Team Vortech Locks up yet Another NMRA EFI Renegade Championship
Oct 8, 2009
After a 3rd place 8.48 second qualifying effort behind fellow Team Vortech racers Larry Hourcle (8.32) and 3 time Renegade champ Brian Mitchell (8.43), Alton Clements cut through the quickest field in Renegade history to secure his #1st NMRA EFI Renegade championship.
Only 4 racers had a chance to secure the 2009 championship coming into the final event of the season. Of those 4, 3 were Team Vortech machines and Alton had to do the most work to bring it home.
In order for Alton to secure his championship, both Brian Mitchell and Bart Tobener needed to go out early in competition, which they did. Brian due to cracked block and Bart having been extremely ill all weekend beat himself on the starting in the 1st round.
That left 2 contenders for the ring: the nitrous powered car of points leader Dan Rawls and Team Vortech racer Alton Clements.
With Rawls having a couple of rounds worth of lead in the points, Alton really had his work cut out for him. He needed Rawls to go out in the 2nd round and even if that happened, Alton would still need to go all the way to the final and WIN the event to secure the championship. Well, the 2nd round found Alton lining up next to Rawls so Alton's championship dreams were in his own hands from here on out. He ended up putting Rawls on the trailer and then received a semi final round Bye into the final.
His Final round race wasn't going to be an easy one. While Alton was busy doing work on his side of the ladder, Team Vortech racer and defending Renegade Champ, Bob Cook, had been busy sawing through the opposite side of the ladder with serious success. Cooks path to the final round had him racing & defeating the #1 & #2 qualifiers only to face the #3 qualifier in the final.
The Final round was contested on Monday as rain had brought a stop to the racing on Sunday evening. When all was said and done the win light illuminated in favor of Alton Clements Jr, crowning him the 2009 NMRA EFI Renegade champion. Alton now finds himself in the company of fellow Vortech racers Bob Cook and Sutton Hi Performance, Brian Mitchell 3X, and Team Swill.
Congratulations to Alton Jr and Sr on their amazing 2009 season and Randy, Jerry, and the whole Sutton Hi Performance crew for their 2nd consecutive Ren championship.
