Bill Reichert Brainerd wrap up

Reichert solidifies championship hopes with Brainerd win

BRAINERD, Minn. - NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster veteran Bill Reichert solidified his hopes for his first National Championship with his second national event win of the year during this past weekend's Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn. The Bar's Leaks backed team's trip to the winner's circle put them in first place by 83 points in national standings.

Reichert, from Owosso, Mich., qualified his injected nitro dragster second in the field with a 5.343 second elapsed time at 269.78 mph. In round one, he defeated Randy Meyer with a 5.423 at 263.41 mph, then defeated Jegs All-Star champ Marty Thacker in round two with a 5.302 at 270.15 mph. Reichert's semifinal opponent would be recent Chicago national event winner Todd Datweiler, who he defeated with his first trip into the 5.20's with a 5.291 at 272.17 mph.

In the finals, Reichert squared off with 2002 National Champion Art Gallant. Reichert took the jump off the line and never looked back, running low e.t. and top speed of the meet to take the win with a 5.244 at 275.00 mph to Gallant's 5.331 at 273.23 mph.

"We had the car running good," said Reichert. "We tried to step it up in qualifying but it just seemed to be stuck in the mid .30's. It fell off a bit in the first round, but from there we just stepped it up a little bit each round. That .24 in the final really surprised me, but we knew we needed to make a good run because Art has really been running strong lately."

Reichert hated to race his good friend Gallant, but was glad the matchup happened in the finals.

"You always hate running your friends," explained Reichert. "I talk to Art on a regular basis, and I always root for him to do good. The best I wish him is runner-up when we're at the track, though. Luckily for us, that's the way it worked out."

The next stop for the Bar's Leaks team will be the biggest event in all of drag racing, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at the newly renamed O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend. There Reichert will not only be looking to improve his points standings, but pick up a win at the prestigious event.

"We have a lot going on, and you always want to do good in Indy," stated Reichert. "We still have Bar's Leaks the Monkey on board with us giving us good luck, so maybe we can put him in another winner's circle there."

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Contact: Will Hanna/ Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com