Michael Handras Wins Super Gas at New England Nationals — Adds Another Wally to the Collection
New England Nationals Super Gas Winner: Michael Handras
By: Michael Handras Racing (Photos Courtesy MHR)
Epping, NH — June 5, 2025 — Michael Handras showed up to New England Dragway last weekend with one goal — win a Wally in Super Gas. Mission accomplished. Handras drove his Super Gas Cavalier to the winner’s circle on Sunday night at the NHRA New England Nationals, adding another national event victory to his growing résumé.
No stranger to this track, Handras won the event last year in Super Comp, and nearly pulled off the Super Gas double before falling short in the semifinals. This year, he sealed the deal. “I came in really wanting this one in Super Gas after getting close last year,” Handras said. “To finally grab a Wally in this car, at this race — it means a lot to me and our team.” Thanks to rain, the entire race was compressed into a Sunday marathon — five fast rounds of racing where consistency was key. Handras’ worst light of the day was .022, and he made the most of a round two bye run to stay sharp before knocking out a stacked field. The tone was set in round three, where Handras pulled a .004 light against last year’s Super Gas winner Hank Smith — a matchup he’d been looking forward to since last season. “That round against Hank gave us a lot of confidence — the car was there, I was there on the tree,” Handras said. In the semis, Handras staged against former national champion Iggie Boicesco — a familiar rival who’s never an easy out. “That was a critical round,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of close ones over the years.” And in a fitting close to the event, the Super Gas final was the last pair of cars down the track — 8:50 p.m. under the lights — where Handras faced off with multi-time Division 1 winner Mac Starks and capped the day with the win light. “It’s cool to have won this race two years in a row now — in two different cars,” Handras added. “And this weekend always means a lot personally because it falls on my dad’s birthday.”
Sunday’s win marked Handras’ fourth national event victory overall — adding to his prior three Super Comp national wins, including last season’s win here at Epping and a Wally from the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. He credits team owner Duane Shields, who gave him the opportunity to race the Super Gas Cavalier starting in 2017, and the partners that help keep both his cars running at the front: Mickey Thompson Tires, VP Racing Fuels, Muscle Milk, Davis Race Engines, Right Trailers, and Competitive Suspension.
“These people and this team are why we’re out here winning,” Handras said. With his first Super Gas Wally now in hand, Handras turns his attention to the heart of the 2025 NHRA season — with plenty of momentum on his side.
About Michael Handras:
Michael Handras is an NHRA Sportsman racer competing in Super Gas and Super Comp, representing Division 1 and racing out of the Duane Shields Racing camp. A multi-time NHRA national event winner, Handras is one of the rising names in the Sportsman ranks, with Wallys in both Super Comp and Super Gas.
