Budds Creek, Md. - The Mopar Parts Pro Modified points battle tightened
as Fred Hahn closed to within two points of Quain Stott at the
ExpressAutoParts.com President's Cup at Maryland International Raceway this
past weekend. With two races remaining in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing
Series, Stott failed to qualify at the President's Cup and Hahn advanced to
the semifinals to narrow the margin.
Steve Vick, Mocksville, NC, in Mopar Parts Performance Pro Modified, Billy
Gibson, Chaptico, Md., in Funny Car, Tommy Lee, Kingsport, TN in Pro Stock,
Jay Turner, Whitsett, NC in Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley and Laurie
Cannister, Clinton, Pa., were winners in their respective classes.
The next race in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series is the Mopar Parts World
Finals at Red River Raceway, Shreveport, LA, October 12-14. Top Fuel, which
does not run at Budds Creek returns at Shreveport, with three drivers, Paul
Romine, Clay Millican and Bruce Litton within 16 points of each other and
fighting for the $200,000 championship.
BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Saturday's final results from the 9th annual
Expressautoparts.com President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International
Raceway. The $1.6-million race is the tenth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit
Drag Racing Series:
Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley -- Jay Turner, 6.536, 194.02 def. Steve
Stordeur, 6.617, 204.05.
Mopar Pro Modified -- Steve Vick, Chevy Camaro, 6.314, 224.66 def. Chip
King, Dodge Avenger, 7.506, 131.72.
ihra.com Funny Car -- Billy Gibson, Chevy Camaro, 6.085, 230.69 def. Jim
Lape, Camaro, 6.234, 204.85.
Sunoco Pro Stock -- Tom Lee, Ford Mustang, 6.590, 210.24 def. Angelo Alesci,
Chevy Monte Carlo, broke.
Pro Outlaw -- Laurie Cannister, Dragster, 6.080, 219.36 def. Michael
Barclay, 23-T Ford, 6.350, 220.40.
Annihilator Top Sportsman -- Frank Gugliotta, Ford Mustang, 7.709, 177.14
def. Ernie Carrasco, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Omega Performance TS Shootout -- Jim Detrick, Ford Probe, 6.598, 209.92 def.
Kenny Rucker, Chevy Corvette, 6.760, 205.94.
NOS Top Dragster -- Dave Trapletti, Dragster, 6.875, 194.32 def. Bennie
Ulmer Sr., Dragster, 6.930, 198.44.
Hooker Modified -- Dennis Mitchell, Chevy Cavalier, 8.174, 14.64 def. Tony
Ward, Dragster, 7.425, 177.11.
Dominator Quick Rod -- Dave Hill, Dragster, 8.882, 162.70 def. Frank
Carpinelli, Dragster, 8.856, 163.14.
Holley Team G Super Rod -- Craig Porter, Ford Mustang, 9.907, 141.88 def.
David Rockcastle, Chevy, 9.976, 141.95.
Weiand Hot Rod -- Quentin Holloway, Chevelle, 10.914, 124.27 def. Irene
Hanes, Chevy Camaro, 10.890, 138.02.
Lunati Super Stock -- Bob Marshall, Dodge Coronet, 9.741, 132.24 def. Bruce
Riley, Chevelle, 9.744, 136.61.
Earl's Stock -- Mike Adams, Chevy Nova, 10.541, 123.63 def. Tex Miller, Ford
Mustang, 11.275, 111.47.
BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Final round-by-round results from the 9th annual
Expressautoparts.com President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International
Raceway, the tenth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
NITRO HARLEY:
ROUND ONE -- Jay Turner, 6.523, 209.69 def. Tony Mattioli, foul; Johnny
Mancuso, 8.036, 141.45 def. Jim McClure, broke; Doug Vancil, 6.593, 199.88
def. Bill Furr, 6.847, 188.41; Steve Stordeur, 6.559, 204.70 def. Ray Price,
8.691, 103.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Turner, 6.512, 207.37 def. Mancuso, 10.411, 100.45;
Stordeur, 6.617, 204.26 def. Vancil, 6.592, 210.87;
FINAL -- Turner, 6.536, 194.02 def. Stordeur, 6.617, 204.05.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Mitch Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.323, 225.07 def. Harold Martin,
Pontiac Firebird, broke; Troy Critchley, Mercury, 6.300, 224.55 def. Billy
Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.622, 215.82; Chip King, Dodge Avenger, 6.292, 224.73
def. Tommy Gray, Corvette, 6.493, 217.67; Carl Moyer, Chevy Bel Air, 6.576,
216.48 def. Tommy Mauney, Willys, 17.570, 59.56; Alan Pittman, Willys,
6.303, 223.80 def. Kevin O'Dell, Chevelle, 6.422, 220.51; Fred Hahn,
Corvette, 6.229, 227.19 def. Shannon Jenkins, Viper, 10.845, 75.82; Steve
Vick, Chevy Camaro, 6.345, 225.03 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.369, 213.40;
Ronnie Hood, Corvette, 6.407, 219.76 def. Al Billes, Studebaker, 12.853,
63.63;
QUARTERFINALS -- M. Stott, 6.341, 224.25 def. Moyer, broke; Vick, 6.350,
223.73 def. Critchley, 6.365, 223.25; Hahn, 6.342, 225.94 def. Pittman,
6.312, 223.10; King, 6.231, 225.45 def. Hood, 6.393, 219.65;
SEMIFINALS -- Vick, 6.310, 225.00 def. M. Stott, 6.329, 223.99; King,
9.911, 84.29 def. Hahn, foul;
FINAL -- Vick, 6.314, 224.66 def. King, 7.506, 131.72.
