Battling the Heat
 
Mopar Canadian Nationals qualifying fields set in sizzling conditions at Grand Bend
 
By Mike Perry / IHRA.com
 
Steve Spiess and Ontario resident Rob Atchison headlined the #1 qualifiers at the Mopar Canadian Nationals Saturday in Grand Bend, but the mid-summer weather conditions were the big story on the shores of Lake Huron.
 
With the temperature hovering near the 100 degree mark and humidity at 70%, with over 20,000 fans in the stands, the drivers had to fight through the most brutal weather conditions they have seen this 2005 IHRA season.
 
Steve Spiess (Manhattan, Ill) set the Torco Pro Stock track speed record with a 214.24 mph pass, but it was only good enough to secure the #2 qualifying spot as Robert Patrick (6.506/213.54) posted a better ET. Patrick, from Fredericksburg, VA, claimed the top qualifying position for the third time in four races this season.
 
Daniel Seamon (Bellvue, OH), Richard Penland (Gastonia, NC) and Dewayne Rice (Grove City, OH) saved their best for last as the three jumped into the field in their final qualifying attempt.
 
In the sweltering heat and high humidity, Patrick wanted to make sure he put together a decent run during the day before he went for the top slot when the sun started going down.
 
"When it is that hot and the track temperature is 140 degrees you just want to make sure you get down," Patrick said. "It cooled off to about 100 tonight so we got after it a little bit. We were going for the pole. We were either not going to get down or were going to be on the pole."

In front of his home crowd, London, Ontario resident Rob Atchison claimed the #1 qualifying spot in Funny Car. Atchison's 5.844/238.98 barely topped Holbrook, Mass. Resident Fred Tigges, who posted a 5.887 with a faster 240.08 mph.

"It is great to come home," Atchison said. "We have a lot of our fans and sponsors here. You generate your own pressure because I have a lot of people here and want to do well in front of the hometown fans. But there is not any more pressure race to race because I want to win them all."
 
Chris Foster (Davenport, IA) rounded out the top three Funny Car qualifiers with a 5.927/237.13. Mark Thomas (Louisville, OH), Larry Dobbs (Wellend, ONT), Thomas Carter (Cuero, TX) and Terry McMillen (Elkhart, IN) completed the Funny Car field.
 
Shannon Jenkins (Tuscaloosa, AL) paced the Torco Pro Modified qualifying field as he laid down a 6.191 pass at 227.11 mph. The big mover of the final qualifying session was Al Billes, who went from the bottom of the unqualified drivers to the #2 position when he tripped the beams in 6.240. Canadian Carl Spiering claimed the #3 position with a 6.248 pass at 228.96 mph.
 
Clay Millican (Drummonds, TN), the current Top Fuel points leader, was the pole-sitter after the final Top Fuel qualifying session. Millican's Friday evening 4.748 pass stood up after the evening session while Doug Foley (Sewell, NJ) laid claim to the #2 post at 4.779. Louis Allison (Denver, CO) came from outside the field to the #3 position with his Saturday evening 4.809 pass. Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, IN), Chris Karamasenis (Chicago, IL), Rick Cooper (Boise, ID), Todd Paton (Paris, Ont) and Paul Athey (Uncasville, CT) rounded out the Top Fuel qualifying field.

GRAND BEND, Ont. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Sixth annual Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol at Grand Bend Motorplex, the fourth of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
 
Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 4.748 seconds, 295.53 mph vs. 8. Paul Athey, 5.086, 288.39; 2. Doug Foley, 4.779, 300.20 vs. 7. Todd Paton, 5.035, 255.97; 3. Louie Allison, 4.809, 291.76 vs. 6. Rick Cooper, 5.017, 294.31; 4. Bruce Litton, 4.909, 294.50 vs. 5. Chris Karamesines, 4.983, 259.71.
 
Pro Modified -- 1. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.191, 227.11 vs. 16. Charles Carpenter, Chevy Bel Air, 6.374, 221.74; 2. Al Billes, Dodge Stratus, 6.240, 231.28 vs. 15. Eddie Ware, Willys, 6.370, 222.88; 3. Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.248, 228.96 vs. 14. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.370, 225.97; 4. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.267, 225.60 vs. 13. Tony Pontieri, Camaro, 6.354, 223.06; 5. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.269, 226.96 vs. 12. Mike Janis, Stratus, 6.342, 226.39; 6. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.277, 222.69 vs. 11. Keith Baker, Corvette, 6.328, 221.49; 7. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.286, 226.35 vs. 10. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.326, 224.14; 8. Rick DiStefano, Corvette, 6.301, 225.22 vs. 9. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.309, 220.91.
 
Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.844, 239.02 vs. 8. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 6.089, 230.02; 2. Frederick Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 5.887, 240.55 vs. 7. Thomas Carter, Camaro, 5.990, 237.05; 3. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.927, 237.13 vs. 6. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.969, 232.87; 4. Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.929, 239.40 vs. 5. Mark Thomas, Avenger, 5.943, 239.48.
 
Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 6.506, 213.54 vs. 16. Dwayne Rice, Chevy Cobalt, 6.672, 208.14; 2. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.508, 214.83 vs. 15. Ed Machacek, Chevy Cavalier, 6.664, 209.88; 3. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.515, 213.27 vs. 14. Daniel Seamon, Ford Escort, 6.639, 212.03; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.526, 213.00 vs. 13. Richard Penland, Cobra, 6.634, 209.14; 5. Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.527, 212.90 vs. 12. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.602, 210.60; 6. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 6.536, 213.67 vs. 11. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 6.598, 210.05; 7. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.545, 213.98 vs. 10. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.575, 211.73; 8. Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.563, 212.43 vs. 9. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.564, 212.36.