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Mickey Nelson, Tony Mattera, and Jacob Mattera to Represent Maryland International Raceway at IHRA Summit World Finals

Friday, 30 September 2016

Mickey Nelson of Leonardtown, Maryland, Tony Mattera of Mechanicsville, Maryland, and Jacob Mattera of Mechanicsville, Maryland will represent Maryland International Raceway ™ (MDIR) at the International Hot Rod Association ™ (IHRA) Summit World Finals drag racing event in Memphis, Tennessee at Memphis International Raceway™ (MIR) on October 20-22, 2016.

The three competitors each earned their spot to represent MDIR at the Summit World Finals by leading their respective classes in track points at the completion of last weekend’s Speed Unlimited ET Series points race held during the 31st Annual Snap-on Superchargers Showdown event on September 24 at MDIR. The Summit World Finals in Memphis event will crown a true Top ET, Mod ET, and Junior Dragster IHRA ET World Champion in these three qualifying classes. Racers for all 100+ IHRA member tracks will converge on MIR looking to be crowned World Champions.

Mickey Nelson earned his spot with his ’05 Racetech dragster in Top ET earning 500 points through the last qualifying event. Nelson went three rounds in the Superchargers Showdown event giving him enough cushion to fend off Robbie Parlett of Lusby, Maryland and Bert Lewis of Mechanicsville, Maryland who finished with 490 points each at the conclusion of the event.

Tony Mattera, with his ’68 Camaro secured his spot in Mod ET with a round five win over Bradley Tippett also of Mechanicsville, Maryland. Mattera finished the event with 410 points to Tippet’s 391 to earn his trip to Memphis. Joseph Jones of Huntingtown, Maryland bowed out of the event in the second round and finished close behind the top two spots with 381 points.

Jacob Mattera, son of Tony Mattera secured his spot in Junior Dragster with a total of 492 points. Mattera had built a slight cushion heading into the event and needed it to earn his spot. Mattera lost first round at the Superchargers event to Makala Ward of North Beach, Maryland leaving the door slightly open for Louie Estevez of White Plains, Maryland. Estevez advanced all the way to the finals before bowing out to 2016 class points champion AJ Jenkins of Mechanicsville, Maryland leaving the event with 470 points. Jenkins finished with 461 in the third place spot.

Three additional spots for the Summit World Finals will be up-for-grabs this weekend at the IHRA Summit Division 1 (Patriots) Team Finals held at MDIR September 29-October 2. Event winners in Top ET, Mod ET, and Junior Dragster will qualify for the Memphis, Tennessee Finals with an event win this weekend.

For more information on the event, please visit www.RaceMDIR.com.

Last modified on Sunday, 02 October 2016