The 2012 NSRA Quality Aircraft Care point series put on a great show on the west coast over the course of the season. All eight events were highly competitive with racers battling it out all season long for the big prizes at the end of the trail. Let’s take a look at the highlights and top performers from the season that was.Top Fuel
Final Standings
1. Dennis Rieck 117
2. Scott Whipple 79
3. Marcus Norris 28
4. Matthew Ludlow 24
5. Shane Sanford 21
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Scott Whipple. Low ET: Scott Whipple - 2.247
Soboba 1 - Scott Whipple. Low ET: Scott Whipple - 2.274
Avenal 1 - Dennis Rieck. Low ET: Dennis Rieck 2.729
Soboba 2 - Scott Whipple. Low ET: Dennis Rieck 2.339
Soboba 3 - Dennis Rieck. Low ET: Dennis Rieck 2.353
Dome Valley 2 - Dennis Rieck. Low ET: Dennis Rieck 2.163
Season Recap
Most Wins: Dennis Rieck & Scott Whipple (Tie - 3)
Most Final Rounds: Dennis Rieck (4)
Most #1 Qualifiers: Dennis Rieck (4)
Low ET: Dennis Rieck (2.163)
Dennis Rieck and the Hammer Down Hemi conquered the Top Fuel field in 2012 as he earned the class championship. Dennis also ran the quickest ET in the history of the sport with a 2.163 at Dome Valley Raceway in October. (NSDN Photo)
Scott Whipple ran an abbreviated schedule in 2012, but swept all three of his starts and finished second in the standings. (NSDN Photo)
Top Alcohol
Final Standings
1. Gary Mink 150
2. Jim Hammond 65
3. Scott Carroll 57
4. Pedro Villa 55
5. Craig Sines 43
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Gary Mink. Low ET: Gary Mink - 2.426
Soboba 1 - Gary Mink. Low ET: Gary Mink - 2.522
Avenal 1 - David Morton. Low ET: David Morton - 2.467
Soboba 2 - Jim Hammond. Low ET: Gary Mink - 2.537
Soboba 3 - Jim Hammond. Low ET: Gary Mink - 2.539
Avenal 2 - Gary Mink. Low ET: Gary Mink - 2.440
Dome Valley 2 - Craig Sines. Low ET: Craig Sines - 2.584
Soboba 4 - Gary Mink. Low ET: Gary Mink - 2.504
Season Recap
Most Wins: Gary Mink (4)
Most Final Rounds: Gary Mink (6)
Most #1 Qualifiers: Gary Mink (5)
Low ET: Gary Mink (2.426)
The competition got tougher for Gary Mink in 2012, but Gary fought back with four wins on the season as he wrapped up his fourth straight Top Alcohol class championship. Gary also ran Low ET of the season with a 2.42. (NSDN Photo)
Jim Hammond and the April's Dream stepped way up in 2012 with a new Hemi combination. The new motor paid off as Jim took two wins at Soboba over the course of the season and ended up second in the series standings. (NSDN Photo)
Top Eliminator
Final Standings
1. Billy Morris 153
2. Jim Rossi 128
3. Paul Taylor 118
4. Ron D'Artenay 85
5. Todd Kinney 83
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Billy Morris
Soboba 1 - Todd Kinney
Avenal 1 - Paul Taylor
Soboba 2 - Billy Morris
Soboba 3 - Billy Morris
Avenal 2 - Jim Rossi
Dome Valley 2 - Billy Morris
Soboba 4 - Jim Rossi
Season Recap
Most Wins: Billy Morris (4)
Most Final Rounds: Billy Morris (6)
Most #1 Qualifiers: Billy Morris & Paul Taylor (3 - Tie)
