Chua, Millet upset race favorites

VETERAN Sheldon Chua and Arvin Jay Millet of TEMZ stole the spotlight from the Jonathan Tiu- Martin Manalo rivalry as they ruled separate classes recently in the second leg of the National Drag Racing Championship Southern Series at Batangas Racing Circuit.

Chua emerged the Quick 8 champion while the 22-year-old Millet captured his second M&H Pro class crown this season.

Tiu’s title quests ended in an unusual back-to-back setback after losing to the American V8 muscle cars in the last race at Clark.

Manalo scored a big one as he knocked off Tiu from the finals picture in both classes to secure title showdowns with both Chua and Millet.

Unfortunately, Manalo’s hopes of sweeping both the Quick 8 and M&H Pro plums were spoiled by car problems.

Chua waylaid Jonathan Young in the semifinals and completed the quarter-mile run in 11.133 seconds in the final race to clinch the Quick 8 crown over Manalo (20.132 seconds).

Millet also turned back Young in the semifinals to make the finals against Manalo for the M&H Pro title.  Millet took the plum, his second after a similar  win in the Northern Series.