Clay Millican Continues Perfect Season; Mitch
Stott Defeats Brother Quain in Pro Modified
By IHRA Communications
RICHMOND, Va. (June 8, 2003) - Reigning Top Fuel world champion Clay Millican won his third consecutive Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series event Sunday at the ACDelco Nationals presented by Chevrolet. After a rain-filled day of eliminations, the Drummonds, Tenn., native drove the Werner Enterprises dragster to victory over Prestone-sponsored John Smith.
In the semifinals, Millican defeated Rhonda Hartman-Smith, wife of John Smith, therefore ending the chance of a husband-wife final. Millican ran an event low 4.668 E.T. at 311.85 miles per hour to John's 5.181, 252.66 in the final round. The two-time Top Fuel world champion has now won three consecutive IHRA events and increases his hold on the points lead.
"To make one qualifying run and then get thrown into the fire of eliminations is a tough way to win," explained Millican. "We didn't have a lot of time to dwell on the pressure because of the pressure we had in Grand Bend (Ontario). Besides that, when John and Rhonda show up over here you had better be on your game because they are tough."
Smith began the day qualified 3rd and defeated Bobby Lagana, Jr. in round one and Canadian Todd Paton in the semifinals. He has advanced to the final round in both IHRA national events competed in this season.
Mitch Stott defeated older brother Quain Stott in the Pro Modified final round. Mitch, of Mill Springs, NC, is now 2-0 against Quain this season.
Mitch, who finished 2nd in 2003, qualified 3rd and defeated ACDelco-sponsored Harold Martin in the quarterfinals and Pat Moore in the quarterfinals. He recorded event low E.T. running the final round quarter-mile in 6.211 seconds. Coming into the event tied with Al Billes, Mitch now has the outright lead in Pro Modified points.
"We redeemed ourselves after Grand Bend because we should have won that race but we didn't," said Stott. "To come back here and have a fast car and for it to remain consistent says a lot. I think it just further proves that Team Radiac and Radiac Abrasives is a force to be reckoned with."
Quain qualified number one, defeated Kent Ferrell in the quarterfinals and 2002 Pro Modified world champion Shannon Jenkins in the semifinals. While Mitch recorded the quickest event E.T., Quain ran 229.63 miles per hour claiming event top speed.
Rob Atchison defeated Von Smith in Funny Car building on the momentum he gained at Grand Bend Motorplex last weekend. Atchison ran a 5.885 E.T. against Smith's 6.264. He not only won the event but was low qualifier and recorded low E.T. and top speed of the event.
Atchison, who entered the event fourth in the points standings, began the day defeating Bunny Burkett in round one, Melinda Green-King round two and Ronnie Midyette to advance to the finals. Atchison has won both events attended this season after not competing at San Antonio.
Atchison damaged the motor and chassis during his final round win at Grand Bend and came to VMP with a new set-up.
"Back to back -- this is so unbelievable," explained Atchison. "Two wins in two weeks with two different cars is really tough to accomplish. This car just flew all weekend and we couldn't be happier than we are today."
Smith, a three-time Funny Car world champion, competed in his first final round since the Autumn Nationals in 2000 at Rockingham Dragway.
Carl Baker drove his Summit Racing Equipment Cougar to a second-consecutive Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock victory with a 6.565 E.T. over Elijah Morton's 6.603.
Baker defeated Jason Collins in the first round, Frank Gugliotta in round two and John Montecalvo to advance to the finals. Morton made it to the finals with three hole-shot victories, running the quarter-mile slower than his opponents, but making up for the deficit with a better reaction time.
Despite not qualifying for the opening event in San Antonio, Baker, of North Ridgeville, OH, now leads the Pro Stock points.
"We don't even remember that DNQ anymore," explained Baker. "We came out here for the CompetitionPlus.com event in the spring and tested and won that event. We qualified well in Rockingham. Then we went to Grand Bend and won. This whole team has come together as one and we have tried to keep our mistakes to a minimum."
The next event on the 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series is the Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by GM Goodwrench Service at Budweiser Motorsports Park, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 27 - 29.
RICHMOND, Va. -- Sunday's final results from the Third annual ACDelco Nationals presented by Chevrolet at Virginia Motorsports Park. The $1.1 million race is the fourth of 12 in the 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.668 seconds, 311.85 mph def. John Smith, 5.181 seconds, 252.66 mph.
Pro Modified -- Mitch Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.211, 226.51 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.246, 229.20.
Funny Car -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.885, 240.21 def. Von Smith, Dodge Avenger, 6.264, 179.83.
Pro Stock -- Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.565, 211.26 def. Elijah Morton, Ford Mustang, 6.603, 210.18.
Top Stock -- Matt Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 9.940, 132.67 def. Ken Bugaj, Camaro, 10.020, 132.45.
