Rachel Meyer led the Randy Meyer Racing Team with the top qualifying position and semifinal appearance in her NTK Sensors Top Alcohol Dragster at the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals this past weekend. RMR teammate Julie Nataas inked a quarterfinal appearance at the Norwalk,Ohio-based racetrack in her OTG Dragster.
After battling Mother Nature on several occasions throughout Friday and Saturday’s qualifying, both Randy Meyer Racing dragsters qualified in the top half of the Top Alcohol Dragster category, with Julie in the No. 6 position and Rachel taking the coveted No. 1 qualifier spot with a stout 5.236 ET at 279.56 mph.
In the first round, Rachel used an outstanding .018-second reaction time against Dan Dietrich to turn on the win light with a 5.314, 274.16 to Dietrich’s 5.429, 265.53; this was the first time the duo had ever raced in competition. Similarly in her matchup, Julie staged her dragster up against Mick Steele for the first time in an elimination round. Nataas had a slight advantage on the tree over Steele and never trailed for the win with a 5.341, 268.38 to Steele’s 5.366, 268.81.
Second round, Rachel’s beast was tuned up for a stellar run against John Paul Gutierrez. Gutierrez had a small starting line advantage over Rachel, but she quickly blazed by him in her Randy Meyer-tuned dragster and took the win with a 5.248, 269.46 to his 5.772, 207.27.
Julie had a second round matchup against Jackie Fricke and came into the round with a 3-0 advantage over Fricke. Nataas and Fricke left together on the starting line, but Julie was up in tire smoke just after the 60-foot mark with a too aggressive tune-up. Julie coasted to a 14.492, 52.86 while Fricke’s 5.294, 282.01 advanced to the semifinals.
In her semifinal matchup, Rachel faced Matt Cummings. Rachel had a record of 1 – 0 in eliminations prior to this round. She had the starting line advantage but clocked in with a solid 5.379, 268.12 with some unlit cylinders at the finish line. Cummings’ 5.269, 274.66 barely edged out Rachel to take the round win and the Norwalk Nationals event win.
The RMR Team will attend the Cavalcade of Stars Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event this upcoming weekend in Norwalk with Julie Nataas.
