Information And Photo By Jerome Murphy, Argus-Press Sports Writer

OWOSSO - Earlier this spring, drag racer Bill Reichert of Owosso carved out a spot in the record books in the National Hot Rod Association. Now 59 years old, and a 1969 graduate of Owosso High School, Reichert became the winningest Top Alcohol Dragster racer, in terms of rounds won, in NHRA history and now he's aiming to make more history by matching the record of five consecutive NHRA national titles in Top Alcohol Dragster. This record was first accomplished by now-retired Top Alcohol drag racer, Rick Santos, who scored five consecutive championships from 1997-2001.

Bill Reichert has won four straight national titles in Top Alcohol Dragster and is in excellent position win a fifth straight title as he is currently in first place in the national standings with 532 points after his recent win at Norwalk, Ohio. Duane Shields is in second, trailing Reichert by 23 points at 509.

"It's been done before (five consecutive championships) but that's the highest anybody's ever gone in my class," Reichert said. "However, this is pretty early, as we've got 17 races on the schedule and we've only run five of them." The last race is the World Finals in November. "We're doing fine so far," Reichert said. "This time last year, we were farther back because we got a little bit later start than some of the guys out west or down south. They get to run earlier than we do."

Reichert simply loves to compete and win. "As long as I've driven that thing, and as many laps as I've had, it still surprises me how much power it actually has," Reichert said. "It does weird things once in a while, however. At my first race this year in Florida, I stepped on the gas and it instantly smoked the tires. My first thought was, 'How can I still win this race?' The other guy was having trouble too, so I pulled real hard on the brake to get the tires stopped spinning and stomped on the gas. When I stomped on the gas, it actually threw me back in the seat far enough to where I let off on the gas. I stepped on it again and I never remember it jerking that hard. It's just amazing how much power it's got."

However, nothing beats the feeling of winning in the finals. "I just love to win," Reichert said. "It's a fun sport. We've set quite a few records here in the last few years. We're now the winningest Top Alcohol Dragster of all time - as far as how many rounds we have won. I think it's 253. Nobody else, not even Santos, won that many rounds."

Reichert's first win came at the national event in Houston. Next, he won a Division III rainout makeup race in Indianapolis May 23. Then, he won the class at Reading, PA Memorial Day weekend. He lost in the third round at a Division III race at Joliet, Ill. June 6. The weekend of June 12-13 at Joliet's NHRA national event, Reichert was eliminated in the second round. He was triumphant at Norwalk on June 27. Highlights of the Norwalk race will air on July 4 on ESPN 2 at 11 a.m. It's an hour-long show.

Bar's Leaks/Rislone is Reichert's main sponsor although he is also sponsored by Red Line Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Lane Automotive and Clevite bearings. Reichert currentl holds the NHRA records in Top Alcohol Dragster for both speed (284.75 miles per hour) and elapsed time (5.103 seconds). Says Reichert, "The records are tough anymore because mine were set when we could run a larger percentage of nitro. The rules have since changed so it's really hard to go that fast. My records may last forever!"