BIR team defends NHRA West Central Division title

After three days on its home track the Brainerd International Raceway team won the NHRA Summit Racing Series West Central Division Team Championship Sunday.

It was the second division title in a row for the BIR team, which also won in 2004 at Topeka, Kan.

Helping the team to the overall top points total was motorcycle/snowmobile champion Donnie Durenberger of Dayton on a Suzuki. He defeated Omaha rider Curtis Spracklin in the final.

In other individual action, Larry Demers, of Carroll, Iowa, and Team Nebraska Motorplex drove his 1988 Corvette into the winner's circle with a final-round victory over Milt Gedo of Pahrump, Nev.

In Pro E.T., the win went to Gary Schueneman, of Elko and Team Grove Creek Raceway. He drove his 1979 Chevy Malibu to victory over Phil Watkins of Wichita, Kan.

The Sportsman title went to Team Bandimere Speedway racer Dustin Travis, of Westminster, Colo., in a 1964 Ford. He beat Pillager's Jim Hook Knebel in the final.

The high school trophy went to Tri-State Raceway team member Tyler Risse of Waterloo, Iowa. He drove his 1983 Buick Regal to victory in the final over Alex Lindholm, of Pierre, S.D.

Winners in each individual race category qualified to compete in the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Finals in November during the NHRA Automobile Club of Southern California Finals at Pomona Raceway. In Pomona the West Central Division champs will compete against champions from NHRA's six other geographic regions for national titles.

On Saturday, Arnie Ozols, of Prior Lake and Craig Vogt, of Mead, Neb., took Race of Champions titles.

Sunday's final results

SUMMIT SUPER PRO

Larry Demers, Carroll, Iowa, 1988 Corvette, 8.908, 163.69 def. Milt Gedo, Pahrump, Nev., dragster, 7.990, 162.53.

SUMMIT PRO

Gary Schueneman, Elko, 1979 Malibu, 10.175, 129.65 def. Phil Watkins, Wichita, Kan., 1971 El Camino, 10.538, 126.22.

SUMMIT SPORTSMAN

Dustin Travis, Westminster, Colo., 1964 Ford, 14.029, 89.98 def. Jim Hook Knebel, Pillager, 1970 Cutlass, 12.983, 99.65.

SUMMIT BIKE/SLED

Donnie Durenberger, Dayton, 1993 Suzuki, 9.714, 135.32 def. Curtis Spracklin, Omaha, Neb., 1978 Kawasaki, 9.277, 133.57.

HIGH SCHOOL

Tyler Risse, Waterloo, Iowa, 1983 Regal, 11.639, 116.26 def. Alex Lindholm, Pierre, S.D., 1968 AMX, 13.929, 99.45.

RACE OF CHAMPIONS CAR (Saturday)

Arnie Ozols, Prior Lake, 1966 Tempest, 11.708, 121.95 def. Jeff Landholm, Oakland, Neb., 1968 Camaro, 10.909, 129.33.

RACE OF CHAMPIONS BIKE

(Saturday)

Craig Vogt, Mead, Neb., 1973 Kawasaki, 10.032, 128.24 def. Leslie Benbo, Winger, 2000 Yamaha, 10.439, 118.78.