RICHMOND, Va. -- Final round-by-round results from the Third annual ACDelco Nationals presented by Chevrolet at Virginia Motorsports Park, the fourth of 12 events in the 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- John Smith, 4.694, 312.28 def. Bobby Lagana Jr, 5.486, 189.42; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.674, 300.06 def. Bruce Litton, 4.880, 291.26; Todd Paton, 5.107, 264.23 def. Roger Dean, 5.449, 125.33; Clay Millican, 4.717, 300.26 def. Danny Dunn, 4.927, 288.64; SEMIFINALS -- Smith, 5.211, 258.76 def. Paton, 6.629, 139.67; Millican, 4.691, 307.23 def. Hartman-Smith, 4.882, 283.73; FINAL -- Millican, 4.668, 311.85 def. Smith, 5.181, 252.66.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Kent Ferrell, Chevy Corvette, 6.395, 219.51 def. Paul Athey, Corvette, foul; Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 6.358, 219.26 def. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, foul; Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.241, 228.54 def. Dale Brinsfield, Willys, 6.431, 217.60; Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.299, 228.50 def. Fred Hahn, Corvette, 6.417, 226.73; Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.281, 226.35 def. Jack O'Dell, Chevelle, 6.595, 214.21; Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.263, 224.47 def. Roy Wasko, Camaro, 6.409, 217.35; Pat Moore, Chevy Bel Air, 6.344, 221.05 def. Steve Vick, Camaro, 6.419, 211.63; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.280, 222.33 def. Charles Carpenter, Chevy Bel Air, 6.472, 219.76; QUARTERFINALS -- Q. Stott, 6.298, 228.11 def. Ferrell, 6.352, 219.79; Jenkins, 6.278, 223.54 def. Castellana, foul; Moore, 6.300, 221.92 def. Janis, 6.236, 229.31; M. Stott, 6.244, 225.97 def. Martin, 6.261, 224.51; SEMIFINALS -- Q. Stott, 6.290, 227.50 def. Jenkins, 13.882, 83.72; M. Stott, 6.243, 224.66 def. Moore, 6.364, 201.01; FINAL -- M. Stott, 6.211, 226.51 def. Q. Stott, 6.246, 229.20.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.839, 241.93 def. Bunny Burkett, Dodge Avenger, 5.960, 239.14; Mike Comella, Avenger, 5.955, 235.68 def. Tony Bogolo, Olds Achieva, 6.302, 174.62; Von Smith, Avenger, 5.952, 237.67 def. Scott Wildgust, Firebird, 6.125, 230.88; Terry Munroe, Firebird, 6.143, 224.73 def. Joe Comella, Firebird, 6.086, 234.66; Terry McMillen, Avenger, 5.917, 236.13 def. Neal Parker, Chevy Camaro, 6.142, 232.07; Ronnie Midyette, Camaro, 5.940, 234.45 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.882, 237.84; John Vouros, Firebird, 5.874, 236.80 def. Dave Ray, Ford Mustang, 6.057, 233.68; Melinda Green-King, Avenger, 6.208, 227.19 def. Charlie Gambino, Corvette, 6.342, 225.26; QUARTERFINALS -- Atchison, 5.886, 240.29 def. Green-King, 6.077, 230.76; Smith, 5.889, 238.72 def. Vouros, foul; Midyette, 5.942, 234.78 def. McMillen, 6.057, 232.35; Munroe, 6.092, 220.76 def. M. Comella, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Atchison, 5.914, 239.53 def. Midyette, 5.950, 234.21; Smith, 5.920, 238.60 def. Munroe, 6.739, 165.05; FINAL -- Atchison, 5.885, 240.21 def. Smith, 6.264, 179.83.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Williford, Chevy Cavalier, 6.652, 208.68 def. Tim Bell, Ford Probe, 9.695, 86.70; Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.590, 210.70 def. Jason Collins, Cougar, 6.660, 211.10; Rick Jones, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.615, 210.77 def. John Nobile, Cavalier, 6.662, 207.53; Mike Bell, Probe, 6.611, 210.21 def. Pete Berner, Ford Mustang, 6.591, 212.16; Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.617, 208.97 def. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.590, 211.86; John Montecalvo, Cavalier, 6.587, 211.73 def. Jeff Dobbins, Probe, 6.702, 209.82; Frank Gugliotta, Cougar, 6.627, 211.03 def. Barney Squires, Cavalier, 6.685, 208.26; Charlie Peppers, Mustang, 6.604, 210.34 def. Steve Spiess, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.665, 207.50; QUARTERFINALS -- Morton, 6.647, 209.65 def. M. Bell, 6.601, 210.70; Peppers, 6.586, 211.59 def. Williford, 7.523, 137.09; Baker, 6.560, 211.20 def. Gugliotta, 6.602, 211.86; Montecalvo, 6.590, 211.49 def. Jones, 8.439, 112.80; SEMIFINALS -- Morton, 6.708, 199.58 def. Peppers, 6.661, 209.56; Baker, 6.555, 211.79 def. Montecalvo, 6.582, 211.86; FINAL -- Baker, 6.565, 211.26 def. Morton, 6.603, 210.18.
RICHMOND, Va. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Third annual ACDelco Nationals presented by Chevrolet at Virginia Motorsports Park, the fourth of 12 events in the 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Clay Millican, 388; 2. Bruce Litton, 215; 3. John Smith, 208; 4. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 148; 5. Todd Paton, 143; 6. Bobby Lagana Jr, 140; 7. Grant Flowers, 130; 8. Roger Dean, 128; 9. Jack Ostrander, 102; 10. John Sipple, 86.
Pro Modified
1. Mitch Stott, 304; 2. Mike Janis, 205; 3. Al Billes, 200; 4. Quain Stott, 159; 5. Paul Athey, 139; 6. Billy Harper, 128; 7. Shannon Jenkins, 125; 8. Thomas Patterson, 114; 9. Dale Brinsfield, 96; 10. Fred Hahn, 94.
Funny Car
1. Rob Atchison, 231; 2. Tony Bogolo, 215; 3. Mark Thomas, 202; 4. Ronnie Midyette, 194; 5. Terry McMillen, 138; 6. John Vouros, 121; 7. Mike Comella, 99; 8. (tie) Chris Foster, 84; Terry Munroe, 84; 10. Von Smith, 80.
Pro Stock
1. Carl Baker, 231; 2. Brian Gahm, 203; 3. Rick Jones, 198; 4. Doug Kirk, 180; 5. Elijah Morton, 163; 6. John Montecalvo, 150; 7. Frank Gugliotta, 136; 8. Charlie Peppers, 134; 9. Steve Williford, 127; 10. Jason Collins, 111.
IHRA Communications
