Sunday at Pacific Raceways set the stage for fantastic racing across all of the classes, and five-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world champion Justin Lamb woke up with two chances at victory at the 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. In the end, Lamb scored the Wally in Super Stock behind the wheel of Larry Stone’s RAD Torque Systems COPO Camaro, locking down national event win No. 33 in a career 51st final round.
“This is an awesome car, but it’s been a huge challenge over the last couple of years. We’ve won with it at the division level, but I really wanted to win with this car at a national event. To finally do that is a really big deal to me,” said Lamb, who drove the eye-catching orange, black, and white COPO to the final at the Las Vegas national event earlier this year, then scored a victory with it at the division race the following weekend.
“I’ve been trying so hard,” he continued. “I don’t really get excited too often, but I was very excited to win in this car.”
The road to the final
Racing in the SS/AS class, Lamb qualified the RAD Torque Systems COPO Super Stocker in the No. 3 position with an 8.656 that was -.944 under the index. FSS/B Mustang campaigner Larry McLanahan left with an .025 reaction and clocked an 8.355 (8.43) in the first round, and Lamb penciled in a .033-second reaction time and 8.588 on his 8.61 target for the win. Round two was a meeting with Kathy Poitra and the Cal Method Racing Enterprises GT/MA Chevrolet, and there Lamb was .034 at the hit and 8.662 on an 8.61 to get the nod over Poitra’s .110 start and 10.786 (10.77). With that win light came a quarterfinals bye run, and thusly Lamb was assured a semifinals or better finish for the weekend. Without question, he intended to settle for no less than a win, which would count as his third in Northwest Nationals competition.
In Stock, Lamb claimed victories over Gary Lucier, Chris Hall, and reigning Comp champion Cody Lane before cutting a .018 light but taking a touch too much stripe in the semifinals next to eventual event winner Cal Method.
Back on the Super Stock road to victory, Lamb launched with a polished .012 in his quarterfinals bye and powered to a 9.031 to set up for a semifinals match with John Coughlin. Another steady-handed reaction (.019) and an 8.650 on his 8.61 sent Lamb ahead to the final, shutting out Coughlin’s .023 and 9.010 (8.96).
Expect the unexpected
Lamb was set to square off with No. 2 qualifier and first-time finalist Troy Olsonawski, who had been doing well going rounds but wrestling with the tree in his burly SS/OA ’66 Malibu wagon. Lamb had been managing both ends of the track well all weekend long, but what happened in the final was a reminder that even experience and strong early performance can be negated in a split second. Dialed 11.69 for the final, Olsonawski’s side of the tree came down well before that of Lamb, who was still aiming at an 8.61. While the gap would not normally be hugely challenging for Lamb, this time he found himself a bit off his game.
“It’s a big spot, and I watched him do a giant wheelie and come bouncing down. I thought, that can’t be normal, he must have lifted. I hesitated on the tree and didn’t hit it as good as I should have,” said Lamb, who recorded an uncharacteristic .070 light. The margin of victory in Lamb’s favor was a super slim .008-second that left Lamb feeling a bit stung.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve done something like that, and damn sure not in a national event final,” he continued. “It just really goofed me up, and that’s not the way I want to win.”
That being said, the win light flashing in Lamb’s lane was a tremendous relief after coming up short in this particular car too many times before, and often due simply to a bit of bad luck. Fortune turned his way in Seattle, and the timing couldn’t have been better with Dan Provost from RAD Torque Systems on the property with partner Tammy.
“Having Dan and Tammy support our racing is a huge deal, but what Dan has gone through after a recent accident made this really meaningful for me,” said Lamb. “I wasn’t sure he would be here, so to see him come walking up and to be able to stand next to him in the winner’s circle was really special. I appreciate everything Dan and Tammy and everyone at RAD Torque Systems does for me, but just to see him up and around and doing well was the best part.”
On to the next
The next race is just days away, and it takes place at Sonoma Raceway – a facility where Lamb has won the national event six times (2 in Super Comp, 4 in Super Stock) in 10 final rounds. The only racetrack where Lamb has won more is his home track, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he’s notched nine national event titles as well as bracket race wins and divisional triumphs.
Racing in Sonoma is particularly special to Lamb as it conjures memories of competing alongside good friend Kyle Seipel, who lost his battle with cancer on June 21, 2021 at the age of 50.
“This was Kyle’s track, and it’s my favorite track by far,” said Lamb, who is traveling the Western Swing with wife Jeanine and kids Jayce and Jovi. “We have beautiful weather there, it’s a super pretty environment, and it’s just a cool place, everything about it. Kyle and I raced there a lot together, so it’s meaningful to me every single time we go back.
“It’s also a home race for Larry Stone, who owns the Super Stocker, so he gets to come. I’m looking forward to getting to race with him there, now that the monkey is off our backs and we finally won a national event with this car. It’s going to be a great weekend. My favorite thing every summer is racing at Sonoma, and I’m absolutely looking forward to it.”
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