Tiu scores big in national dragfest opener

MANILA, Philippines - Jonathan Tiu sustained his form and notched another big win in the season opener of the National Drag Racing Championship Northern Series, winning the Quick 8 crown at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga recently.

Tiu, on his Nissan R35 which owns the Philippine drag racing all-time fastest record of 8.806 seconds, pulled away early and cruised to victory in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by M&H and Sparco and which draw a record field of 347 drivers.

He easily beat Ricardo Fallorina in the opening round and prevailed over Arvin Jay Millet of TEMZ in the next to barge into the finals.

Without 2015 overall champion Martin Manalo, Vanni Garcia came out as Tiu’s chief challenger as he forged a final showdown after toppling Rommel Dural and Jonathan Young in his previous encounters.

But Tiu’s Nissan proved too fast, blazing with a wide margin over Garcia midway of the quarter-mile course en route to nailing the Quick 8 plum,

Young William Go of Edgesport Racing Team hopes to inspire the other aspiring karters after winning the Cebu race and sweeping the Formula Cadet Novice crown in the Petron ROK Karting Super Series at the Carmona Racetrack in Cavite recently.

Young took second runner-up honors after turning back Millet in their side of the duel.

Fallorina also shared the spotlight as he ruled the premiere M&H Pro class on his Toyota, beating the Honda of fellow newcomer Reb Sibal while Angelo Chua beat Christian Joel Ramirez in the faceoff to clinch third place.

Race officials, led by Drag Racing director Fil Gulfin, decided to use the shoot-out system and shelved the losers’ circle to accommodate the big number of participants.

Bong Medel emerged the pioneer winner in the Super Car class aboard his Nissan GTR39, beating Jun Domingo in the final duel. Paolo Mantolino placed third.

Jannery Millet of TEMZ topped the Expert division, outclassing newcomer Francis Reynoso and third placer Ednell Heshan while William Valencia took the Diesel class honors over Reginald Tubo and Lewy Manio.

Randy de Vera pulled a big upset over veteran Sherwin Jay Esguerra to emerge champion in the Sportsman class.  Another top contender Jeff LIcudine took third place while Terrenz Hormillosa and Joey Galang wound up fourth and fifth respectively.

Rafael Sabado copped the Hotstreet crown over Christian Angelo Sarmiento and third placer Benok Licudine.

Drag racers troop to Batangas on February 11 for the kickoff of the 2017 National Drag Racing Championship Southern Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit Drag Strip.

For further details, interested parties may contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 729-7241 to 42, 7295365, Mobile 0932 8604523, and like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ Batangas Racing Circuit.