Cordova, IL. - Bruce Litton defeated Paul Romine to take the Top Fuel
title at the 21st Amalie Oil Summer Nationals at Cordova Dragway Park.
Before a record crowd, Fred Hahn, Steve Stordeur, Von Smith, Ron Miller and
Mick Snyder earned pro category wins at Cordova, the fourth race in the
Summit Drag Racing Series.
In a side by side pass, Litton posted a run of 4.752 seconds at 305.98 miles
per hour in his WIX Dragster to defeat a determined Romine who ran a losing
4, 747 at 309.20 miles per hour. The WIX team had an up and down weekend,
encountering engine problems all weekend and losing 10 net points and $500
in oil down penalties.
"I never knew I was going to win this race, until the cameras came over
to me and the lady handed me the trophy, " said a happy, but emotional
Litton. "I knew I was going to lose a lot of points at this race so I
knew I had to win a lot of rounds."
Despite finishing second to Litton, Romine remained the Summit Top Fuel
points leader, 425 to 397, due to the "black flag" penalties he
incurred.
Number one Top qualifier Shirley Muldowney rolled the beams in the first
round of eliminations, losing to Jim Bailey. "I had a bad weekend and
simply made a mistake, " said Muldowney, who despite the problems made
the fastest pass in IHRA history during the second round of qualifying, at
319.22 miles per hour.
Fred Hahn scored his second Mopar Performance Parts Pro Modified victory in
two weeks, defeating Billy Harper's nitrous-powered Dodge Viper in a photo
finish 6.320/205.60 to 6.361/206.66. The Jim Oddy prepared 53' Corvette,
sponsored by Summit Performance continued to set the pace in the highly
competitive class, fueling the blown versus nitrous controversy. The nitrous
contingent favors reductions to the blower overdrive on the blown cars to
make them more competitive. Hahn disagrees.
"If you want parity, that would be eight blown cars and eight nitrous
cars making the field, " Hahn said. "No one complained last year
when I qualified first at five straight events and then smoked my tires in
went out in round one at all five races."
In Nitro Harley, it was an all Team Mancuso final as Johnny Mancuso and
Steve Stordeur faced off. Mancuso experienced problems at half-track and
shut the bike off giving Stordeur the easy win. Mancuso left the weekend
with the new speed record at 216.00. Jay Tuner holds onto the points lead
with 414. Mancuso remains second with 339 points and Stordeur moved into
third with 336 points.
1999 Funny Car Champion Von Smith continued his winning ways, taking his
second win of the season in his Nitro Fish Pontiac Firebird. Smith defeated
local driver Dale Brand 5.924/238.93 to 5.989/234.21 and took the points
lead over Scott Weney, 372 to 343.
"We didn't mean to deep stage, " Smith said. "It was an
accident, but we still made good on the tree. The conditions here were a lot
like they were in Bristol when we raced there. Racing under this format
allowed us to run in conditions that were real favorable for our
combination."
In a Ford versus Chevy Sunoco Pro Stock final, Ron Miller followed up his
Canadian Nationals win in his Moser Engineering Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
defeating Jon Yoak in his Ford Probe. Miller maintains the points lead over
Yoak, 314 to 306, crediting a new engine program for his improved
performance in 2000.
"We had an up and down weekend, " said the 51 year old Lebanon,
Ohio driver. "We blew a clutch in the semi's and I was surprised to
win. We weren't great, but we were good enough to win.
"I knew we had to leave early on Jon and staged shallow. I can see
better at night and that helped me. In fact, I wish all of the IHRA races
were at night. I'd like to thank Greg Moser and the entire team for my
success this year."
Second generation driver Mick Snyder won his first IHRA Pro Outlaw race,
defeating Mike Becker 6.104/223.28 to 6.183/222.69. The 18 year old Snyder,
who skipped his high school graduation to race in Canada earlier this month
is the son of 1999 champion Larry Snyder.
"It was great to win with my grandparents here, " Snyder said.
"Mr. Spitzer (Dragster Designer Mike Spitzer) was real happy too, but
he left soon after the win to be home for Father's Day. He thought the
celebration should be a family thing anyway."
The next race on the million dollar Summit Drag Racing Series is the
CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway, Leicester, NY,
July 14-16.
CORDOVA, Ill. -- Saturday's final results from the 21st annual Amalie Motor
Oil Summer Nationals at Cordova Dragway Park. The $1.6-million race is the
4th of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Bruce Litton, 4.752 seconds, 305.98 mph def. Paul Romine, 4.747
seconds, 309.20 mph.
Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley -- Steve Stordeur, Harley, 6.977, 202.18 def.
Johnny Mancuso, Harley, 12.295, 74.28.
Mopar Performance Parts Pro Modified -- Fred Hahn, '54 Corvette, 6.320,
205.60 def. Billy Harper, '00 Dodge Viper, 6.361, 220.66.
ihra.com Funny Car -- Von Smith, Pontiac Firebird, 5.924, 238.93 def. Dale
Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.989, 234.21.
Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock -- Ron Miller, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.661, 208.46
def. Jon Yoak, Ford Probe, 6.626, 210.73.
Pro Outlaw -- Mick Snyder, 6.104, 223.28 def. Mike Decker, 6.183, 222.69.
Annihilator Top Sportsman -- Bill Newell, '97 Mustang, 7.572 seconds def.
Len King, '94 Daytona, 7.352 seconds.
NOS Top Dragster -- Roy Holcomb, Advanced , 7.193 seconds def. Tom Callahan,
Spitzer , 7.735 seconds.
Hooker Modified -- Dennis Mitchell, '92 Cavalier, 8.199 seconds def. Michael
Lyons, 7.499 seconds.
Holley Team G Super Rod -- Matt Tankersley, '70 GTO, 9.911 seconds def.
Chris Malby, 15.417 seconds.
Weiand Hot Rod --Wayne Christopher, '84 Monte Carlo, 10.867 seconds def.
Duane Cooper, Chevy, 10.837.
Dominator Quick Rod -- Damon Dabbs, Dragster, 8.913 seconds def. Todd Ewing,
Dragster, 8.907 seconds.
Lunati Super Stock -- Anthony Bertozzi, '98 Grand Am, 9.513 def. Fred
Bartoli, '00 Firebird, 10.049.
Earl's Stock -- Ricky Clark, '94 Camaro, 11.125 def. Jamie Kilgore, '68
Camaro, 10.708.
CORDOVA, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the 21st annual Amalie
Motor Oil Summer Nationals at Cordova Dragway Park, the 4th of 11 events in
the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Paul Romine, 4.778, 308.43 def. J.R. Todd, 4.936, 293.09; Louie
Allison, 4.993, 297.42 def. Jim Head, 5.155, 271.84; Jim Bailey, 4.862,
294.37 def. Shirley Muldowney, brok;;e; Bruce Litton, 4.840, 296.44 def.
Clay Millican, 4.818, 306.53;
SEMIFINALS -- Litton, 4.793, 302.55 def. Allison, 5.653, 173.29; Romine,
4.804, 304.32 def. Bailey, 4.960, 282.48;
FINAL -- Litton, 4.752, 305.98 def. Romine, 4.747, 309.20.
NITRO FUEL HARLEY:
ROUND ONE -- Johnny Mancuso, Honda, 6.615, 193.38 def. Jack Romine, Honda,
7.745, 123.18; Bill Furr, Honda, 6.705, 204.73 def. Ray Price, Honda, 6.959,
198.06; Steve Stordeur, Honda, 7.061, 148.90 def. Jim McClure, Honda, 8.242,
109.49; Jay Turner, Honda, 6.578, 196.33 def. Allen Peterson, Honda, 11.356,
76.50;
SEMIFINALS -- Mancuso, 6.808, 216.00 def. Furr, 7.652, 140.56; Stordeur,
6.825, 202.39 def. Turner, 11.285, 68.72;
FINAL -- Stordeur, 6.977, 202.18 def. Mancuso, 12.295, 74.28.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Dale Brinsfield, '67 Camaro, 6.439, 219.97 def. Quain Stott,
'63 Corvette, 6.478, 215.93; Troy Critchley, '49 Mercury, 6.308, 225.63 def.
Alan Pittman, '41 Willys, 6.331, 217.77; Billy Harper, '00 Dodge Viper,
6.383, 215.75 def. Shannon Jenkins, '00 Viper, 6.429, 220.80; Ronnie Hood,
'63 Corvette, 6.413, 218.19 def. Brian Gahm, '63 Corvette, 6.486, 214.83; Ed
Hoover, '63 Corvette, 6.472, 206.23 def. Steve Cossis, '53 Corvette, 6.616,
205.10; Carl Spiering, '67 Camaro, 6.409, 218.34 def. Mike Castellana, '57
Bel Air, 6.397, 216.06; Pat Moore, '57 Bel Air, 6.389, 220.84 def. Tommy
Gray, '53 Corvette, 6.495, 214.21; Fred Hahn, '54 Corvette, 6.245, 226.58
def. Chuck Nuytten, '63 Corvette, 7.706, 128.63;
QUARTERFINALS -- Spiering, 6.395, 218.23 def. Hoover, 6.365, 220.22;
Harper, 6.412, 214.08 def. Critchley, 6.438, 224.36; Hood, 6.374, 220.33
def. Moore, 6.370, 220.91; Hahn, 6.293, 223.43 def. Brinsfield, 6.396,
219.90;
SEMIFINALS -- Hahn, 6.351, 210.93 def. Spiering, foul; Harper, 6.370,
217.00 def. Hood, 6.372, 219.69;
FINAL -- Hahn, 6.320, 205.60 def. Harper, 6.361, 220.66.
ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.940, 232.23 def. Paul Athey,
Corvette, 6.126, 231.08; Rich Krohn, Firebird, 6.122, 230.92 def. Terry
Munroe, Firebird, 6.061, 232.43; Von Smith, Firebird, 5.918, 236.01 def.
