By BRETT LYONS

NHRA

GREAT BEND, Kan. (June 27, 2009) - The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at SRCA Dragstrip is finally in the books, two months after the race began due to a rain delay. Top honors went to Richard Putz of Earlville, Iowa in Top Alcohol Dragster and Sean O'Bannon from Ontario, Calif., won once again in Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Putz, the No. 3 qualifier, defeated Malcolm Wahle, Claremore, Okla., and top seeded Brandon Lewis of Broken Arrow, Okla., to reach the final. In the money round, he pieced together a 5.594 second, 254.81 mph pass against Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., to pick up the win. This marks his first divisional victory of the season.

Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O'Bannon grabbed his third divisional win of the season. The Pacific division points leader made his way from the No. 2 slot and into the winner's circle by defeating Roger Bateman of Calgary, Manit., in the final. His lap of 5.874 seconds at 244.92 mph was enough to defeat the top qualifier and to pick up the hardware.

Comp Eliminator driver Bruno Massel of Woodbridge, Ill., won his second divisional event of the year by knocking out the current leader Matthew Harris of Nebraska City, Neb. David Bogner, Kearney, Neb., won in Super Stock while local racer Bradley Grant of Great Bend, Kan., won in Stock. Super Comp honors went to John Goemann, Dodge City, Kan.; Trevor Larson, Starbuck, Minn., won in Super Gas; and Ted Ash, Topeka, Kan., powered his '61 Corvette to the victory in Super Street.

Other drivers who received the prestigious Wally trophy included Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, Colo., in Top Sportsman; Darin Long, Mitchell, S.D., in Top Dragster; and Fremont, Neb., resident Tom Gilligan in Sportsman Motorcycle.

West Central division racers head to Cordova Dragway Park for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, held August 7-8. The following are Saturday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, West Central Division event at SRCA Dragstrip:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

Round 1

5) Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.636, 234.17 def. 4) Dan Kracht, Gretna, Neb., 5.696, 251.91;

3) Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa, 5.579, 254.66 def. 9) Malcolm Wahle, Claremore, Okla., 5.762, 236.42;

2) Justin Davis, Murrieta, Calif., 5.655, 252.99 def. 7) Eugene Tumbarello, Denver, Colo., 6.008, 205.29;

1) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., 5.520, 258.76 def. 8) Scott Peterson, Bellingham, Wash., broke;

Semifinal

Putz, 5.594, 254.81 def. Davis, 5.659, 251.95; Schmeeckle, 5.608, 252.85 def. Lewis, 5.604, 252.76;

Final

Putz, 5.608, 254.47 def. Schmeeckle, broke.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

Round 1

6) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '08 Mustang, 5.866, 247.70 def. 3) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '06 Corvette, broke;

4) Paul Anderson, Firestone, Colo., '02 Camaro, 5.994, 227.04 def. 5) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '02 Camaro, broke;

2) Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 6.178, 241.58 def. 7) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '02 Camaro, 6.611, 160.82;

1) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Manit., '08 Mustang, 5.821, 243.77 was unopposed;

Semifinal

O'Bannon, 5.917, 245.67 def. Moats, 7.512, 116.87; Bateman, 5.790, 244.25 def. Anderson, 6.538, 160.31;

Final

O'Bannon, 5.874, 244.92 def. Bateman, 5.906, 240.72.

COMP ELIMINATOR

Bruno Massel, Woodbridge, Ill., '08 Cobalt, DD/AT, 11.255, 78.49 def. Matthew Harris, Nebraska

City, Neb., '05 Grand Am, E/A, 7.903, 169.70.

SUPER STOCK

David Bogner, Kearney, Neb., '92 Daytona, SS/CS, 9.729, 129.34 def. Carroll Warling, Brighton,

Colo., '74 Grand Am, SS/MA, 11.233, 112.59.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Bradley Grant, Great Bend, Kan., '69 Roadrunner, C/SA, 10.991, 118.61 def. Chad Holzman, Wichita,

Kan., '08 Cobra Jet, AA/SA, 10.138, 128.74.

SUPER COMP

John Goemann, Dodge City, Kan., dragster, 9.040, 166.87 def. Dustin Long, Mitchell, S.D.,

dragster, broke.

SUPER GAS

Trevor Larson, Starbuck, Minn., '04 Corvette, 10.086, 155.70 def. Bob Fuller, Rogers, Ark., '00

Corvette, 10.078, 158.35.

SUPER STREET

Ted Ash, Topeka, Kan., '61 Corvette, 11.068, 144.40 def. John Dexter, Centennial, Colo., '68

Camaro, 11.075, 141.65.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, Colo., '05 Grand Am, 7.575, 145.91 def. Rick Wilson, Independence, Mo.,

'69 Camaro, 9.155, 98.95.

TOP DRAGSTER

Darin Long, Mitchell, S.D., dragster, 7.420, 171.84 def. Brad Basgall, Hays, Kan., dragster,

7.196, 185.18.

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '00 Kawasaki, 9.067, 141.16 def. Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '04

Kawasaki, 9.302, 136.11.