Budds Creek, Md. (August 9) - Carl Baker won the 22nd
Annual Mountain Motor Nationals Pro Stock race at Maryland International
Raceway Wednesday night. He defeated fellow Ford racer Tom Lee in the
final on a holeshot, 6.75, 204 to 6.70, 206. Already delayed two weeks
due to a rainout on its original date, the event again was held up due
to a steady rain that fell until approximately 7:30 P.M. The MIR track
crew then sprung into action, drying and spraying the track in time to
start racing at about 9:00 P.M.
The crowds were not SRO, but were respectable, considering the
circumstances. Due to the compressed schedule, however, Royce Miller
made the decision to convert the program to a Chicago Style shootout.
There would be two rounds of "races," from which the two
quickest ETs would return for the final.
Tom Lee’s Autolite Ford Mustang and Carl Baker’s Summit Racing
Ford Thunderbird proved to be the two quickest cars. Lee ran a best of
6.700 seconds in the first round, and Baker ran 6.708 seconds in the
second round. The Chevys of John Montecalvo, Wally Stroupe, and Steve
Spiess all ran in the 6.70 zone, but did not make the final cut. In the
final, Baker grabbed a .451 to .519 reaction time advantage at the tree,
then held on to defeat Lee’s beautiful peach colored machine, 6.753,
204.91 to 6.708, 206.99 pass. Lee has Low ET and Top Speed at
6.700/206.99.
MIR’s Frantic Four cars were flying, but only got to the
semifinals. Tommy Howes is coming back around. He ran two 6.60s at 210,
but became crossed up in the semi and lost to a Marc Hayes’ 6.92.
Billy Farmer's nitrous '63 Vette kept on rolling, with a 6.67, 207 first
round win and a 6.64, 210 semifinal round win. There was no final due to
the curfew.
In a special ceremony, announcer Bill Pratt presented Maria English
with a plaque commemorating the contributions of the late Raymond
"Ray-Ray" English to the sport of drag racing. Twenty-two
years ago, as MIR track manager, Raymond English named the Mountain
Motor Nationals – and in doing so, named an entire category of race
car. English died in March and it was the first time that his wife had
been able to attend a drag race since then.
Maryland International Raceway was sporting an entirely new surface,
recently applied by Beltway Paving. Professional and bracket drag
racers alike enjoyed the smooth, new surface.
Complete results to follow at http://www.draglist.com on 8/11,
including dozens of photos.
Bill Pratt
