Summit Racing Equipment Racing Series ET Finals
Pacific Division – Division 7
Firebird Raceway – Chandler, AZ
October 2-5, 2025

2025 NHRA Pacific Division 7 Summit ET Finals

The NHRA Pacific Division Summit ET finals were held October 2nd-5th, 2025 at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Arizona.

The first race began on Thursday, with the motorcycle-only “Jackpot” race, and finished on Friday, October 3rd. Going into the round 5 final were local rider Sean Phipps, Mesa, AZ and Dave “Wheels” Wheeler from Murray, UT. Phipps had a .001 reaction time to Wheeler’s .012. Phipps ran 9.379 at 129.47mph on the 9.36 dial-in time. Wheeler ran a 9.049 at 142.16mph on the 8.99 dial.

RACE OF CHAMPIONS

The “Race of Champions” were also held on Friday. This year, only one competitor from each track was able to represent. Six champions showed up to race each other. In the first round, Matthew Fredericks, Tooele, UT, representing Las Vegas Motor Speedway, took on David Ochoa, Tulare, CA, representing Famoso (Bakersfield), and had a great race. Fredericks had a .002 reaction to Ochoa’s .012 with Ochoa running dead on with an 8.589 at 155.20mph on the 8.58. But it wasn’t enough as Fredericks ran 9.055 at 137.92mph on his 9.04.

Sean Phipps, representing Firebird, had an unusually rare bad light of .266, but overcame that to win over Donald Palmer, Fallon, NV, representing Top Gun, who had a .166 reaction. Phipps ran 9.459 at 120.65mph (9.40) with the slowing run of 10.163 at 135.58 (9.86) of Palmer.

The last pair was over quickly, with Dan Schneider, Erie, CO, representing Tucson Dragway, who won by a redlight by Steve Puleo, San Diego, CA, representing Barona Drag Strip.
The semifinal saw Sean Phipps beat Dan Schneider, who broke out at .166 on his 9.79 dial, running 9.752 at 135.78mph. Phipps ran a 9.428 at 127.26mph on the 9.38 with a .058 reaction.

In the final, Matt Fredericks won over Sean Phipps in a double-breakout race. Phipps had the better reaction (.016 vs .021) but broke out worse with a 9.357 at 135.70mph on his 9.37 dial. Fredericks ran a 9.024 on his 9.03.

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TEAM RACE

Saturday, October 4th, was the all-run team event. 50 bikes were entered. Sean Phipps had the best light of the round with a .007 and two riders right on their dials with 3’s, Dan Schneider and Andrew Manning, Montrose, CA.

In the second round, again Dan Schneider ran right on his dial with a two this time (9.732), and Mark Avila, Fresno, CA, had the best light of the round at .011.

Third round had Matt Fredericks running right on (8.984) but lost on a wholeshot to Justin Woolison (.058 vs .085). The best light was Dan Schneider with a .009.

In the quarterfinals, Matt Bluett, Chandler, AZ, beat Paul Silvas, Bakersfield, CA, with a reaction time advantage of .043 vs .107, running 9.769 at 125.92 (9.72), with Silvas running dead on with an 8.589 at 153.91mph.

Justin Woolison, Tucson, AZ won over Mark Avila when he redlighted -.119. Woolison ran it out to 9.136 at 143.06mph on the 9.11 dial. Dan Schneider had the bye run with a 9.696 at 137.18mph on the 9.71 dial.

In the semifinals, Dan Schneider took out Matt Bluett with a 9.706 at 136.57 (9.69 dial) to Bluett’s 9.733 at 132.82mph (9.72 dial) with Schneider getting the reaction time advantage .042 to .073.

 

Justin Woolison had the bye run of 9.129 at 142.32 on the 9.11.

In the final, Dan Schneider had a .000 perfect light vs Justin Woolison’s .067, but Woolison made it close, running dead on 9.123 at 141.73mph to Schneider’s 9.725 at 136.91mph on the 9.69. Daniel wins his second “Wally” in a row with last year winning the 2024 Summit Showdown.

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SUMMIT SHOWDOWN

Sunday, October 5th. This years “Summit Showdown” again has the winner going to the Summit ET national finals in Las Vegas. This year 21 bikes would qualify to compete for the “Wally”.