Steve Ruda, Avenger, 6.378, 184.52; Santo Volpe, Ford Crown Vic, 5.999,
235.97 def. Rob Atchison, Firebird, 6.066, 228.96; Jimmy Rector, Dodge
Avenger, 5.936, 238.22 def. Andy Kelley, Avenger, 10.337, 80.60; Billy
Gibson, Chevy Camaro, 5.949, 238.34 def. Chris Hunt, Corvette, 6.074,
232.59; Scott Weney, Firebird, 5.884, 239.23 def. Jim Lape, Camaro, broke;
Wayne Butler, Camaro, 6.088, 236.92 def. Mark Thomas, Avenger, 11.954,
66.98;
QUARTERFINALS -- Brand, 5.952, 233.76 def. Butler, 6.629, 231.36; Volpe,
5.987, 236.51 def. Rector, 5.986, 236.88; Gibson, 6.080, 234.21 def. Krohn,
6.153, 233.72; Smith, 5.956, 239.23 def. Weney, 5.894, 239.65;
SEMIFINALS -- Brand, 5.972, 233.44 def. Volpe, 6.061, 232.95; Smith,
5.850, 238.72 def. Gibson, 6.035, 237.96;
FINAL -- Smith, 5.924, 238.93 def. Brand, 5.989, 234.21.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Jason Collins, Ford Probe, 6.736, 205.82 def. Tim Nabors, Chevy
Monte Carlo, 6.769, 205.72; Steve Spiess, Olds Cutlass, 6.696, 207.91 def.
Mark Hay, Pont Trans Am, 8.085, 123.50; Jon Yoak, Probe, 6.684, 209.72 def.
Floyd Cheek, Probe, 6.899, 206.92; Ron Miller, Monte Carlo, 6.701, 208.07
def. Gene Wilson, Ford
Thunderbird, 6.712, 207.43; John Montecalvo, Monte Carlo, 6.706, 208.88 def.
Carl Baker, Thunderbird, 6.780, 203.43; Dwayne Rice, Pont Firebird, 6.725,
207.15 def. Charlie Peppers, Ford Mustang, 6.819, 204.17; Jerry Yeoman,
Pontiac Firebird, 6.684, 208.49 def. Robert Killian, Probe, 6.772, 205.63;
Tom Lee, Mustang, 6.694,
208.39 def. Chuck Demory, Probe, broke;
QUARTERFINALS -- Miller, 6.689, 208.42 def. Montecalvo, 7.028, 198.26;
Lee, 6.697, 208.78 def. Collins, 6.732, 208.49; Yeoman, 6.647, 208.68 def.
Spiess, 6.669, 208.91; Yoak, 6.683, 210.28 def. Rice, 6.721, 206.61;
SEMIFINALS -- Miller, 6.764, 207.02 def. Lee, 6.815, 193.24; Yoak, 6.656,
209.88 def. Yeoman, 6.658, 208.88;
FINAL -- Miller, 6.661, 208.46 def. Yoak, 6.626, 210.73.
PRO OUTLAW:
ROUND ONE -- Jim Walter, 6.510, 208.04 def. Ed Lyons, 11.022, 56.00; Laurie
Cannister, 6.098, 212.96 def. Gary Leczner, 6.442, 208.26; Mike Decker,
6.288, 219.83 def. Dave Christensen, 6.587, 207.05; Mick Snyder, 6.122,
220.76 def. Jim Lamb, 7.253, 151.09;
SEMIFINALS -- Decker, 18.554, 37.59 def. Walter, broke; Snyder, 6.095,
222.99 def. Cannister, 6.136, 208.46;
FINAL -- Snyder, 6.104, 223.28 def. Decker, 6.183, 222.69.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TOP FIVE
Top Fuel:
1. Paul Romine, 425, 2. Bruce Litton, 397, 3. Clay Millican, 354, 4.
Shirley Muldowney, 315, 5. (tie) Jim Bailey, 309, Jim Head, 309.
Nitro Harley:
1. Jay Turner, 414, 2. Johnny Mancuso, 339, 3. Steve Stordeur, 336, 4. Doug
Vancil, 238, 5. Bill Furr, 191.
Pro Modified:
1. Fred Hahn, 390, 2. Ed Hoover, 226, 3. Al Billes, 214, 4. Ronnie Hood,
188, 5. Quain Stott, 170.
Funny Car:
1. Von Smith, 372, 2. Scott Weney, 343, 3. Jimmy Rector, 261, 4. Dale Brand,
209, 5. Rob Atchison, 199.
Pro Stock:
1. Ron Miller, 314, 2. Jon Yoak, 306, 3. John Montecalvo, 299, 4. Steve
Spiess, 284, 5. Jerry Yeoman, 258.
Pro Outlaw:
1. Laurie Cannister, 365, 2. Mick Snyder, 318, 3. Neal Parker, 284, 4. Mike
Decker, 233, 5. Mark McElwee, 200.
Results provided by the FastNews Network,
courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment
**