Mission Accomplished: Westerfield Cracks TA/FC Top 10

Mission Accomplished: Westerfield Cracks TA/FC Top 10

In just his third year in Top Alcohol Funny Car, 25-year-old Shane Westerfield joined Frank Manzo, Tony Bartone, Mickey Ferro, and Jay Payne in the prestigious NHRA Top 10. Needing to advance deep into eliminations in his final start of 2012 to make it, Westerfield reached the semifinals at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., eliminating Bernie Harrington and Jirka Kaplan for his fourth semifinal appearance of the season.

"It was a weird race, but we got it done," said Westerfield, who defeated Kaplan in the second round in a tractionless free-for-all, 7.16 to 8.03. "I've never won a round like that in my life. The second time I pedaled, the back tires were a foot off the ground and the whole car was in the air."

Westerfield's CP-Carrillo team made the Top 10 with consistent performances all season, including a second career national event final-round appearance, at the Summer Nationals in Topeka, and at least a semifinal finish at half the races – four of eight at national events and two of four in regional competition. Westerfield's team, led by crew chief Bob DeVour, established a career-high in round-wins this year by going at least a couple of rounds at nine of 12 events, with no DNQs and an overall record of 14-12.

"Getting into the Top 10 was the whole goal at the beginning of the year," Westerfield said. "I won one round my first year in Alcohol Funny Car, seven rounds last year, and 14 this year. I really have to thank all the people who back this team – CP-

Carrillo, Fluid Sealing Products, American Real, Lucas Oil, A1 Technologies, Coeste Design, Goodyear, Mike Blake, and Juice Plus – and our whole crew: Bob, Dustin Yoho, Scott DeFransico, Jim DeFransico, my mom and dad, Tami DeVour, and my fiancé, Kayleigh. It was our best year ever, and it ended on a good note. We beat some great racers like Jay Payne, Doug Gordon, John Lombardo, and Clint Thompson for the first time ever this year and won a lot more rounds than in the first two years put together. We figured it would be a good year if we could get into the Top 10, and it's our best one ever."