Dead-On (2.950): Paul Taylor (Dome 1 & Dome 2) & Billy Morris (Soboba 1)
Billy Morris and the Morris Family Racing team scored their first Top Eliminator championship in 2012. The MFR team had things rolling with six final round finishes in their seven season starts with four race wins. Considering the level of competition in TE, those kind of stats are an amazing accomplishment. (Crazy Photo Squad Photo)
Jim Rossi's Bad Toy was a top contender across the full NSRA series in 2012 TE competition. Rossi ended up with four finals on the season along with two end of the season victories to clinch the second spot in the standings. Jim and Pattie put in a herculean effort in 2012 racing the full NSRA series while logging a ton of miles from the Fresno area. (Crazy Photo Squad Photo)
Fast Fours
Final Standings
1. Aaron Mamer 96
2. Mario Tavares 67
3. Daniel King 66
4. Art Cronin 63
5. John Cronin 39
EventWinners
Dome Valley 1 - Daniel King
Soboba 1 - Aaron Mamer
Soboba 2 - Mario Tavares
Soboba 3 - Aaron Mamer
Dome Valley 2 - Aaron Mamer
Soboba 4 - Art Cronin
Season Recap
Most Wins: Aaron Mamer (3)
Most Final Rounds: Aaron Mamer (3)
Most #1 Qualifiers: Daniel King & Mario Tavares (2 - Tie)
Low ET: Mario Tavares - 2.769
Aaron Mamer survived this wild ride at the Dome Valley Season Opener to go on to win the 2012 Fast Fours class championship within the NSRA series. Aaron won a class high three events in the famed Sidewinder Dragster. (Crazy Photo Squad Photo)
Mario Tavares with flames belching out on the two step at Soboba. Mario & the Pauter team hit on a potent combination Mid-2012 eventually running Low ET of the season with a 2.769 while earning second place in the Fast Fours standings. (NSDN Photo)
Pro 1
Final Standings
1. Keith Ahart 122
2. Bob Cambridge 106
3. Craig Durning 84
4. Larry Brown 47
5. Jerry Watson 46
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Jay Poortenga
Soboba 1 - Justin Adamson
Avenal 1 - Keith Ahart
Soboba 2 - Bob Cambridge
Soboba 3 - Bob Cambridge
Avenal 2 - Steve Foster
Dome Valley 2 - Craig Durning
Soboba 4 - Bob Cambridge
Season Recap
Most Wins: Bob Cambridge (3)
Most Final Rounds: Bob Cambridge (4)
Keith Ahart locked up another championship in his famed sand drag career as he won the Pro 1 title in the 2012 NSRA series. Keith & wife Carolyn ran the full NSRA tour where they had three final round finishes, including a big win at the April Avenal event. (NSDN Photo)
Bob Cambridge presented the biggest threat to Ahart in 2012 Pro 1 action. Bob ended up finishing in the final round at all SCSDA Soboba events with three wins. This point total put him in second place at the end of the season. (NSDN Photo)
Pro 2
Final Standings
1. George Amos 131
2. Charlie Johnson 93
3. Steve Foster Jr. 70
4. Wes Johnson 65
5. Wes Gilmore 46
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Steve Anthony
Soboba 1 - George Amos
Avenal 1 - Brian Chapman
Soboba 2 - George Amos
Soboba 3 - George Amos
Avenal 2 - Steve Foster Jr.
