Millican Takes Fourth Consecutive Top Fuel Victory
At IHRA Mopar Parts World Nationals
By Summit FastNews
NORWALK, Ohio - Clay Millican continued his march towards the IHRA Summit Top Fuel World Championship with his fourth consecutive victory at the Mopar Parts World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs! at Norwalk Raceway Park. Other professional winners include Fred Hahn (Mopar Performance Pro Modified), Mark Thomas (Funny Car), Steve Stordeur (Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson), and Gene Wilson (Sunoco Pro Stock).
Millican, 35, of Drummonds, Tenn., defeated veteran Jim Head of Columbus, Ohio, for the second consecutive time this season. The two drivers were side-by-side throughout most of the quarter-mile. The Werner Enterprises-sponsored driver pulled ahead at the finish and posted a 4.652/320.13 to Head's losing 4.751/310.98.
Having a team gel can lead to great results, just ask Millican.
"This team has gelled so much," explained Millican. "We are always on the same page and it shows in our performance. It is truly unbelievable what my crew's doing with this car. We had three weeks to get ready for this race and I bet our guys took this car apart several times a week to check for the silly stuff that could bite us."
Millican earned his win from the top qualifying position and by stopping Steve Smith and Jim Bailey.
Millican established a new elapsed time record during qualifying with a 4.631 and backed it up during the final round.
Millican holds a commanding lead in his quest for the $200,000 IHRA Top Fuel championship purse.
Stordeur, 45, of Goshen, Ohio, returned to the site of his 1997 exhibition victory which led to the inception of the Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson class. In a rematch of the Northern Nationals final round that was completed on Saturday evening, Stordeur reversed the outcome by posting a 6.438 elapsed time at 213.20 mph.
The final round of the CARQUEST Northern Nationals had been postponed until this weekend's event. Price captured his second career Northern Nationals crown over Stordeur.
"We set the record for the quickest elapsed time at this track," explained Stordeur, who rides John Mancuso's second team bike. "I wanted to get even with Ray on Sunday, for beating me on Saturday. I really didn't think that much about it, but it was in the back of my mind. It felt good to win."
The 48-year old Fred Hahn, of Elma, N.Y., took no prisoners in Jim Oddy's 2001 Corvette as he wheeled the Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored to his first victory in his championship defense season. The long dry spell was quenched as Hahn defeated points leader, Mike Janis, of Lancaster, N.Y., in the final round.
The victory was a fitting rebound from last year's DNQ.
"We had it set in our minds that we were going to come in here and do what it took to win this race," explained Hahn. "This is home turf for Summit and Carl Baker had done well, so we had to pull our share of the load. There was a lot of hard work and determination on the behalf of Jim Oddy and his two sons Dave and Dan that made this win possible. Even our ladies worked hard. They always work hard and don't get the recognition they deserve. This was a team effort."
Hahn entered eliminations as the sixth qualifier and defeated Mike Castellana, Shannon Jenkins and Rickie Smith to reach the final round.
Mark Thomas, 41, of Louisville, Ohio, didn't let a series of disagreements with crew chief Jim Lape injure their working relationship, and as a result took out his aggressions on the competition. He simply went out and nailed down the top spot as he fended off all challenges en route to taking out Northern Nationals champion Jimmy Rector in the final round.
Thomas let his intentions be known off of the starting line with a .426 reaction time and never looked back as he posted a 5.966 elapsed time at 235.97 mph. Rector fell short with his valiant charge of 5.903/233.92.
"We always had what we felt was the Norwalk jinx and the more we asked around of our competitors, the more realized it was not isolated when it comes to home tracks," explained Thomas. "Jim and I have butted heads pretty hard this year. We came in on Wednesday and sat down and talked. We made our objective to win and we saw to it that it happened."
Gene Wilson, of Canton, Ga., blasted out his fourth national event win of the season in the Sunoco Pro Stock division. The 27-year-old, points leader was up to his championship securing antics as he knocked off Carl Baker in the Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored Cougar. On Saturday evening, Baker pocketed $20,000 for winning the Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock Shootout.
"I feel extremely lucky to be here again today," explained Wilson. "I can't say enough about my team. These guys work all during the week to give me the best car on the race track every week."
The next race on the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series is the Amalie Oil North American Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire, September 7-9.
NORWALK, Ohio -- Sunday's final results from the 24th annual MOPAR Parts World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs at Norwalk Raceway Park. The $1.6 million race is the seventh of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.652 seconds, 320.13 mph def. Jim Head, 4.751 seconds, 310.98 mph.
Funny Car -- Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.966, 235.97 def. Jimmy Rector, Chevy Camaro, 5.903, 233.92.
