June 7, 2005

Acton, Montana

Phil Scala and Mike Kirkpatrcik photos

Top Alcohol Gallery is here

August 25, 2005

Just over 230 class cars were at Acton (not including brackets) for race #6 of 7 Division 6 events. Out of the 250 cars, over half were from Division 5 and 7, begging the question, should this event be held as a division 6 event. This race is really in no where land, and if you look at the travel distances from any other Division 6 event or Division 5 event to Acton, the distance is actually 140 mile less travel time in Division 5. The average travel distance to a Division 5 event from Acton is 881 miles and to a Division 6 event is 903 miles. In reality, this event is alot to ask of a sportsman drag racer. The average travel distance if this event was taken out would be half of that total.

This is something in my opinion that NHRA and the Division 6 director should be looking hard at. This is not being critical of the facility itself, because it is a very good track and the fans support this event very well. But it is a low car count of Division 6 cars. When Ashcroft had their divisional events, they would get around 230 cars, and all would come from within the division. Only 125 class cars at the most were from Division 6 at Acton.

Mike Austin got his first ever win in Top Alcohol competition driving the Maddern racing Peen Rite TAD. Mike running out of Div 7 this season, defeated Robert Perkins in the final. Round one at Acton was perhaps the closest three pairings ever witnesses at a divisional event (only six cars were qualified in the field), as less than a tenth of a second was the total difference in ets from the three winners and the three losers. All three to half qualifiers were eliminated in round one. Mike Austin got the small field bye in one semi and Robert Perkins cut a great light, and Steve Federlin was a bit later (to his standards) in the other semi final, and he was sent packing despite his .04 et advantage. The final was all out of div 6 cars, and in the end it was the first ever win for Mike Austin, one that everyone on the property cheered for.

 

Division 6 implications with the results, were basically unchanged, since Steve Federlin had no worse result than a semi final to throw away, Brandon Johnson went out in round one, and Hillary Will picked up two in division points. The only way for either of those two drivers to catch Federlin would be for Brandon to get a win and at least a final round at an out of division event. Hillary would need the same and the points would be tied with Steve, so a tie breaker would be needed.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round one
4) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.616, 252.85 def.
3) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.636, 252.24

5) Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.565, 255.63 def.
2) Greg Tacke, Great Falls, Mont., 5.636, 253.85

6) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., 5.614, 256.02 def.
1) Hillary Will, Fortuna, Calif., 5.623, 258.76

Semifinals
Austin, 5.657, 253.23 def. bye
Perkins, 5.634, 255.10 def. Federlin, 5.598, 252.90

Final
Austin, 5.599, 255.10 def. Perkins, 5.578, 255.53

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

In TAFC, The top of the point standings got a bit more muddied with the win by Brain Hough and the first round exit by Bucky Austin. Austin had a 22 point lead over Hough, but that all changed after Acton. Brian now holds a scant one point edge over Austin, and it is likely they will both attend the same races to end the season, at Medford and Vegas. Hank Coolidge made good in his home state with a final round finish. He attended the first Mission event but broke in the test n tune so had not claimed a race until this one. Tim Nemeth did not attend this event, and will have new crewmembers for his next race, likely at Medford. Clint Thompson picked up 43 points on Nemeth and trails him by only 12 with his semi final finish. It will be a two driver race for the Div 6 title, and this one is to tough to pick.

Round one
1) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '03 Camaro, 5.891, 243.11 def. Bye

2) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '04 Camaro, 5.920, 245.58 def.
7) Forrest LeBlanc, Kent, Wash., '02 Avenger, 6.181, 232.67

3) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '04 Firebird, 5.888, 246.93 def.
6) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, 17.545, 45.59

5) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '02 Firebird, 5.897, 245.90 def.
4) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '05 Firebird, 5.907, 248.57

Semifinals
Coolidge, 5.878, 244.74 def. Thompson, 5.915, 242.84
Hough, 6.039, 244.78 def. Gordon, foul

Final
Hough, 5.869, 247.57 def. Coolidge, 5.880, 243.90

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Comp was a Division 5 battle with only two of 13 cars from the North West. #3 qualifier Clint Sallee defeated #2 Gery Lockman as both driver went .54 under their index. Sallee had .03 at the tree and that was his margin at the finish line. Jeff Lane and Jirka Kaplan were the two Div 6 driver to attend and Kaplan was #1 qualifier, but fell off by over two tenths in the second round. Jeff Lane wounded his engine in round one and did not advance or pick up any points on div leader Dave Barcelon.

Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., dragster, B/D, 6.934, 195.87 def.
Gery Lockman, Wellington, Colo., '01 Cavalier, B/AA, 7.478, 184.57.

SUPER STOCK

Super Stock was pretty well a 50/50 split between Div 6 and the two nieghbouring divisions, but Div 6 dominated eliminations until the final round. All but two Div 6 (7 of 9 in attendance) cars advanced into round two, and after round two, only one out of Division car was left. That driver Grant Ginger went to the final and defeated Tom Nolan from Alberta with a double "0" seven light forcing a break out by Nolan. Only three top 10 driver from Division 6 were there, and all three failed to pick up any points on leaders Terrry Sherrill (319 )and Sean Cour (301).

Grant Singer, Regina, Sask., '83 Firebird, SS/CM, 9.703, 128.15 def. Thomas Nolan, Lacombe, Alb., '02 S-10, GT/TA, 10.263, 128.01.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Stock eliminator had just over a third of the cars in competition from the North West and winner Mike Lewis made a big move in the standings with the win over Jeff Parker. He moved into 2nd place (from 5 a tie for 5th), with the win. It will be tough for anyone to catch Jody Lang though as he has a 57 point edge.

Michael Lewis, Sumner, Wash., '90 Camaro, E/FIA, 12.708, 94.47 def.
Jeff Parker, Casper, Wyo., '72 Camaro, F/S, 11.757, 104.21.

SUPER COMP

Two iv 5 driver were in the final round with Steve Johnson taking the victory. No big moves by anyone behind Mike Henderson or Brandon Yoder in the standings and they will be tough to catch with only one in-division race left. Henderson has a 42 point edge over Yoder.

Steve Johnson, Arvada, Colo., dragster, 9.229, 166.60 def.
Brian Percival, Lakewood, Colo., dragster, 9.215, 164.29.

SUPER GAS

Stefan Kondolay still leads the Division but his lead is now down to a measly 2 two. Curt Giese went to the semi finals and grabbed 40 points to close the gap big time. Wayne Linder and Rod Andreas both picked up points on Kondolay as well. Stefan went to the final in round one, but was a runner-up.

John Steffen, Littleton, Colo., '02 Corvette, 10.250, 148.14 def.
Ed Olpin, Lindon, Utah, '27 roadster, 10.236, 146.54.

SUPER STREET

Super Street was also an all Div 5 final round, and Alan Percival was the guy collecting the Wally. Division 6 Super Street is really tight at the top and Dudley Gee moved into a tie for the lead with Jason Heard with a second round finish. Only three rounds separate the top five drivers.

Alan Percival, Litteton, Colo., '69 Dart, 11.291, 133.13 def.
Rick Milinazzo, Ft. Collins, Colo., '61 Impala, 11.258, 135.56.

TOP COMP

Shawn Cowie came close to being the first two time winner in Top Comp. He went from outside the top 15 to 32rd place in the standings with the r/u finish to Division 7 driver Tracy Holt. Only one other top ten driver was in attendance and that was Jessica Juel, who picked up 10 points and moved from 8th to 6th.

Tracy Holt, Rivertown, Utah, dragster, 7.359, 178.68 def.
Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., dragster, 6.875, 196.76.

MOTORCYCLE

Other than TAFC, the Bike class was the only other class that saw two Division 6 driver face each other in the final round. Buff Kobbs defeated Scott Pollacheck. Buff moved into 2nd place behind Mike Scott who went out in round one. Scott leads by 24 and his next throw away is a 40 pointer. Kobbs next one is a 30 pointer. Anita Cunningham dropped down one spot into third despite picking up 10 points with a second round finish.