Dome Valley 2 - George Amos
Soboba 4 - Wes Johnson
Season Recap
Most Wins: George Amos (4)
Most Final Rounds: George Amos (4)
George Amos had an incredible 2012 Pro 2 season as he scored four huge victories with his BBC-powered Dragster. George started off the season with three victories at Soboba, then traveled to Dome Valley where he won a huge battle over second place contender Charlie Johnson in round one before winning the class at that event. (NSDN Photo)
Charlie Johnson's 'Back N Black' Jeep was a tough customer in Pro 2 action throughout the season. He had two runner-ups early in the season and was in championship contention until the aforementioned elimination battle at Dome Valley with eventual champ Amos. (NSDN Photo)
Pro 3
Final Standings
1. Charlie Johnson 108
2. Wes Johnson 77
3. Arend Schouten 73
4. Chris Adamson 50
5. Donna Huff 45
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Alan Mamer
Soboba 1 - Wes Johnson
Avenal 1 - Arend Schouten
Soboba 2 - Charlie Johnson
Soboba 3 - Charlie Johnson
Avenal 2 - Nick Young
Dome Valley 2 - Donna Huff
Soboba 4 - Wes Johnson
Season Recap
Most Wins: Charlie Johnson & Wes Johnson (2 - Tie)
Most Final Rounds: Charlie Johnson (3)
Charlie Johnson had a season of pure domination in the Pro 3 category in 2012. Charlie's 'Back N Black' Jeep was dialed in at each race as he ended up with two wins in three final round finishes. He ended up with a nice 31 point cushion over his brother. (NSDN Photo)
Wes Johnson ran a limited schedule in 2012, but he made the most of each race with two SCSDA Soboba event wins along the way en route to a runner-up finish in the standings. (NSDN Photo)
Motorcycle Pro 1
Final Standings
1. Mark Ratliff 122
2. Christian Payne 116
3. Brad Olson 70
4. Bo Crossland 54
5. Donny Flora 48
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Mark Ratliff
Soboba 1 - Christian Payne
Avenal 1 - Mark Ratliff
Soboba 2 - Bo Crossland
Soboba 3 - Dakoda Crockett
Avenal 2 - Christian Payne
Dome Valley 2 - Christian Payne
Soboba 4 - Christian Payne
Season Recap
Most Wins: Christian Payne (4)
Most Final Rounds: Christian Payne (4)
Mark Ratliff led the MP1 standings from start to finish en route to the championship. Mark used a string of consistent finishes to hold off hard charging Christian Payne over the last few events for a six point margin of victory. (NSDN Photo)
Christian Payne emerged as a top contender over the course of the 2012 season. The young Central California racer reeled off three consecutive victories to end the year as he came up just short of the title with a solid second place finish in the standings. (NSDN Photo)
Motorcycle Pro 2
Final Standings
1. George Amos 118
2. Mark Ratliff 116
3. Grant Hutchinson 85
4. Matthew Ortiz 76
5. Randy Mings 66
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Shawna Mayo
Soboba 1 - George Amos
Avenal 1 - David Palacios
Soboba 2 - George Amos
Soboba 3 - Mark Ratliff
Avenal 2 - Matthew Ortiz
Dome Valley 2 - Mark Ratliff
Soboba 4 - Randy Mings
Season Recap
Most Wins: George Amos & Mark Ratliff (2 - Tie)
Most Final Rounds: George Amos & Mark Ratliff (3 - Tie)
The MP2 class saw an epic battle throughout the season as two of the top west coast ATV racers in recent years traded the lead on a race by race basis. When the dust cleared, it was George Amos emerging victorious by just two points over MPC Racing's Mark Ratliff. Amos used two event wins on the season in three finals to take his second championship in NSRA competition. This was quite a feat as both championships were won in totally different vehicles with his trademark 3-wheeler winning MP2 and his Chevy-powered Dragster topping Pro 2. (NSDN Photo)
Sportsman 1
Final Standings
1. Kermit Larby 57
2. Sid Payne 51
3. Larry Brown 45
4. Greg Johnson 41
5. Wes Gilmore 40
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Jessie Weston
Soboba 1 - Kermit Larby
Avenal 1 - Jennifer Smith
Soboba 2 - Jay Shearer
Soboba 3 - Kermit Larby
Avenal 2 - April Soares
Dome Valley 2 - Fern McKinney
Soboba 4 - Sid Payne
Season Recap
Most Wins: Kermit Larby (2)
Most Final Rounds: Kermit Larby & Sid Payne (2 - Tie)
Kermit Larby's Leap Frog Buggy won the 2012 Sportsman 1 title on the strength of two big victories at SCSDA Soboba events. (NSDN Photo)
