E-town 8.50 Results
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E-town 8.50 Results
8.50 Index Report
By Tony Russo
As most Americans readied for a weekend of cookouts and the start of the summer, some were getting ready for another kind of event. Racers had been filling nitrous bottles, checking valve springs, and making chassis adjustments, all in preparation for an event like no other, Raceway Park’s new 8.50 Index. This is not a new class, but it is new to Raceway Park. Racers and fans alike have enjoyed the close racing, the wheel stands, and the diversity that this class brings to the table.
Raceway Park’s first race had a difference of opinion with the weather, thus the low turnout, however the first event was dominated by “kidquik” TJ Kasper, winning a 3 car field over Ken “Birdman” Byrd.
Raceway Park would not be denied on its second race, the sky was bright and blue, as 8.50 veterans and newcomers alike rolled in the gate on Friday. Qualifying went smooth, and rounded out like this:
Wiso Melendez, no stranger to heads up racing, put his Bright Blue 67 Chevelle into the top spot by blasting an easy 8.55 @ 161.21. Ken “Birdman” Byrd, a relative newcomer to the class, coming off a runner up at the very first race, squeezes his Viper red 81 Camaro in a very close 2nd spot 8.566 @ 159.99. Bobby Moran, a newcomer to the class, a Top Street veteran, placed his Camaro in a strong third spot , 8.578 at a mind boggling 164.27. Bill Verzilli is no stranger to 8.50 racing, having placed his bad, black, and beautiful 69 Camaro into many final rounds, He rips off a 8.673 @ 158.99 to place him 4th. Tony Russo, also no stranger to index racing, places his Mopar 5th with a 8.709 @ 154.05. Henry Jackson, a naturally aspirated engine legend, placed his customer’s 67 Chevelle into the 6th spot with an 8.757 @154.49.
Mike Romeo, a veteran index racer, and one mean light cutter, placed the 84 Regal into the 7th spot with a 9.046 @ 151.37. Ali Buscio, yea, that’s right, she is the DRIVER this time, usually she is the crew chief for her husband Craig, they are Index Champions and are not to be taken lightly, Ali places her 84 Regal into the last spot with a 9.096 @ 151.17. Wayne Keegan, handling the driving for Ferrari Racing , finds himself at a too quick 8.407 @ 150.81. Michael Ziccardi finds he’s got a passenger, in the form of electrical gremlins, and 2nd alternate.
The stage was now set, all the different combinations were in the lanes paired up and waiting, Blowers, Nitrous, Naturally Aspirated, DOT Tires and Slicks.
Bob Moran placed his surging, blown small block into the beams, only to find Mike Romeo in the other lane, Not an opponent to ever be taken lightly, Romeo does his best by cutting a .075 light to a .145 for Moran, but finds himself a little underpowered in the Regal he is piloting, as Moran takes the win 8.91 to a 9.045.
Bill Verzilli staged the Sinister 69 Camaro, against a possibly formidable opponent, Ali Buscio, If Craig has taught her any driving skills, Verzilli is in trouble! Ali makes her husband proud with a .070 light, BUT Verzilli lets the BIG 630 Chevy stretch its legs, and rides around her with an 8.683 to a 9.32.
Henry Jackson finds himself facing Birdman, the runner up from the very first race here at Raceway Park. Birdman puts a light on him, with a .115 to Henrys .142, but we will never know the true outcome, as Birdman spun to a slowing 10.93. Henry lets the Big Chevy eat to the tune of 8.69.
Tony Russo faced a formidable opponent in Wiso Melendez, the number one qualifier, however the Chevy has problems in the lanes, and can’t answer the call. Keegan is also not ready, and the next alternate Michael Ziccardi received the nod for an all Mopar round. Both drivers are asleep at the tree, NO doze all around, Russo ends up on a bye run with an 8.729 as Ziccardi breaks at the 330.
Semis, now it’s getting good. Bobby Moran has faced off against Russo before, being they have met in Top Street racing, but NOT in heads up competition until now. Moran muscled his Camaro into the beams, Russo is asleep at the tree. Moran cut a .131 to Russo’s NO doze .265. Moran powered on through with an 8.57 to Russo’s 8.703. Bill Verzilli finds himself in a predicament, he’s got to face his engine builder in this round, and Henry Jackson is in the other lane!! Jackson and Verzilli both get a visit from the sandman with .200 reaction times. Henry finds himself in lack of traction as Verzilli takes the win 8.75 to 21.98.
Now down to the final, two Camaros, one a first generation, one a third generation, one black, one white, one big block, one small block. As opposite as two of the same car can be. Good guys wear white, Moran sets the Camaro into the beams. He’s on a mission, he’s outgunned, he’s got a small block, the blower on top shoving in the atmosphere to make up for the over 600 cubes he’s got to face in the other lane. Bad boys wear black, and that’s a Bad boy in the form of the Black 69 that Verzilli is riding. Moran shoots to kill with a .114 on the tree to a sleepy .235 from Verzilli. Verzilli gives it all he has but finds himself oh so close to the centerline, and is forced to lift. He watches as the white Camaro flashes away, posting an 8.833.
The event couldn’t have gone much better, the staff at Raceway Park kept the action moving and fast paced all night. We need to take a few words to thank Keith from Finelines. Keith has been more than instrumental in the organization of the race during the pre-season, but kept it all together and moving very nicely in the pits and the lanes. Our hats are off to you Keith! ! ! THANKS! ! Spectators on hand were treated to an unprecedented index race that will repeat throughout the season. See you all at the next one, on Friday, June 13th.
