Willilams, Demke score first Thunder at the Lakes wins at BIR

(May 30, 2010) - Kirk Williams has been racing Top Alcohol Funny Cars at Brainerd International Raceway for 10 years but never earned a trip to the winners circle. Until today.

"I've always been the bridesmaid and never the bride," Williams quipped while holding his championship trophy after spoiling Roger Bateman's bid for a repeat win in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class of BIR's Thunder at the Lakes NHRA Divisional Drag Race. "This feels pretty good."

Williams acknowledged that he dodged a bullet after his semifinals win over Vern Moats. The parachute on his car malfunctioned and didn't slow the car down after the finish line. The car ran off the track and into a sand-filled safety area, damaging the car's body and, more importantly, the motor.

A delay in running the finals against Batemen resulted as Williams' team spent extra time repairing the car and getting it ready for the finals. The extra time may have paid off as Williams won by the slimmest of margins: 8/1,000ths of a second. Williams' final run was 5.639 seconds and 255.68 mph. Bateman's final pass was 5.647 seconds and 253.09 mph.

"Our team did really well," Williams said. "(After the semifinals win) we had help from a lot of people for the body work and the motor. And Roger waiting for us, which we really appreciated."

In the Top Alcohol Dragster class, Chris Demke's first visit to BIR was a memorable one. He had never raced here prior  to this weekend, but went home with a championship trophy after beating Scott Palmer in the finals. Demke finished with a sizzling 5.326-second run at 269.83 mph. Palmer ran 5.686 seconds and 235.93 mph.

Demke said he entered this weekend's event with low expectations after losing in the first round the prior weekend at the NHRA Divisional race in Topeka, Kan. But everything came together for him and his crew, even with weather that was hot and humid on Saturday and then cool and dry on Sunday. 

Thunder at the Lakes was the second of six events in the NHRA West Central Division's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of morethan $560.000. Amost 400 cars and motorcycles competed this weekend.

The following are the final results from the 2010 Thunder at the Lakes:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
ROUND ONE
4) Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 9.727, 114.60 def.
3) Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa, foul

1) Scott Palmer, Marionville, Mo., 5.471, 249.63 def.
6) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 5.576, 246.75

2) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.379, 265.74 def.
5) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.524, 247.93

SEMIFINALS
Palmer, 6.567, 135.91 was unopposed;
Demke, 5.375, 265.90 def. Schmeeckle, 5.463, 261.93

FINALS
Demke, 5.326, 269.83 def. Palmer, 5.686, 235.93

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE
3) Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck, Iowa, '05 Firebird, 5.736, 244.47 def.
6) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '06 Corvette, 19.639, 37.23

2) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '08 Mustang, 5.628, 255.53 def.
7) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '10 Monte Carlo, 6.473, 187.83

4) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '10 Mustang, 5.947, 250.37 def.
5) Scott McVey, Winnipeg, Manit., '06 Monte Carlo, 6.253, 197.65

1) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '04 Camaro, 15.614, 65.55 was unopposed

SEMIFINALS
Williams, 5.652, 247.02 def. Moats, 9.774, 71.88;
Bateman, 5.621, 255.82 def. Van Hauen, 10.580, 122.67

FINALS
Williams, 5.639, 255.68 def. Bateman, 5.647, 253.09

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Bruno Massel, Woodridge, Ill., '08 Cobalt, DD/AT, 7.319, 155.36  def.
Matt Harris, Nebraska City, Neb., '05 Grand Am, E/A, 8.125, 133.39

SUPER STOCK
Michael Mans, Rogers, Minn., '00 Firebird, SS/CS, 9.552, 133.65  def.
Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.686, 136.00

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Tyler Wudarczyk, Wamego, Kan., '73 Camaro, H/SA, 11.386, 105.97  def.
Denny Nelson, Stacy, Minn., '69 Mustang, C/SA, 10.943, 118.14

SUPER COMP
Kari Larson, Starbuck, Minn., dragster, 8.908, 168.35  def.
Rick Bowman, Solon, Iowa, '00 Corvette, 8.914, 163.73

SUPER GAS
Bill Cawsey, Regina, Sask., '09 Mustang, 9.958, 151.63  def.
Martin Brees, Lincoln, Neb., '88 Firenza, 9.911, 152.42

SUPER STREET
Rodger Sauder, Sidney, Neb., '72 Barracuda, 10.820, 144.66  def.
Edward Holmgren, Foley, Minn., '64 Rambler, 10.804, 129.97

TOP SPORTSMAN
Dave Slatten, Ft. Collins, Colo., '05 Grand Am, 7.111, 193.71  def.
Tom Donovan, Olathe, Kan., '02 Mustang, 7.183, 191.43

TOP DRAGSTER
Tim Mazur, St. Joseph, Mo., dragster, 6.870, 192.63  def.
J.R. Lobner, Gardner, Kan., dragster, 7.258, 181.11

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Curtis Spracklin, Omaha, Neb., '05 Kawaswaki, 8.775, 141.37  def.
Alex Barmettler, Maplewood, Minn., '78 Kawasaki, 9.367, 143.38