Buff Kobs, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, '95 Kawasaki, 7.897, 163.53 def.
Scott Pollacheck, Medford, Ore., '80 Suzuki, 9.065, 139.95.

Super Pro Final

 

August 21, 2005 Sunday finals

Saturday Final Qualifying

TAD

1 7470 B/AD Hillary Will, Fortuna CA, Santos-BAR 5.612 258.07 258.07
2 69 B/AD Greg Tacke, Great Falls MT, Hadman-Fonta 5.615 243.63 253.56
3 6610 B/AD Brandon Johnson, Shelton WA, Hadman-BAE 5.645 252.66 252.66
4 10 B/AD Steve Federlin, Oregon City OR, Robeck-B 5.647 252.19 252.19
5 751 B/AD Robert Perkins, Bluffdale UT, Hadman-BAE 5.662 254.23 254.23
6 672 B/AD Mike Austin, Medford OR, Uyehara-BAE 5.685 252.85 252.85

TAFC

 

1 63 Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls OR, '03 Camaro 5.845 244.47 244.47
2 9 Doug Gordon, Paso Robles CA, '04 Camaro 5.868 246.98 246.98
3 6515 Brian Hough, Junction City OR, '04 Firebird 5.878 242.06 245.94
4 8 Bucky Austin, Fife WA, '05 Firebird 5.938 247.38 247.38
5 64 Hank Coolidge, Sunburst MT, '02 Firebird 6.083 201.13 230.80
6 54 Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer CO, '00 Avenger 6.139 235.64 235.64
7 6992 Forrest LeBlanc, Kent WA, '02 Avenger 6.343 224.66 224.66

Comp

 

1 6180 BB/AM Jirka Kaplan, Calgary AB, '23-T Ford 7.243 7.89 -0.647
2 5793 B/AA Gery Lockman, Wellington CO, '01 Cavalier 7.480 8.09 -0.610
3 53 B/D Clint Sallee, Glendive MT, Fritz-Dodge 6.994 7.57 -0.576
4 596 A/EA Paul Anderson, Erie CO, '32 Bantam 7.684 8.26 -0.576
5 5019 B/AA Paul Pittman, Bloomington MN, '01 Firebird 7.579 8.09 -0.511
6 600 B/EA Jeff Lane, North Bend WA, '00 Firebird 8.270 8.78 -0.510
7 590 A/ED Clint Neff, Westminster CO, Fritz-Pontiac 7.047 7.54 -0.493
8 5601 E/D Mike Nahan, Sartell MN, Tuttle-Ford 8.003 8.46 -0.457
9 5125 A/EA Bruce Schmiedl, Regina SK, '32 Bantam 7.829 8.26 -0.431
10 5017 C/AA Kevin Smith, Parker CO, '01 Cavalier 7.980 8.35 -0.370
11 507 K/AA David From, Pilot Butte SK, '23-T Ford 8.433 8.70 -0.267
12 580 C/ED Mark Forbes, Westminster CO, Ken Keir-Chevy 7.986 8.23 -0.244
13 532 A/A Ricky Schadle, Lakewood CO, '53 Studebaker 7.230 7.45 -0.220