Sid Payne had a late start to the season with his beautiful CJ-5 Jeep, but rounded out the season with a win and runner-up to earn second place in the 2012 Sportsman 1 standings. (NSDN Photo)
Sportsman 2
Final Standings
1. Alan Mamer 83
2. Mike Williams 70
3. Clayton Record 49
4. Richard Ross 48
5. Arend Schouten 41
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Alan Mamer
Soboba 1 - Michael Wright
Avenal 1 - Mike Williams
Soboba 2 - Frank Wagner
Soboba 3 - Alan Mamer
Avenal 2 - Mike Williams
Dome Valley 2 - Stefan Ortega
Soboba 4 - Rick Hendershott
Season Recap
Most Wins: Alan Mamer & Mike Williams (2 - Tie)
Most Final Rounds: Alan Mamer & Mike Williams (2 - Tie)
The hotly contested Sportsman 2 championship came down to the last race of the year to decide the winner. Alan Mamer in his Snake Buggy came into the day tied with Mike Williams atop the standings. When it was all said and done, Mamer ended up victorious for the second season in a row in the Sportsman 2 class championship. (NSDN Photo)
Mike Williams had a breakout season in 2012 with his nice CJ-5 Jeep. Mike had two final round finishes on the season and was in the thick of the battle until the very end of the season. (NSDN Photo)
Motorcycle Sportsman 1
Final Standings
1. Mark Ratliff 120
2. Christian Payne 112
3. Heather Taylor 69
4. Steve Lackey 60
5. Taylor Holmes 43
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Collin Barnella
Soboba 1 - Christian Payne
Avenal 1 - Mark Monaghan
Soboba 2 - Mark Ratliff
Soboba 3 - Dakoda Crockett
Avenal 2 - Steve Lackey
Dome Valley 2 - Christian Payne
Soboba 4 - Josh Wolford
Season Recap
Most Wins: Christian Payne (2)
Most Final Rounds: Christian Payne (4)
In a repeat of the MP1 battle, Mark Ratliff used his experience to outlast upstart Christian Payne for the Motorcycle Sportsman 1 championship. Mark used amazing consistency to hang on for the title by just eight points on the MPC Racing Pro ATV. (Mike Biel Photo)
Christian Payne had a standout 2012 season all around, where he ended up with four final rounds in the MS1 categories on his ultra consistent Pro ATV. Payne also scored two class wins en route to second place in the standings. (NSDN Photo)
Motorcycle Sportsman 2
Final Standings
1. Grant Hutchinson 105
2. Matthew Ortiz 105
3. Mark Ratliff 81
4. Austin Ratliff 63
5. Steve Lackey 61
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Grant Hutchinson
Soboba 1 - Caleb Mings
Avenal 1 - Cole Foy
Soboba 2 - Grant Hutchinson
Soboba 3 - Devin Cadell
Avenal 2 - Austin Thomas
Dome Valley 2 - Mark Ratliff
Soboba 4 - Matthew Ortiz
Season Recap
Most Wins: Grant Hutchinson (2)
Most Final Rounds: Grant Hutchinson (3)
Grant Hutchinson led the MS2 standings from start to finish in 2012. The Phoenix area racer won the Season Opener at Dome Valley, then fought through mechanical gremlins mid season before earning a runner-up finish at the Season Finale to earn him a share of a tie atop the standings. Grant would have the tiebraker advantage to earn the series championship. (NSDN Photo)
Matthew Ortiz had an ultra consistent season in the MS2 class with strong finishes at every event. The Central California racer also scored a ton of bonus points and made a huge charge at the end of the season with a win at the Season Finale to end up second in the class standings. (Mike Biel Photo)
Junior Dragster
Final Standings
1. Kyla Belville 113
2. Ryan Rodriguez 107
3. Aimee Mamer 74
4. Ray Pantoja 56
5. Bradley Myers 55
Event Winners
Dome Valley 1 - Aimee Mamer
Soboba 1 - Ryan Rodriguez
Avenal 1 - Austin Pugh
Soboba 2 - Kyla Belville
Soboba 3 - Christian Myers
Avenal 2 - Kyla Belville
Dome Valley 2 - Kyla Belville
Soboba 4 - Bradley Myers
Season Recap
Most Wins: Kyla Belville (3)
Most Final Rounds: Kyla Belville & Ryan Rodriguez (3 - Tie)
Kyla Belville scored her first ever Junior Dragster championship in 2012. The Belville Racing team did a great job all season earning three event wins on the way to a hard earned NSRA series title. (NSDN Photo)
Ryan Rodriguez made a big late season charge, but came up just short of the championship in his Durning Motorsports dragster. Ryan was in three finals throughout the season and was a tough customer at every event he entered. (NSDN Photo)
Photos Courtesy
NSDN
Crazy Photo Squad - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mike Biel - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.