BERNIE LONGJOHN WINS IN HIS FIRST CORVETTE CHALLENGE!

Bernie Longjohn - owner and operator of LACR - decided pretty much at the last minute - literally - that he would enter the last WCCC event of the year. He just made it in line to make just one pass so that he could put some type of number on his car. He then went out and whomped everybody who stood in his way enroute to his first ever WCCC win. A drag racer for several decades, Bernie stated that this was the first event trophy he has won in 20 years!

Bernie has been a great host at LACR, which is our home track, and all of us are very happy for him that he got a win under his belt. Nice job, Bernie!

Points Champ Dave Dowdell wiht Gary Brown Event 10 Group Shot Event Winner Bernie Longjohn
Points Champ Dave Dowdell with Gary Brown Event 10 Group Shot Event Winner Bernie Longjohn

DAVE DOWDELL IS OUR FIRST WCCC POINTS CHAMPION

Let me set this up for you: here's where the points standings were just prior to eliminations: Dave had a one round lead over Donna King for the series championship. Steve Navar was several rounds behind Donna and had a mathematical chance of winning the series IF he won the entire event. That would have earned him a tie with Dave and/or Donna, depending on how each of them did.

First round: Donna and Steve win their first round and advance. Dave loses to a brand new drag racer who was only racing in her second event. Her name is Rochelle and she was doing a pretty good job in the practice rounds. Oh, did I mention that is Rochelle is DAVE'S WIFE who promptly went out and treed him in the first round? Don't even ask!

Second round: Donna gets knocked out and is now tied with Dave. Steve advances to the next round. Statistically, at this point, everyone realizes that Steve has a chance to tie both Dave and Donna for 1st. place in the points series! This was beginning to be heart-attack city for several folks.

Third round: Steve gets knocked out and is statistically a cinch for third place in the points series.

The event continued for two more rounds and was won by Bernie Longjohn (see other post - congrats to Bernie!)

After the final round of the event, Dave and Donna lined up for a sudden death match for all of the 2003 WCCC marbles! Dave took off first with a .580 light to Donna's .594 light. Fairly even and Donna took the stripe but broke out. Dave got the win light and the 2003 WCCC championship!

The suspense of the day and of this points championship was a real nail-biter. Again, bigtime congrats to Dave Dowdell who is our new Champion and also to Donna King who came as close as she possibly could to grabbing the brass ring...well, for this year anyway.

Dave is a popular racer and an incredible sportsman. He is going to be a well-liked and admired champion for a long time. Congrats to Dave!

P.S. And congrats to Dave's wife, Rochelle, who gets to stay married to Dave.