Auger and Cotton Earn Dodge Top Finisher Rewards

A wide variety of both classic and late-model Mopar_® Sportsman vehicles took part in the NHRA New England Nationals, representing both the East and West Coast and Canada.

Two competitors in the Stock Eliminator category went into Sunday’s quarterfinal rounds, with Thomas Auger of Wales, Maine, advancing to the final in his H/SA 1963 Dodge 330 powered by a 383-cubic-inch engine. He red-lighted in his final-round matchup, but turned in a pass of 11.249 seconds at 116.57 mph on an 11.30-second dial-in. Auger raced in the early 1970s, but took a 38-year break before returning to the track.

In Super Stock, Mike Cotten of Cave Creek, Arizona, took his GT/JA 1970 Plymouth Barracuda to the third round where he made a pass of 9.905 at 128.13 on a 9.90 dial-in. His reaction time was .036, but his opponent, eventual event winner Byron Worner, was nearly perfect off the line. Cotten still was the best performing Mopar driver in the category throughout the weekend.

Auger and Cotten each were awarded the Dodge Top Finisher of the New England Nationals. The program, in place at all 24 NHRA national events, provides $500 to the driver who advances the farthest in a Dodge or Plymouth vehicle in both Stock and Super Stock.