BILL'S PRO MOD NOTES:
Bill Barrett had Chip King flying in Pro Modified. The beautiful Indy
Cylinder Heads Dodge Avenger was leading Steve Vick handily in the final
round, only to have something "pop" at 1,000 feet, allowing Steve
to pass for a well-deserved win.
Fred Hahn pulled to within two points of Quain Stott at MIR, setting up a
barn burner of a points battle over the final few races. The Ironhorse team
of Johnny Rocca and Troy Critchley still has a mathematical chance of
winning the World Championship as well.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.913, 221.02 def. Mike
Preslar, Chevy Corvette, 6.089, 228.11; Adam Szeler, Dodge Achieva, 13.730,
60.08 def. Bruce Mullins, Ford Mustang, foul; Jim Lape, Chevy Camaro, 5.803,
244.38 def. Bunny Burkett, Dodge Avenger, 6.011, 237.34; Fred Tigges,
Camaro, 5.906, 239.78 def. Jimmy Rector, Avenger, 5.917, 241.20; Mark
Thomas, Avenger, 6.058, 232.67 def. Dave Ray, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.119,
230.84; Larry Dobbs, Corvette, 6.081, 231.16 def. Dale Brand, Firebird,
DQ-Centerline; Billy Gibson, Camaro, 5.871, 241.63 def. Terry McMillen,
Avenger, 6.056, 231.83; Scott Weney, Corvette, 5.956, 235.02 def. Von Smith,
Firebird, 6.045, 239.02;
QUARTERFINALS -- Lape, 5.794, 242.89 def. Weney, 6.520, 190.11; Dobbs,
6.064, 230.80 def. Szeler, 10.060, 86.48; Gibson, 6.036, 239.48 def. Thomas,
6.039, 235.56; Tigges, 12.672, 105.28 def. Atchison, broke;
SEMIFINALS -- Gibson, 6.109, 239.23 def. Tigges, 11.098, 77.25; Lape,
5.848, 240.51 def. Dobbs, foul;
FINAL -- Gibson, 6.085, 230.69 def. Lape, 6.234, 204.85.
BILL'S FUNNY CAR NOTES:
Hometown favorite Billy Gibson scored a huge win, upsetting Jim Lape's
5.7-capable machine in the final. Lape got crossed up on a somewhat dewy MIR
surface, while Gibson went straight and true for the win. Gibson had about
20 people swarming around his car in an attempt to make it to the final
round. It was quite a scene. Tuner Bill Barrett backed off the power a
little for the final, and that may have spelled the difference as the
G&H Jewelers machine held on for a popular 6.08 second win.
Jim Lape set the world on fire, performance wise, although he got out of
shape in the final and lost to hometown favorite, Billy Gibson. Lape, who
seemed to have lost the combination while experimenting with a Kobelco
supercharger for the past two seasons, recently went back to a Mert
Littlefield setup and began flying. He ran the quickest ET for a Roots blown
car at 5.761 seconds at Epping, and reset the IHRA world records to 5.794 at
244.38 mph at Budds Creek.
Bruce and Pattie Mullins and the War Horse team were looking forward to
joining Jim Lape in the world record hunt Saturday after finding a problem
with their blower pulley setup that held them to blower-belt shredding runs
of 6.03 and 5.90 in qualifying. Two problems set in during round one,
however – Bruce redlighted to Adam Szeler, ending his weekend early, and
the War Horse blew a burst panel on a superb, but losing 5.916, 238.17 mph
pass. The fact that Szeler had a .718 light and had to shut off made the
loss doubly hard. This was the last race of the year 2000 for the War Horse
team, who will head home, take the car apart, and begin to regroup for 2001.
