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Drag Racing Story of the Day!

Kuhlmann Backs Up 230.88 mph Run

Story by John Lindsey
Photos by Scott Meier

Bill Kuhlmann 2000 by Scott Meier

Bill Kuhlmann, 1998 Nitro Coupe champ and 1999 runner-up, reset his own Super Chevy Series speed record twice in just a single week, urging his torquey 1968 Summit Racing Corvette to the absolute edge of doorslammer racing.

July 16, Indianapolis, IN: Kuhlmann’s 228.60 mph, 1st round pass was 18 hundredths faster than his record setting run in Gainesville, FL last season.

July 23, Maple Grove, PA: Kuhlmann pushes his Corvette to 228.94 mph during qualifying, then makes a national record 230.88 mph pass in the 1st round of eliminations against Bruce Boland, who broke during his burnout. The record toppled Randy Merrick’s unofficial 230.72 mph pass from the prime spot on national doorslammer speed lists. Australian Victor Bray’s 233.12 currently sits atop the world standings.

Kuhlmann also owns the Nitro Coupe ET record, a 6.201 second winning pass during the Super Chevy Series final in Indianapolis July 16, and is considered one of the favorites to first take doorslammer racing into the fives.

"That’s where we’re headed," Kuhlmann said. "I don’t think it will come this season, because you sort of chip away at ETs, you don’t make huge gains at once."

Kuhlmann ran a 6.170 ET last season to set a career record, but was rained-out of a chance to back it up. Summit Racing’s Fred Hahn, who campaigns his blown 1954 Corvette in IHRA Pro Mod, backed up a 6.179 second run to set the low ET record in Grand Bend, ON in June. [And Australian Top Doorslammer racer Robin Judd equaled Hahn's 6.179 during qualifying at the ANDRA Winternationals in June. bp]

Kuhlmann has won seven of ten Super Chevy Series events this season, and is first in the 2000 Nitro Coupe championship standings with 280 points. Jeff Brozovich is second with 190 points.

Kuhlmann, the longtime Summit Racing team member, is a drag racing pioneer. He was the first to break the doorslammer 200 mph barrier in 1987, is considered the father of IHRA Pro Modified competition, and hosts the popular Tech Tips segments during ESPN2’s coverage of the Super Chevy Series.

Bill Kuhlmann’s biographical information and season-long post-race wrap-ups are available at www.summitracing.com.

 




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