard charger, Marty Thacker, who was driving the only blown alcohol dragster still in contention. Bill's 5.26 @ 273.33 was more than Thacker's 5.38 @ 268.12 could handle, even though Marty "treed" him at the start with an .043 to an .097 reaction time. Duane Shields had dispatched Spencer Massey in the semi-final with a 5.28 @ 275.11 to set up an exciting final round.

The Reichert vs. Shields final round was anti-climactic as Duane went up in smoke right off the line and Bill Reichert motored to a slower than usual 5.58 @ 257.04 for the win.

Bill Reichert, by virtue of his Indy win, has become only the second Top Alcohol Dragster pilot to win back-to-back U.S Nationals finals. (The other was Rick Santos.) He has pulled to within 36 points of Jim Whitely, who currently leads the class with 647 points.