Top Comp

1 681 Shawn Cowie, Richmond BC, Victory-KB 6.772 201.46 201.46
2 5591 Jamie Schwartzkopf, Torrington WY, Davis-Chevy 7.036 192.08 192.08
3 6312 Greg Carlile, Lake Stevens WA, Hadman-Chevy 7.161 187.91 188.38
4 723 Tracy Holt, Rivertown UT, Worthy-Chevy 7.285 185.26 185.26
5 6334 Clint Menghini, Belt MT, Altered-Chevy 7.409 181.74 181.74
6 5590 Dan Schwartzkopf, Torrington WY, Davis-Chevy 7.414 184.17 184.17
7 5100 Ken Neibauer, Billings MT, '63 Corvette 7.528 180.94 180.94
8 6025 Jessica Juel, Spokane WA, Mullis-Chevy 7.552 176.81 176.81
9 6451 Scott Hearn, Edmonton AB, Dragster-Chevy 7.611 177.93 178.28
10 5980 Sarah Smith, Worland WY, N&P-Chevy 7.677 173.72 174.32
11 6317 Derek Menholt, Billings MT, '67 Camaro 7.699 177.95 177.95
12 7639 Roger Hall, Las Vegas NV, '63 Corvette 7.789 177.58 177.58
13 6024 Jim Powers, Pocatello ID, Undercover-Chevy 7.805 173.67 173.67
14 6821 Barry Daniluk, Red Deer AB, '02 Camaro 7.885 173.70 173.70
15 6805 Paul Eddins, Rexburg ID, Brogie-Chevy 7.888 169.40 169.40
16 6034 John Evans, North Delta BC, Illngswrth-Chevy 7.904 174.50 174.50
17 6400 Todd Litton, Laurel MT, '04 Cavalier 7.915 173.78 173.78
18 6954 Paul Menholt, Billings MT, Spitzer-Chevy 7.944 169.53 169.53
19 6004 Jeff Nelson, Wolf Point MT, N&P-Chevy 7.955 168.30 168.30
20 6203 Ron Omo, Billings MT, Dragster-Chevy 7.978 170.04 170.04
21 6075 Steve Cook, Rexburg ID, Dragster-Chevy 7.986 169.72 169.72
22 6690 Charley Waples, Red Lodge MT, N&P-GM 8.141 164.05 164.05
23 6169 Kelly Schuh, Billings MT, N&P-Chevy 8.247 163.55 163.55
24 6206 Jake Neibauer, Billings MT, '97 Firebird 8.256 166.56 166.56
25 6290 Warren Drazich, Stockett MT, '88 Trans Am 8.264 171.77 173.63
26 760Y Kenny Yeoman, Las Vegas NV, '93 Daytona 8.343 156.14 156.14

Super Stock

1 6413 SS/BA Jon Percy, Pocatello ID, '64 Savoy 9.406 10.68 -1.274
2 5650 GT/EA Roy Whittemore, Denver CO, '88 Mustang 10.209 11.47 -1.261
3 5205 GT/CA Jim Beuthel, Aurora CO, '91 Cutlass 10.060 11.21 -1.150
4 5723 GT/IA Ernie Penner, Osborne MB, '99 Firebird 10.894 12.04 -1.146
5 6020 SS/N Carl Downard, Boise ID, '55 Chevy 11.690 12.83 -1.140
6 6015 GT/TA Thomas Nolan, Lacombe AB, '02 S-10 10.238 11.36 -1.122
7 6425 GT/CA Art Congdon, Calgary AB, '91 Calais 10.097 11.21 -1.113
8 723 GT/AA Carmeron Kallas, Bluffdale UT, '05 Cavalier 9.784 10.89 -1.106
9 7702 GT/FA Mike Graham, Tempe AZ, '83 Thunderbird 10.551 11.62 -1.069
10 5576 SS/MA Clayton Kolar, Colorado Springs CO, '66 Ma 11.688 12.72 -1.032
11 6640 GT/HA Rodney Stults, Marysville WA, '92 Ciera 10.905 11.89 -0.985
12 6846 GT/AA Byron Setters, Red Deer AB, '05 Cavalier 9.909 10.89 -0.981
13 6283 SS/MA Mike Lewis, Bonney Lake WA, '85 Camaro 11.820 12.72 -0.900
14 688 SS/GA Lloyd Creek, Huntley MT, '67 Chevy II 10.482 11.36 -0.878
15 6019 SS/FS Jim Caughlin, Woodburn OR, '72 Pinto 12.478 13.35 -0.872
16 7451 GT/EA Glenn Snow, St. George UT, '85 Trans Am 10.630 11.47 -0.840
17 5231 SS/CM Grant Singer, Regina SK, '83 Firebird 9.587 10.42 -0.833
18 6115 SS/IA Butch Walsh, Idaho Falls ID, '67 Camaro 10.762 11.52 -0.758
19 6253 SS/GA Bob Reynolds, Fromberg MT, '69 Mustang 11.209 11.36 -0.151

