2008 Buick GS Nationals In Beach Bend Raceway Park - 6 Seconds At The GS Nats!

Len Freeman of Gallina/Freeman Racing set a blistering quarter-mile pass of 6.984 at 197.22 mph to win the final round of the 2008 Big Gun Shootout in his twin turbo '87 Buick Grand National over Wayne Emmott's V-8. Legendary racer, tuner and engine builder Ken Duttweiler was on hand to assist Gallina/Freeman Racing in breaking into the 6s. Len said, "In May 2006, a partnership was formed by John and Marka Gallina and Len Freeman for the sole purpose of being the first Grand National in the 6s. With Ken Duttweiler on board we set out to build the highest horsepower twin-turbo V-6 possible."

Rainy weather allowed an early dinner cookout for racers in the pits on Thursday. Shown enjoying some mud bugs is Tim Banquer and Steven Bourqeois from Louisiana, Tony Gomes and Otto Pernek out of Connecticut, and Florida's Julio Don. Not shown, but lurking: Len Freeman, Dick Kereny, Billy Triantafillou, Dianna Lopez, and Jack "JD" DiLorenzo.

David Rowland of Macomb, MI had two of the highest wheel stands of the week--his rear bumper touched the pavement, and it dented the hood and cracked the front spoiler on the way down. After speaking to David, his exact words were "I Saw Elvis." David also experienced the oil filter seal popping out and spraying oil from the water box to the pre stage lights. David runs a 76 turbo, 270 inches, and Stage 2 heads and has gone 9.8 at 138 this year.

Greg Kirchner dominated Turbo Street Stock, and ran a 10.406 at 132.48 for the win. Mark Novak took Second.

Bracket 2 winner Joe Reif treed his opponent with his '87 Turbo T, and laid down an 11.18/111 versus Larry Bell's 10-second, '67 455 powered Corvair.

Check out this beautiful "Buford" owned by Jack Pendzimas. It is a '49 Olds Coupe with '50 Olds Trim. It has a stretched GN chassis--12 inches worth--and the Turbo V-6 and 200-4R tranny. Jack has driven this car on the 2002 and 2004 Hot Rod Power Tour. Engineered and built by Jack, it goes low 11s at 119 mph--and only because if he didn't slow at the top end, he'd have to install a 'cage!

Michael "Chris" Lyons, the '08 TSO Runner-Up, heating up his 1300HP '87 GN's tires. It has the factory interior and body with a 'glass hood and bumpers, and weighs 3,400 pounds. The 274 sports GN1 production style heads, a PTE88 turbo and Extreme Automatics intercooler, and a cam and tuning by Lonnie Diers. Gen 7 DFI is the brain, TRZ is the suspension, and Wilwood and QA1 coil overs brake and damp. He ran an 8.65 at 158!

2008 TSL Winner Willard Brown qualified number two with an 8.959 at 154.55, and Gary Harmon qualified number one with a 8.954 at 153.95!

Bob Frazee won Bracket 1 with a 10.182 at 130.09 mph in his '70 Buick V-8. Robert Wilson's '87 Turbo took second with 10.718 at 125.12 mph, but fouled as well.

Bracket 4 Winner William Page and his black '87 GN took on William Beatty's blue '87 Limited. Beatty's reaction time of minus .019 handed Page the title with a 12.766 at 106.57 mph run, while Beatty took runner-up with an ET of 13.237at 101.41 mph.

"JD" Jack DiLorenzo's '87 GNX took the Turbo Alcohol Injection class with an 11.553 at 118.62, while Jason Papageorge's '89 TTA got runner-up honors with a 12.244 at 110.88.

It's certainly no surprise that Red Armstrong prevailed in TSE with a 9.611 at 144.57. Scott Bolek fought hard for his second place with a 9.977 at 136.17.