Mopar Pro Modified -- Fred Hahn, Chevy Corvette, 6.226, 227.50 def. Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.394, 222.73.
Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley -- Steve Stordeur, 6.438, 213.20 def. Ray Price, 6.845, 187.98.
Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock -- Gene Wilson, Mercury Cougar, 6.685, 208.20 def. Carl Baker, Cougar, 6.681, 208.04.
NOS Top Sportsman -- Jerry Albert, Camaro, 7.356, 190.03 def. Brian Tiffe, Lumina, 7.067, 184.37.
Annihilator Top Dragster -- Eric Boyd, 6.756, 201.49 def. Tony Karnik, 6.969, 186.95.
Hooker Modified -- Brian Seward, Dragster, 7.376, 171.08 def. Robert Staton, Dragster, 7.964, 166.89.
Dominator Quick Rod -- Mike Fuqua, Dragster, 8.901, 163.65 def. Scott Duggins, Dragster, 8.899, 153.37.
Holley Team G Super Rod -- Scott Vandewalker, Plymouth Arrow, 13.127, 137.33 def. Ed DeStaute, Chevy Vega, 9.868, 98.68.
Weiand Hot Rod -- Bitsy Satterly, Chevy Camaro, 10.914, 125.40 def. R.L. Koontz, Chevy Beretta, 10.876, 132.88.
Lunati Super Stock -- Anthony Bertozzi, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.501, 139.70 def. Robyn Running, Pontiac Firebird, 10.453, 127.25.
Earl's Stock -- John Lovins, Dodge Dakota, 12.296, 105.41 def. Gene Jordan, Chevy Camaro, 10.870, 117.41.
NORWALK, Ohio -- Final round-by-round results from the 24th annual MOPAR Parts World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs at Norwalk Raceway park, the seventh of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Jim Bailey, 4.864, 288.95 def. Bruce Litton, 10.496, 88.01; Jim Head, 4.874, 301.00 def. Louie Allison, 5.819, 161.25; Paul Romine, 4.720, 320.66 def. Jack Ostrander, 6.679, 127.07; Clay Millican, 4.710, 313.44 def. Steve Smith, 5.767, 186.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Head, 4.803, 311.27 def. Romine, 4.988, 229.94; Millican, 4.734, 273.05 def. Bailey, broke;
FINAL -- Millican, 4.652, 320.13 def. Head, 4.751, 310.98.
NITRO FUEL HARLEY:
ROUND ONE -- Ray Price, 6.704, 205.76 def. Jack Romine, 6.959, 188.12; Tony Mattioli, 6.785, 183.72 def. Mike Romine, broke; Steve Stordeur, 6.546, 210.50 def. Bill Furr, 7.587, 129.05; Doug Vancil, 6.540, 206.99 def. Jay Turner, 6.604, 203.34;
SEMIFINALS -- Price, 6.812, 205.01 def. Mattioli, 6.859, 180.12; Stordeur, 6.561, 202.52 def. Vancil, broke;
FINAL -- Stordeur, 6.438, 213.20 def. Price, 6.845, 187.98.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Vick, Chevy Camaro, 6.302, 224.21 def. Ron Kammes, Chevy Corvette, broke; Rickie Smith, Dodge Viper, 6.341, 221.16 def. Ronnie Hood, Corvette, 6.356, 222.03; Carl Spiering, Chevy Bel Air, 6.442, 216.41 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.585, 220.55; Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.326, 224.10 def. Steve Cossis, Corvette, 6.419, 220.01; Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.311, 225.48 def. Tim McAmis, Corvette, 6.492, 217.14; Carl Moyer, Bel Air, 7.628, 122.20 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, foul; Fred Hahn, Corvette, 6.290, 225.86 def. Mike Castellana, Bel Air, 6.352, 221.02; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.298, 221.85 def. Alan Pittman, Willys, 6.381, 223.50;
QUARTERFINALS -- R. Smith, 6.357, 222.25 def. Spiering, broke; Moyer, 6.396, 218.48 def. M. Stott, 6.320, 224.47; Janis, 6.324, 219.54 def. Vick, 6.546, 220.73; Hahn, 6.266, 215.75 def. Jenkins, 6.295, 220.58;
SEMIFINALS -- Janis, 6.331, 224.28 def. Moyer, foul; Hahn, 6.309, 225.63 def. R. Smith, broke;
FINAL -- Hahn, 6.226, 227.50 def. Janis, 6.394, 222.73.
ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Fred Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 6.115, 236.09 def. John Vouros, Pontiac Firebird, foul; Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 5.930, 234.82 def. Ronnie Midyette, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.451, 208.62; Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 6.083, 228.27 def. Dan Roman, Firebird, 6.125, 232.15; Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.848, 240.55 def. Terry Munroe, Firebird, 6.444, 177.86; Dale Brand, Firebird, 6.021, 231.28 def. Terry McMillen, Avenger, 7.643, 131.09; Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 5.926, 234.98 def. Monty Todd, Camaro, 6.068, 229.63; James Libby, Camaro, 6.086, 232.11 def. Rob Atchison, Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.177, 225.22; Bobby Baucom, Pontiac Trans Am, 8.985, 91.06 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Rector, 5.980, 232.79 def. Noakes, 6.131, 227.31; Thomas, 5.975, 237.63 def. Baucom, 7.122, 140.14; Cannister, 5.952, 234.37 def. Brand, 6.012, 229.74; Tigges, 6.078, 236.75 def. Libby, 6.088, 231.87;
SEMIFINALS -- Rector, 5.949, 233.84 def. Tigges, 5.987, 237.71; Thomas, 5.883, 239.14 def. Cannister, 5.940, 235.19;
FINAL -- Thomas, 5.966, 235.97 def. Rector, 5.903, 233.92.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Elijah Morton, Ford Probe, 6.722, 206.89 def. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.710, 206.57; Dwayne Rice, Pontiac Firebird, 6.756, 206.07 def. Terry Leggett, Ford Mustang, 6.771, 204.45; Ron Miller, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.722, 205.44 def. John Konigshofer, Probe, 6.783, 208.01; Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.710, 206.64 def. Doug Kirk, Cavalier, 6.754, 205.29; Tom Lee, Mustang, 6.725, 206.70 def. John Bartunek, Grand Am, 6.736, 204.70; Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.704, 207.11 def. Mark Hay, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.763, 205.57; Tim Nabors, Cavalier, 6.719, 205.94 def. Tony Fox, Mustang, 6.754, 205.51; Gene Wilson, Cougar, 6.654, 208.75 def. Chris Holbrook, Mustang, 9.399, 112.99;
QUARTERFINALS -- Nabors, 6.698, 205.44 def. Rice, 6.763, 206.54; Gahm, 6.718, 206.10 def. Lee, 6.669, 207.15; Baker, 6.701, 207.02 def. Miller, 6.728, 205.54; Wilson, 6.657, 208.33 def. Morton, foul;
SEMIFINALS -- Baker, 6.705, 207.50 def. Nabors, 6.710, 206.92; Wilson, 6.674, 208.20 def. Gahm, 6.745, 206.64;
FINAL -- Wilson, 6.685, 208.20 def. Baker, 6.681, 208.04.
NORWALK, Ohio -- Unofficial point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 24th annual MOPAR Parts World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs at Norwalk Raceway park, the seventh of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
1. Clay Millican, 737; 2. Paul Romine, 641; 3. Bruce Litton, 592; 4. Jim Bailey, 527; 5. Jim Head, 488; 6. Louie Allison, 408; 7. Roger Dean, 334; 8. Steve Smith, 200; 9. Shirley Muldowney, 108; 10. Tracy Howard, 94.
NITRO HARLEY:
1. Doug Vancil, 680; 2. Steve Stordeur, 589; 3. Tony Mattioli, 588; 4. Jay Turner, 501; 5. Mike Romine, 472; 6. Johnny Mancuso, 450; 7. Ray Price, 399; 8. Bob Malloy, 386; 9. Bill Furr, 359; 10. Jack Romine, 244.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Mike Janis, 762; 2. Alan Pittman, 627; 3. Quain Stott, 539; 4. Mitch Stott, 461; 5. Ed Hoover, 442; 6. Shannon Jenkins, 426; 7. Ronnie Hood, 400; 8. Fred Hahn, 367; 9. Carl Moyer, 358; 10. Paul Athey, 325.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Mark Thomas, 715; 2. Jimmy Rector, 616; 3. Dale Brand, 599; 4. John Vouros, 538; 5. Laurie Cannister, 536; 6. Terry McMillen, 391; 7. Monty Todd, 381; 8. Larry Dobbs, 314; 9. Terry Munroe, 278; 10. Fred Tigges, 265.
PRO STOCK:
1. Gene Wilson, 909; 2. Tom Lee, 627; 3. Ron Miller, 566; 4. Carl Baker, 465; 5. Angelo Alesci, 446; 6. Dwayne Rice, 413; 7. John Montecalvo, 410; 8. Brian Gahm, 396; 9. Elijah Morton, 354; 10. Jason Collins, 337.
Larry Sullivan
larrybud1320@earthlink.net