Stock

1 5009 E/SA Scott Burton, Golden CO, '71 Firebird 11.176 12.57 -1.394
2 5730 D/S Jim Hughes, Grand Junction CO, '70 Nova 11.043 12.36 -1.317
3 6111 B/SA Mary Ann Method, Weston OR, '69 Nova 10.813 12.10 -1.287
4 6149 B/SA Wesley Libby, Spokane WA, '71 Challenger 10.877 12.10 -1.223
5 5527 B/SA Bob Swan, Belle Fourche SD, '67 Shelby 10.911 12.10 -1.189
6 575 A/SA Lesley Norton, South Jordan UT, '64 Savoy 10.669 11.83 -1.161
7 6688 F/S Mike Pruss, Red Deer AB, '67 Camaro 11.543 12.67 -1.127
8 5097 F/S Jeff Parker, Casper WY, '72 Camaro 11.544 12.67 -1.126
9 7504 C/SA Dallas Theobald, St. George UT, '69 Barrac 11.142 12.25 -1.108
10 5227 A/SA John Cooper, LaPorte CO, '67 Fairlane 10.730 11.83 -1.100
11 6001 O/SA Norm LaPointe, Edmonton AB, '68 Malibu 13.001 14.08 -1.079
12 5356 G/S Glenn Person, Regina SK, '73 Dart 11.720 12.78 -1.060
13 5802 F/FIA Steve Couch, Sidney NE, '00 Dakota 12.511 13.56 -1.049
14 6503 B/SA Ross Allsup, Columbus MT, '70 Mustang 11.066 12.10 -1.034
15 5325 F/S Rick Wessels, Belle Fourche SD, '69 Camaro 11.653 12.67 -1.017
16 6521 L/SA Charlene Gullett, Calgary AB, '80 Malibu 12.612 13.61 -0.998
17 652 G/S Bob Gullett, Calgary AB, '68 Nova 11.782 12.78 -0.998
18 5702 J/SA Barry Pollard, Regina SK, '79 Aspen 12.394 13.35 -0.956
19 6283 E/FIA Michael Lewis, Sumner WA, '90 Camaro 12.336 13.19 -0.854
20 5370 F/SA Al Steinmetz, Chubbock ID, '72 Cutlass 11.885 12.72 -0.835
21 5313 E/S Justin McIntosh, Powell WY, '66 Nova 11.704 12.51 -0.806
22 5321 D/S Alan Messer, Buchanan MT, '68 Camaro 11.565 12.36 -0.795
23 600 B/FIA Jeff Lane, North Bend WA, '96 Corvette 11.461 12.25 -0.789
24 6736 E/SA Terry Hembree, Idaho Falls ID, '69 Camaro 11.787 12.57 -0.783
25 55 C/SA Todd Leitner, Belle Fourche SD, '70 Mustang11.500 12.25 -0.750
26 6619 E/SA Cory Thompson, Abbotsford BC, '69 Firebird 11.836 12.57 -0.734
27 5588 G/S William Bogner, Belle Fourche SD, '68 Chev 12.060 12.78 -0.720
28 5733 B/S Dane McIntosh, Powell WY, '68 Camaro 11.381 12.04 -0.659
29 6653 G/S Mike Corbett, Miles City MT, '65 Chevelle 12.158 12.78 -0.622
30 733 F/SA Richard Ariotti, Boulder City NV, '74 Dust 12.113 12.72 -0.607
31 7945 I/SA Earl Snow Sr., St. George UT, '69 Chevelle 12.622 13.19 -0.568
32 5003 H/SA Julie Dahlberg, Broomfield CO, '70 Camaro 12.473 13.04 -0.567
33 6161 H/SA David Trenk, Florence MT, '72 Charger 13.013 13.04 -0.027