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UPDATED: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

A brand new decade and the 2010 drag racing season at Dragway 42 will kick off less than 48 hours from now when the track hosts the nation's longest running New Year's Day drag racing event outside of California with its 11th Annual "Hangover Nationals".

The New Year's Day racers will be competing heads-up on a 20.10 index (or dial-in) with the first vehicle reaching the finish line without running quicker than the index being the round winner.

In mid-season, nearly any street or tow vehicle can travel the 1/4 mile in under 20 seconds, but when Mother Nature puts down a coating of ice and snow on the track surface, a 20.10 standard is much harder to achieve than it may first appear.

This year's "Hangover Nationals" champion will also take a special place in history, the winner of the first sanctioned drag race of the new decade.

For those who might wonder who was the winner of the first sanctioned drag race of the previous decade, it was Shirley Muldowney who defeated Don Garlits in a battle of top fuelers just after the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day at AutoFest 2000 in Florida.

The final round of the 10th Annual "Hangover Nationals" (which was run on a 20.09 index) saw a the field of nearly 200 competitors be pared down to a final round match-up of Norwalk's Kurt Murray representing the 4-wheel drive / all-wheel drive machines in his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado and Smithville's Corey Griffith in his Pontiac Grand-Am representing the 2-wheel drive side of the eliminator.

Just like in any other bracket race, the win light comes from the proper combination of starting line reaction time and the ability to 'drive the finish line' in an effort to be the first across the stripe without running quicker than the index or dial-in time.

In the 2009 final round, Corey Griffith's Grand-Am had the better reaction time and stayed ahead of Kurt Murray's Silverado all of the way to the stripe, however his 'too quick' elapsed time of 19.9759 on the 20.09 index turned on the eighth and most important win light of the day for "Team Murray".

The 11th Annual "Hangover Nationals" at Dragway 42 will be run no matter the weather conditions. Gates will open at 11 AM with eliminations beginning at 2:30 PM.

As has been the practice for the past several years, the 2-wheel drive machines will compete separately from the 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive machines until the final round.

This year, both class winners will go home with a huge trophy, then the two will be paired in a "Summit Retail Runoff" for a prize package courtesy of the Summit Racing Equipment Retail Store in Tallmadge.

This unique event allows an unlimited number of passengers to ride along during time trials and eliminations. These co-pilots and backseat drivers are generally very willing to assist the driver by keeping track of where the competition is located as the vehicles make their way down the track.

Dragway 42 is holding the line on prices again in 2010 and will keep the entry and spectator fees for this event at the same price as they have been for the past 3 years. An 11th Annual "Hangover Nationals" race entry is just $15.00 while adult spectators will pay just $10.00 for the event.

As is the case at over 99% of Dragway 42's events, youths 14 and under are admitted free of charge.

Check the snowtires and load up on the sandbags in preparation for this event which regularly features racers from a multi-state area battling to be the first race winner of the year, and in this case, the first race winner OF THE DECADE.


This video clip is an in-car (ok, in-truck) view from one competitor's first round of eliminations at last year's event.

Come out and see how much fun you and your friends can have by participating in the 11th Annual "Hangover Nationals" on New Year's Day at Dragway 42.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Below is a list of some of the winners and vehicle information from the first 10 "Hangover Nationals" held at Dragway 42.

Will you be one who will add their name to this list?

2009: Kurt Murray (Chevrolet Truck) over Corey Griffith (Pontiac Grand Am)
2008: Brian Chillik (GMC Truck) over Doug Richards (Chevrolet Baretta)
2007: A.J. Buchanan (Mercury Mountaineer) over Chris Freeland (Chevrolet Suburban)
2006: Aaron Herbert (Chevrolet Truck) over Ron Stayer (Ford Escape)
2005: Brian Chillik
2004: Rick and Linda Aikey over Joe Soucek, Sr.
2002: Lloyd Bittinger (Dodge Van)
2001: Brian Nickell (Mopar) over Steve Tigelman
2000: Bob Hamey

Saturday, December 26, 2009

As Dragway 42 prepares to begin its 7th different decade of continuous drag racing in Northern Ohio, we take another look back at some of the historic action from the track through the lens of Todd Wingerter.

Today's photos come from the 1971 season at Dragway 42 and captures the Chevrolet Corvair funny car of Nick Lamonica named the "Enforcer".

Monday, December 21, 2009

When the first pair of vehicles make their way down Dragway 42's quarter-mile on January 1, 2010 at our 11th Annual Hangover Nationals event, it will begin a 7th different decade of continuous drag racing activities at the historic West Salem, Ohio facility.

To honor the competitors and spectators who have been part of those 7 different decades of Dragway 42 action, we are proud to continue a tradition on Dragway42.com of offering vintage photos, movies, and memorabilia from the track's past for our website visitors to enjoy.

Over the years, a number of individuals have offered their personal photographs for us to share with you. Recently we were blessed to have been given access to a nice assortment of snapshots spanning the 1960s, 70s, and 80s that were captured by Todd Wingerter. Thanks go out to Todd as well as to Tom Kasch whose efforts made us aware of Todd's collection.

With this new grouping of photographs, we will attempt to post some vintage images a couple of times each week here on Dragway42.com, so visit the website often to look back at Dragway 42's history which dates to 1957.

Without further adieu, we bring you the first of Todd Wingerter's Dragway 42 photos with this pair from 1970 of the fliptop AA/GS Corvette named "Aquarius".