MILAN, Mich. -- Kentucky racers dominated the Friday Gambler’s event at the Abruzzi Auto City Bracket Nationals, held at Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan. Clayton Clark, the number two man in the world and Afco Division Three in 2004, started his 2005 season well with a win against another Afco Division Three competitor, Warren Smith from Erie Michigan. In the final, Smith turned it red giving Clark the win and the cash.

Chris Butcher of Owingsville, Kentucky defeated Port Clinton, Ohio racer Chris Garceau in the Super Pro portion of the Gambler’s race, getting the cash after Garceau also turned it red.

SATURDAY

After time out due to a couple of rain delays and extricating a racer from the sand trap, the Abruzzi BTE/Citgo Auto City Nationals completed a few rounds, but rains and a curfew forced the Saturday event to be completed on Sunday.

Tim Buckley from Rossford, Ohio went 8.071 on a 8.07 for the Afco Super Pro win in the Barker Trailer Sales / Pace American Run For The Trailer. Eric Paul's Evansville, Indiana based Mopar carded a 10.239 on a 10.23 to win the Dynatech Sportsman portion of the Pace American Run for the Trailer, and Jaykelen Nelkin from West Bloomfield, Michigan was the Race Tech Jr Dragster winner, taking home $190 for the 50/50 split.

In Afco Super Pro, Kirby McLennan from Temperance, MI defeated Lima, OH racer Brian Lampton. McLennan’s Undercover dragster was close to the mark, leaving the line with a .010 react and turning in a 7.59, 171.07mph pass (7.57 dial). Lampton took the stripe with his ’04 Race Tech dragster .013 seconds later, carding a 7.79, 165.90mph pass (7.76 target). Steve Mikus left the event with the title of lone semi-finalist.

In Dynatech Sportsman, Tracy Muchler used his fast looking Gregory, MI based ’69 Opel to defeat Wes Buckley of Toledo, OH. Muchler’s .03 over 9.47 at 140.68mph was good for the win thanks to a .020 second holeshot. Buckley’s ’78 Malibu was a little closer to the target, running 10.21 at 131.59mph (10.19 dial). Brian Kuta became the semi-final finisher after Muchler defeated him in the heartbreak round.

Barry Ballard, the APD #1 qualifier (7.40 at 184mph, ’63 Corvette), split with Mark Roberts (’90 Camaro) in the FAST Top Sportsman final. Howard Michael was the semi-final finisher.

Chris Bear defeated Ricky Schneider in Masta Performance Top Dragster. Joe West was the APD #1 qualifier with a 7.12 at 182mph. Although Schneider had a slightly better react, Bear’s 7.55 at 169.87 (7.54 dial) spelled win light against Schneider’s otherwise good 7.49, 178.79 (7.46 dial). John Boes and Bob Carter took home the semi-finalist portion of the purse.

Three categories of Jr Dragster were contested Saturday, Advanced, Intermediate and Pee Wee. Michael Gramlich of Maybee, MI took the Advanced win against Fenton, MI racer Jamie Mosher. Mosher had a better react, but Gramlich’s car made up for the difference, winning with an 8.11 at 72.12mph (7.96 dial). Mosher’s car was way off with an 8.42, 77.69mph (8.09 dial). Chris Cadle was the semi-finalist.

Mitchell McCaffey of Garden City, MI scored the Intermediate win simply because he had the faster car. Both drivers left the starting line too quick, but Joseph Mosher went red first, negating an otherwise near perfect 9.86, 63.91mph pass (9.85 target). McCaffrey stopped the clocks with an 8.91, 72.47mph effort (8.93 dial). Tyler Schneider finished his day in the semis.

Pee Wee winner Jordan Crocker from Waterford, MI won the race on both ends of the track, with a better react and a lucky .05 over 13.13 at 47.65mph. Keifer Gearhart of Temperance, MI finished second with a 13.23 at 46.58mph (13.10 dial). Bradley Ebaugh and Josh Bullion earned a semi-final finish.

SUNDAY

Mike Ledford took home $5K for his efforts in Afco Super Pro. Ledford got an easy win after Mark LaLonde lit up the big red tomato with a -.009 react in a ’99 Yancer dragster. Knowing he had the win, Ledford chose to take it easy on his ’67 Chevy, and coasted to an 11.06 at 88.97mph (10.15 dial). LaLonde also took it easy, carding an 11.09 at 70.52mph (8.30 target). Ricky Adkins was the Afco Super Pro Sunday semi-finalist.

Eric Paul also took home $5K with his Evansville, IN based ’72 Challenger after winning in Dynatech Sportsman. Paul took on Todd Crager of Shiloh, OH and won by running closer to his dial. Both racer’s reaction times were killer (.006 for Paul and .004 for Crager). Paul carded a 10.28, 127.17mph pass (10.26 dial) for the win, while Crager’s Camaro was off the mark with a 10.17, 128.92mph (10.12 dial).

One Jr. Dragster class was run Sunday, with Dominic Lockento of Westerville, OH ending his weekend on a high note by winning with a 7.93 at 73.65mph (7.90 dial). Jerry Marcum, who has done well for a couple of years in the Citgo Series, went red and broke out, turning in an 8.08 at 82.44mph (8.10 dial); good for the runner up spot. Krysti Baxter and David Davis finished the day in the semi-final round.