Bunny Burkett and "The Boys" acquitted themselves nicely,
despite a first round loss to Jim Lape. Bunny and the Boys continued to
sneak up on the new Bob Newberry/Ken Veney combo with a nice 6.001 at 237.34
mph in the loss to Lape's 5.80 at 244. There is a lot more left in this
motor and Bunny and the Boys look good for 2001.
But the most important statement from Bunny Burkett in the first round
was a full, smoky, eighth mile burnout! Fans had become upset (quite
verbally so) on Friday night when Bunny received an AutoStart redlight after
an eighth mile burnout. It seemed to many that she had been penalized for
taking too long on the burnout and subsequent backup (although opponent Paul
Athey was aware Bunny would do that and had no problem with it).
Bill Bader came to Bunny's pits early Saturday to explain that the
AutoStart is now set to five seconds and to offer his condolences for the
previous night's events. Bunny said, "I want to do a long burnout for
my fans today, but I don't want to be thrown out." Bader jokingly
replied that he would throw her out if she DIDN'T do a long, smoky burnout
before her round one match. Bunny didn't disappoint. The AutoStart will
reportedly be set back to seven seconds for 2001.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Ed Machacek, Pontiac Firebird, 6.755, 208.30 def. Floyd
Cheek, Mercury Cougar, 7.381, 147.37; Tim Nabors, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.700,
207.59 def. Wally Stroupe, Monte Carlo, 6.722, 207.43; Ron Miller, Monte
Carlo, 6.654, 210.24 def. John Konigshofer, Ford Probe, 6.782, 207.62; Gene
Wilson, Probe, 6.683, 209.82 def. Steve Spiess, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.681,
209.36; Chris Holbrook, Ford Mustang, 6.719, 209.26 def. John Montecalvo,
Monte Carlo, 6.724, 208.17; Jon Yoak, Probe, 6.661, 210.80 def. Jerry
Yeoman, Firebird, foul; Tom Lee, Mustang, 6.700, 210.54 def. David Jenkins,
Monte Carlo, 6.738, 206.51; Angelo Alesci, Monte Carlo, 6.731, 207.66 def.
Dwayne Rice, Firebird, broke;
QUARTERFINALS -- Alesci, 6.725, 207.66 def. Holbrook, broke; Lee, 6.613,
210.97 def. Nabors, 6.682, 207.62; Machacek, 6.651, 208.59 def. Yoak, 6.630,
211.20; Wilson, 6.657, 209.52 def. Miller, 6.657, 210.28;
SEMIFINALS -- Alesci, 6.744, 207.72 def. Machacek, 6.733, 207.66; Lee,
6.606, 211.00 def. Wilson, foul;
FINAL -- Lee, 6.590, 210.24 def. Alesci, broke.
BILL'S PRO STOCK NOTES:
In case you didn't notice it the first time, take note of Tommy Lee's
ET in the final round. That's right – it took until the final Pro Stock
run of the event, but Tommy Lee fulfilled my year long prediction that we
would see the sport's first 6.50 Pro Stock run at Budds Creek in
September! Thanks, Tommy! It was a thing of beauty, with the light peach
Autolite Ford Mustang cranking hard all the way down the track.
You know how there are those few drag racing memories you will never
forget? Here's one of mine: Bunny Burkett and I hanging on the fence at
about 1200 feet, watching the finals in all categories, and jumping for joy
at the site of the new Pro Stock world record and Billy Gibson's Funny Car
win.
PRO OUTLAW:
ROUND ONE -- Mick Snyder, Dragster, 6.071, 224.70 def. Ed Lyons, Dragster,
6.613, 168.51; Michael Barclay, 23-T Ford, 6.131, 222.58 def. Karen Haddock,
Dragster, broke; Laurie Cannister, Dragster, 6.035, 220.80 def. Scott Ray,
Dragster, 7.419, 132.61; Dave Christensen, Dragster, 6.257, 213.87 def. Mike
Decker, Dragster, 6.341, 217.21;
SEMIFINALS -- Barclay, 6.245, 222.95 def. Christensen, 6.329, 211.66;
Cannister, 6.102, 209.79 def. Snyder, 6.125, 225.00;
FINALS -- Cannister, 6.080, 219.36 def. Barclay, 6.350, 220.40.
BILL'S PRO OUTLAW NOTES: Another dominating performance by Laurie
Cannister. Hope she gets that rumored Top Fuel deal for 2001. Farewell, Pro
Outlaw. We hardly knew ye.
Bill Pratt
bilden@draglist.com
Results provided by the FastNews Network,
courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment