Millican Breaks Garlits' Consecutive Win Record
By Paula Motolik and Bobby Bennett
Rockingham, N.C. - He has done it. Clay Millican, at the helm of the Werner Enterprises Top Fuel Dragster, won his sixth race in a row, breaking the 26-year-old consecutive Top Fuel win record held by racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.
The 35-year-old Millican, from Drummonds, Tenn., scored his seventh win in a row, during the final round of action at the CARQUEST Autumn Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, in Rockingham, N.C.
Gene Wilson, of Canton, Ga., also scored his seventh win of the 2001 season in Sunoco Pro Stock.
In their quests to achieve historical win marks, Millican and Wilson also clinched the Top Fuel and Pro Stock World Championship crowns.
Other winners included Fred Hahn in Mopar Pro Modified, Doug Vancil in Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson, and Mark Thomas in Funny Car.
"I had visions of a black car named 'Swamp Rat' and 'Big Daddy' and this was nothing short of incredible," explained Millican. "It was a great dream come true, and when I felt the blower belt give way, I got worried. In the end, we had enough to win and achieving this is an honor."
Millican's sixth win came at the expense of Louie Allison, despite a slowing 5.011 elapsed time at 211.89 mph when Millican's supercharger drive belt broke. Allison concluded his second final round in a row with a 10.259 elapsed time 83.73 mph effort.
Wilson, the new Pro Stock World Champion, defeated Long Island, N.Y., native, John Montecalvo in the final round for the second race in a row.
Wilson's seventh win puts him in contention to break Bob Glidden's IHRA Pro Stock record of eight wins in one season. Glidden's record was set in 1976.
"Bob Glidden has always been a hero of mine," explained Wilson. "To even be mentioned in the same sentence with him is an honor. We are looking forward to challenging his record if our luck holds out."
En route to his win, Wilson ran a 6.582 elapsed time at 208.94 mph, to defeat Montecalvo's 9.779 elapsed time at 92.29 mph. b In Mopar Pro Modified, reigning World Champion Hahn, re-staked his claim as a power in the class when he defeated current points leader, Mike Janis in the finals. The two New York-based drivers battled it out in the final round resulting in a 6.567 second 169.93 mph run by Hahn, defeating Janis' 6.635 elapsed time 185.23 mph effort.
"The car got a little loose out there, and sometimes we tend to drive these cars different in the dark than we do in the daylight," explained Hahn. "I kept pedaling and tried to stay with it as long as I could. I didn't see him, so I knew it was going to be good. We were fortunate enough to take the win light."
Louisville, Ohio-based corn and dairy farmer Thomas added a third win to his credit this season, as he held off Ronnie Midyette, of Virginia Beach, Va., in the finals of Funny Car. Thomas took the win on a 6.041 second run at 234.57 mph. Midyette made his first final round appearance of the year, losing with a 6.357 second run at 217.88 mph.
"I know as we worked our way through eliminations that I wanted to beat Jimmy Rector in the second round," explained Thomas. "You know he's always going to give it his best and that concerns us. It didn't get any easier in the semis or the finals. We had to fight for what we got today."
Vancil made it two in a row for his Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson team when he beat Mike Romine in the finals. Vancil, of Albuquerque, N.M., posted a 6.447 second run at 206.64 mph to secure the win over Sturgis, Mich., resident, Romine. Romine finished his day with a 6.764 second run at 172.89 mph.
"We snuck in there and qualified number one," explained Vancil. "We have developed a good combination with this bike and it ran quicker with each run. The bike was happy with what we fed it this weekend."
The next race on the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series is the CARQUEST President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, in Budds Creek, Md., September 28 - 30.
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Sunday's final results from the Third annual CARQUEST Autumn Nationals at Rockingham Dragway. The $1.6 million race is the ninth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 5.011 seconds, 211.89 mph def. Louie Allison, 10.259 seconds, 83.73 mph.
Mopar Pro Modified -- Fred Hahn, Chevy Corvette, 6.567, 169.93 def. Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.635, 185.23.
Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley -- Doug Vancil, 6.447, 206.64 def. Mike Romine, 6.764, 172.89.
Funny Car -- Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 6.041, 234.57 def. Ronnie Midyette, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.357, 217.88.
Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock -- Gene Wilson, Mercury Cougar, 6.582, 208.94 def. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 9.779, 92.29.
Top Stock -- Matt Morgan, Mustang, 10.020, 129.93 def. Paul Mercure, Camaro, 10.198, 129.85.
Lenco Top Dragster Shootout -- Jeff Chatterson, 6.682, 183.05 def. Rick Schneider, 10.953, 65.74.
Lizzard Racing Engines Top Sportsman Shootout -- Tim Decoff, Chevy Nova, 6.794, 200.35 def. Joe Buckley, Chevy Beretta, 6.901, 200.86.
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Final round-by-round results from the Third annual CARQUEST Autumn Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, the ninth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Jim Head, 4.825, 293.35 def. Roger Dean, 6.087, 173.74; Paul Romine, 4.840, 306.88 def. Bobby Lagana Jr, 5.918, 240.04; Louie Allison, 4.869, 304.87 def. Bruce Litton, 4.937, 298.27; Clay Millican, 4.799, 291.13 def. Vicky Fanning, 6.315, 179.04;
SEMIFINALS -- Allison, 4.981, 264.39 def. Romine, 11.027, 87.80; Millican, 4.861, 296.50 def. Head, 5.201, 242.19;
FINAL -- Millican, 5.011, 211.89 def. Allison, 10.259, 83.73.
NITRO FUEL HARLEY:
ROUND ONE -- Doug Vancil, 6.600, 198.15 def. Bill Furr, 9.319, 120.47; Mark Cox, 6.834, 200.32 def. Ray Price, broke; Steve Stordeur, 7.803, 158.28 def. Johnny Mancuso, 8.139, 108.25; Mike Romine, 6.772, 194.94 def. Jay Turner, 8.688, 112.34;
SEMIFINALS -- Vancil, 6.522, 207.02 def. Cox, foul; M. Romine, 7.109, 202.24 def. Stordeur, broke;
FINAL -- Vancil, 6.447, 206.64 def. M. Romine, 6.764, 172.89.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Ronnie Hood, Chevy Corvette, 6.307, 221.45 def. Steve Vick, Chevy Camaro, 6.359, 220.91; Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.338, 222.77 def. Chip King, Dodge Avenger, foul; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.344, 219.76 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.678, 209.49; Fred Hahn, Corvette, 6.225, 226.62 def. Michael Lockwood, Corvette, 6.394, 219.97; Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.332, 223.58 def. Carl Moyer, Chevy Bel Air, 6.428, 217.77; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.356, 218.69 def. Todd Tutterow, Corvette, 6.478, 213.27; Alan Pittman, Willys, 6.283, 221.16 def. Paul Athey, Mercury, 6.340, 219.33; Tommy Mauney, Corvette, 6.339, 220.69 def. Tim McAmis, Corvette, 6.373, 219.44;
QUARTERFINALS -- Jenkins, 6.302, 220.69 def. Hoover, 6.337, 219.36; Janis, 6.321, 224.70 def. M. Stott, 6.394, 222.11; Pittman, 6.321, 221.49 def. Mauney, foul; Hahn, 6.243, 224.51 def. Hood, 6.335, 221.63;
SEMIFINALS -- Janis, 6.321, 223.50 def. Pittman, 6.344, 219.51; Hahn, 6.289, 224.32 def. Jenkins, 15.238, 60.51;
FINAL -- Hahn, 6.567, 169.93 def. Janis, 6.635, 185.23.
ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.886, 234.49 def. Charles Gambino, Chevy Corvette, 6.411, 216.24; Fred Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 6.000, 233.84 def. Bunny Burkett, Dodge Avenger, foul; John Vouros, Firebird, 5.965, 232.75 def. Mike Comella, Avenger, 6.144, 213.60; Mark Thomas, Avenger, 5.927, 236.92 def. Philip Hooper, Camaro, 6.340, 223.91; Ronnie Midyette, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.018, 226.92 def. Billy Gibson, Corvette, 5.975, 235.68; Terry McMillen, Avenger, 5.999, 233.52 def. Bobby Baucom, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.184, 208.75; Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 6.015, 232.31 def. Tony Bogolo, Avenger, 6.066, 231.08; Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 6.033, 223.63 def. James Libby, Camaro, 6.089, 228.85;
QUARTERFINALS -- Brand, 5.926, 231.75 def. Cannister, 5.974, 233.88; Thomas, 5.967, 236.30 def. Rector, 6.003, 233.72; Vouros, 8.017, 108.47 def. McMillen, broke; Midyette, 6.030, 228.04 def. Tigges, 6.034, 236.55;
SEMIFINALS -- Thomas, 5.911, 237.63 def. Vouros, 5.969, 230.02; Midyette, 6.113, 225.41 def. Brand, 14.437, 55.45;
FINAL -- Thomas, 6.041, 234.57 def. Midyette, 6.357, 217.88.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Williford, Chevy Cavalier, 6.688, 205.16 def. Doug Kirk, Cavalier, 6.723, 206.35; Steve Spiess, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.716, 205.44 def. Tom Lee, Ford Mustang, 6.738, 206.76; Elijah Morton, Ford Probe, 6.713, 206.42 def. Tony Fox, Mustang, 6.748, 206.13; Jason Collins, Probe, 6.769, 206.57 def. Brian Gahm, Mustang, foul; Tim Nabors, Cavalier, 6.684, 205.91 def. Chuck DeMory, Probe, 6.852, 202.33; John Montecalvo, Cavalier, 6.682, 207.08 def. Ron Miller, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.702, 206.07; Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.645, 208.17 def. Dwayne Rice, Grand Am, 6.700, 205.91; Gene Wilson, Cougar, 6.618, 209.36 def. John Bartunek, Grand Am, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Nabors, 6.686, 205.98 def. Collins, 6.790, 206.64; Montecalvo, 6.662, 207.05 def. Morton, 6.712, 207.30; Baker, 6.665, 208.36 def. Spiess, 6.734, 205.57; Wilson, 6.609, 209.30 def. Williford, 6.799, 197.91;
SEMIFINALS -- Montecalvo, 10.063, 90.39 def. Baker, broke; Wilson, 6.611, 209.30 def. Nabors, 8.785, 104.03;
FINAL -- Wilson, 6.582, 208.94 def. Montecalvo, 9.779, 92.29.
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Third annual CARQUEST Autumn Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, the ninth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
1. Clay Millican, 1,175 (clinched); 2. Paul Romine, 960; 3. Bruce Litton, 844; 4. Jim Head, 827; 5. Louie Allison, 643; 6. Jim Bailey, 615; 7. Roger Dean, 546; 8. Steve Smith, 361; 9. Bobby Lagana Jr, 162; 10. Jack Ostrander, 116.
NITRO HARLEY:
1. Doug Vancil, 1,061; 2. Steve Stordeur, 906; 3. Jay Turner, 801; 4. Tony Mattioli, 788; 5. Mike Romine, 749; 6. (tie) Ray Price, 705; Johnny Mancuso, 705; 8. Bill Furr, 488; 9. Stan Verheijen, 427; 10. Bob Malloy, 391.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Mike Janis, 1,164; 2. Alan Pittman, 878; 3. Quain Stott, 807; 4. Fred Hahn, 739; 5. Ed Hoover, 733; 6. Shannon Jenkins, 644; 7. Carl Moyer, 631; 8. Ronnie Hood, 625; 9. Mitch Stott, 620; 10. Paul Athey, 477.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Mark Thomas, 1,088; 2. Jimmy Rector, 1,000; 3. John Vouros, 866; 4. Laurie Cannister, 855; 5. Dale Brand, 814; 6. Terry McMillen, 568; 7. Larry Dobbs, 503; 8. Monty Todd, 461; 9. Ronnie Midyette, 369; 10. Fred Tigges, 362.
PRO STOCK:
1. Gene Wilson, 1,277 (clinched); 2. Tom Lee, 917; 3. Ron Miller, 793; 4. John Montecalvo, 750; 5. Carl Baker, 732; 6. Brian Gahm, 682; 7. Dwayne Rice, 589; 8. Elijah Morton, 530; 9. Jason Collins, 505; 10. Angelo Alesci, 494.
Paula Motolik
www.ihra.com
Bobby Bennett
www.competitionplus.com