By Tony Russo
As most Americans readied for a weekend of cookouts and the start of the summer, some were getting ready for another kind of event. Racers had been filling nitrous bottles, checking valve springs, and making chassis adjustments, all in preparation for an event like no other, Raceway Park’s new 8.50 Index. This is not a new class, but it is new to Raceway Park. Racers and fans alike have enjoyed the close racing, the wheel stands, and the diversity that this class brings to the table.
Raceway Park’s first race had a difference of opinion with the weather, thus the low turnout, however the first event was dominated by “kidquik” TJ Kasper, winning a 3 car field over Ken “Birdman” Byrd.
Raceway Park would not be denied on its second race, the sky was bright and blue, as 8.50 veterans and newcomers alike rolled in the gate on Friday. Qualifying went smooth, and rounded out like this:
Wiso Melendez, no stranger to heads up racing, put his Bright Blue 67 Chevelle into the top spot by blasting an easy 8.55 @ 161.21. Ken “Birdman” Byrd, a relative newcomer to the class, coming off a runner up at the very first race, squeezes his Viper red 81 Camaro in a very close 2nd spot 8.566 @ 159.99. Bobby Moran, a newcomer to the class, a Top Street veteran, placed his Camaro in a strong third spot , 8.578 at a mind boggling 164.27. Bill Verzilli is no stranger to 8.50 racing, having placed his bad, black, and beautiful 69 Camaro into many final rounds, He rips off a 8.673 @ 158.99 to place him 4th. Tony Russo, also no stranger to index racing, places his Mopar 5th with a 8.709 @ 154.05. Henry Jackson, a naturally aspirated engine legend, placed his customer’s 67 Chevelle into the 6th spot with an 8.757 @154.49.
Mike Romeo, a veteran index racer, and one mean light cutter, placed the 84 Regal into the 7th spot with a 9.046 @ 151.37. Ali Buscio, yea, that’s right, she is the DRIVER this time, usually she is the crew chief for her husband Craig, they are Index Champions and are not to be taken lightly, Ali places her 84 Regal into the last spot with a 9.096 @ 151.17. Wayne Keegan, handling the driving for Ferrari Racing , finds himself at a too quick 8.407 @ 150.81. Michael Ziccardi finds he’s got a passenger, in the form of electrical gremlins, and 2nd alternate.
The stage was now set, all the different combinations were in the lanes paired up and waiting, Blowers, Nitrous, Naturally Aspirated, DOT Tires and Slicks.
Bob Moran placed his surging, blown small block into the beams, only to find Mike Romeo in the other lane, Not an opponent to ever be taken lightly, Romeo does his best by cutting a .075 light to a .145 for Moran, but finds himself a little underpowered in the Regal he is piloting, as Moran takes the win 8.91 to a 9.045.
Bill Verzilli staged the Sinister 69 Camaro, against a possibly formidable opponent, Ali Buscio, If Craig has taught her any driving skills, Verzilli is in trouble! Ali makes her husband proud with a .070 light, BUT Verzilli lets the BIG 630 Chevy stretch its legs, and rides around her with an 8.683 to a 9.32.
Henry Jackson finds himself facing Birdman, the runner up from the very first race here at Raceway Park. Birdman puts a light on him, with a .115 to Henrys .142, but we will never know the true outcome, as Birdman spun to a slowing 10.93. Henry lets the Big Chevy eat to the tune of 8.69.
Tony Russo faced a formidable opponent in Wiso Melendez, the number one qualifier, however the Chevy has problems in the lanes, and can’t answer the call. Keegan is also not ready, and the next alternate Michael Ziccardi received the nod for an all Mopar round. Both drivers are asleep at the tree, NO doze all around, Russo ends up on a bye run with an 8.729 as Ziccardi breaks at the 330.
Semis, now it’s getting good. Bobby Moran has faced off against Russo before, being they have met in Top Street racing, but NOT in heads up competition until now. Moran muscled his Camaro into the beams, Russo is asleep at the tree. Moran cut a .131 to Russo’s NO doze .265. Moran powered on through with an 8.57 to Russo’s 8.703. Bill Verzilli finds himself in a predicament, he’s got to face his engine builder in this round, and Henry Jackson is in the other lane!! Jackson and Verzilli both get a visit from the sandman with .200 reaction times. Henry finds himself in lack of traction as Verzilli takes the win 8.75 to 21.98.
Now down to the final, two Camaros, one a first generation, one a third generation, one black, one white, one big block, one small block. As opposite as two of the same car can be. Good guys wear white, Moran sets the Camaro into the beams. He’s on a mission, he’s outgunned, he’s got a small block, the blower on top shoving in the atmosphere to make up for the over 600 cubes he’s got to face in the other lane. Bad boys wear black, and that’s a Bad boy in the form of the Black 69 that Verzilli is riding. Moran shoots to kill with a .114 on the tree to a sleepy .235 from Verzilli. Verzilli gives it all he has but finds himself oh so close to the centerline, and is forced to lift. He watches as the white Camaro flashes away, posting an 8.833.
The event couldn’t have gone much better, the staff at Raceway Park kept the action moving and fast paced all night. We need to take a few words to thank Keith from Finelines. Keith has been more than instrumental in the organization of the race during the pre-season, but kept it all together and moving very nicely in the pits and the lanes. Our hats are off to you Keith! ! ! THANKS! ! Spectators on hand were treated to an unprecedented index race that will repeat throughout the season. See you all at the next one, on Friday, June 13th.
