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Compton, Liquid Voodoo earn first Top Fuel Hydro title at Lucas Oil Diamond Drag Boat Nationals

By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- Scott Compton failed to back up his world-record leg and wasn't the least bit disappointed. Getting to the finish line first was all that mattered on Sunday at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Compton, piloting Liquid Voodoo, defeated teammate and reigning Top Fuel Hydro champion Bryan Sanders in Nitrochondriac, in the finals of the 7th annual Diamond Drag Boat Nationals before a large crowd.

PHOTO: Scott Compton in Liquid Voodoo captured his first career Top Hydro victory on Sunday at the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals--CREDIT: Kenny Shaw photo

Shortly after finishing the run, celebration was under way for Compton, a second-year Top Fuel Hydro driver from O'Fallon, Ill., and for the entire Liquid Voodoo team. The boat is owned by Scott Palmer of Cassville, Mo., and drag-boat racing legend Tommy Thompson from Locust Grove, Okla.

"Records are cool, but getting that first win was what mattered," Compton said after an elapsed time of 3.5224 seconds and speed of 252.5205 miles-per-hour in the finals on Lake Lucas.

Both Compton and Sanders had a leg on the world record after posting 270 mile-per-hour qualifying runs earlier in the weekend. Sanders, of Houston, Texas, shut down early in the final with a mechanical issue.

The Liquid Voodoo team's improvement has been notable in 2017. Fourth in points coming to the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals but with momentum of two straight finals appearances, this was Compton's time to break through.

Compton was hired to drive the boat in 2016 after Palmer, an NHRA Top Fuel racer, got into the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series as an owner. Palmer is having a career year of his own in the NHRA Top Fuel division and is competing at this weekend's U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

"That felt awesome. I can't say enough about this team," Compton said after his run. "This boat is flying. We're doing consistent numbers. I am so pumped up.

"With our teammate Bryan and Nitrochondriac helping us so much, and running against us side-by-side in our first win, it's bittersweet. But man, I'm stoked."

There was a world record set in the Top Alcohol Flat division. Tony Scarlata of Perris, Calif., driving the Thompson-owned Shazam, went 5.019 at 169.1554 mph to set records for both elapsed time and speed. Scarlata defeated Bill Diez in War Party.

Meanwhile, Shelby Ebert of Wamego, Kan., captured her first Pro Mod title in Can't Touch This. Ebert defeated Bill Weir in Alkahaulic Behavior in the finals with a 7.0398 ET at 180.7051 miles per hour. Weir, in a close race, ran a 7.0574 at 173.421 miles per hour.

"I'm so glad that I could win my home race where my friends and family could be here and my fiancee could be here," Ebert said. "I've been watching these Pro Mod guys since I was tiny and I always dreamed of going Pro Mod racing. To be standing up here accepting a Pro Modified trophy is surreal."

The Top Alcohol Hydro championship went to Travis Tutle of Rio Vista, Texas, in Short Fuse. Tutle charged over Lake Lucas at 201.1197 miles per hour with an elapsed time of 4.4617.

Cole Allen of Fort Smith, Ark., driving Desperado, defeated Shannon Beal in Split Decision 2 for the Pro Outlaw title. Allen went 176.1799 miles per hour with a 5.4421 elapsed time.

Lucas Oil Diamond Drag Boat Nationals

Championship-round results

Top Fuel Hydro
Scott Compton, O'Fallon, Ill. (Liquid Voodoo) 2.5224 ET, 252.5205 mph, def. Bryan Sanders, Houston, Texas (Nitrochondriac), DNF

Top Alcohol Hydro
Travis Tutle, Rio Vista, Texas (Short Fuse) 4.4617, 201.1197 mph, def. Rick Allen, Fort Smith, Ark. (Little White Lie), DNF

Top Alcohol Flat
Tony Scarlata, Perris, Calif. (Shazam) 5.0190 def. Dill Diez, Bullhead City, Ariz. (War Party), 5.533, 147.7383 mph

Pro Mod
Shelby Ebert, Wamego, Kan. (Can't Touch This) 7.0393, 180.7051 mph def. Bill Weir, Marble Falls, Texas (Alkahaulic Behavior) 7.0574, 173.4210 mph

Pro Outlaw
Cole Allen, Fort Smith, Ark. (Desperado) 5.4421, 176.1799 def. Shannon Beal, Paradise, Texas (Split Decision 2) 5.5578, 165.4219 mph

Pro Eliminator
Jeff Schaller, Quincy, Ill. (Motorvation) 8.0090, 149.8793 mph def. David Schmidt, Smithton, Ill. (Just Another Quickie) 8.0534, 139.5389 mph

Quick Eliminator
Don Gordy, Sweetwater, Texas (Miss Marilyn) 6.1438, 124.6450 mph def. Ronnie Smith, Central City, Kentucky (Fish Killer) 6.0645, 138.8801 mph

Top Eliminator
G.W. Goff, Catoosa, Okla. (Electro Freeze Expre) 9.0734, 106.2615 mph def. Kelvin Perkins, Russellville, Kentucky (Blown Money) 9.1620, 130.6921

Modified Eliminator
Tim Walton, Odessa, Texas (Pay N Hooky II) 10.0018, 97.8617 mph def. Brian Falk, Garden Plain, Kan., 10.1442, 103.6927

Stock Eliminator
Paul Hodges, Lubbock, Texas (Banana Spit) 11.0308, 88.8968 mph def. Hardy Cole, Joplin, Mo. (Nuby Ripples) 10.9945, 102.7331 mph
River Racer
Denise Hodges, Emporia, Kan. (Aquatic Therapy) 12.1478, 86.0148 mph def. Ronald Jones, Lubbock, Texas (White Trash) 12.4789, 80.9159 mph

Personal Watercraft
Cade Janecek, Wylie, Texas (All Or Nothing) 17.4560, 54.4842 mph def. Taylor Travis, New Castle, Okla. (Blaze Runner) 16.5872, 56.0119 mph

For information on the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series, including archived stories, past results, point standings and the schedule log onto http://www.lucasoildragboats.com.

For ticket information for any event at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.

For complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived stories, ticket info and schedules, visit http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Click http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at http://www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on http://www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway.

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