First Round Winners

Dave Wheeler over Jon Gray, Ramona, CA
Tom Patterson, Tucson, AZ over Terry Turner, Bakersfield, CA
Matthew Fredericks over Matt Bluett
Sean Phipps over Mark Avila
Justin Woolison over Paul Silvas
David Herman over Kip McClain, Hesperia, CA
Patty Bluett, Chandler, AZ over David Oller, Tucson, AZ
Jeremy Bates, Vineyard, UT over Manny Taylor, Bakersfield, CA
John Coburn, Mesa, AZ over David Ochoa
Dan Schneider over Donald Palmer
Steve Puleo bye run.

Second Round

David Herman won a double breakout race against Steve Puleo. Herman ran a 9.464 at 140.78mph on the 9.49 dial and a .012 reaction time. Puleo ran a 10.184 at 128.57mph on the 10.37 with a .032 light.

Patty Bluett beat Justin Woolison with a bit of advantage on the start (.036 vs .046) running a 10.771@118.31mph on her 10.76 dial in time. Woolison ran 9.204 at 138.97mph on the 9.15.

Matthew Fredericks ran closer on is dial to eliminate the reaction time advantage of Sean Phipps (.011 to .027) running a 9.018 at 136.84mph on the 9.00 dial. Phipps ran 9.362 at 141.24mph on the 9.31 dial in time.

David Wheeler beat Tom Patterson when Patterson had problems and had to slow. Wheeler ran 9.124 at 121.28mph slowing himself from the 8.90.

Jeremy Bates won over Dan Schneider who broke out. Bates had a better reaction time (.018 vs .041) and ran 8.98 at 141.40mph (8.96). Schneider ran 9.718 at 135.46mph (9.73).

John Coburn had the bye and shut off early after a .028 reaction.

Semi-finals

Jeremy Bates had a .008 light to Patty Bluett’s .034 to take the win. Bates ran 8.931 at 139.00mph on the 8.92. Bluett ran dead on with a 10.768 at 120.85mph.
Matthew Fredericks had the bye run into the final and hit a .004 reaction and ran it out to test his 9.01 dial in by running 8.982 at 142.48mph

Final

In the final it was two riders from Utah representing The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. They both broke out but Bates was closer to the dial (8.90) running 8.889 at 142.40mph with a .028 reaction to Fredericks 8.961 at 143.26mph on the 8.98 dial with a .044 reaction time.

Quote from Jeremy Bates

“Back in 2022, when I was lucky enough to win the Div7 Lucas Oil Championship, we joked that they know this hillbilly from Utah now. You know my name, I would say under my breath. I’ve always tried to race with the appreciation that sometimes it’s your day, most of the time it’s not, and you can be beaten by anyone, any time, any day. I still race by that philosophy to this day, but YKMN.

Getting to play on the big stage, in front of a national crowd was a dream of a lifetime. I was lucky enough to crew for D7 last year, and this year, got to take the driver’s seat. The support I received from so many people is nothing short of phenomenal. So many messages and then while I was at the track, you all made me feel like a celebrity. I love you all, especially those who were there in person to support me. I caught myself a few times having to just walk away and absorb the experience because it can get overwhelming. I hope to be able to do it again, but I recognize this was my shot, and it’s not an easy one to get to, ever.

I wasn’t able to do much damage this year. I’ve struggled over the last few months with a Jekyll/Hyde split personality with my bike, and if you don’t dial for the right personality, you can get left in the dark. Unfortunately, I left too much on the table and the eventual motorcycle winner [Michael Schmalle] kicked my butt. All the bike racers that showed up represented their Divisions well, kudos to those that made the long drive out to Vegas. Great job, Michael, on your World Championship! Long live the no-bar bikes!

Laura, I keep saying it, and thank you for letting me live this dream. You are the most understanding and loving person I know, and your support is more than I deserve.
Thank you, Dan and Jacob, for your help this year. We made a good team!

Thank you to the partners who help us:
Tim Hays – Hays Machine Works
Clifford Lineberry – Elite Custom Machine – Swingarms
Dave Wheeler – SCR Specialized chimney repair
Dave Conforti – World Wide Bearings
Jeff Swain – Armor Coatings
Charles Sturdevant – Jake’s Auto & Truck Repair
Justin Vincent – Fix Auto Body Repair
Jessica Farrar – Dead Center Designs
Steven Macklyn – B&J Racing Transmissions
Bob Johnson – Bob Johnson Photography”

Thanks to all for a great 2025. See you soon for 2026!
– Kirk Walton NHRA SMC #7151