 |
 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Canada West Doorslammer web site is here
West Coast Pro Mod web site is here. Nov. 19, 2004
AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge Presented by TLR to feature 14 events in 2005 with over $660,000.00 in prize money up for grabs; Rules changes sure to produce quickest and fastest runs in Pro Mod History DALLAS,TX- The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR will consist of 14 events in 2005. Of the 14 scheduled, and to be scheduled events, 10 will be conducted at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events. The remaining 4 event dates and locations will be announced very soon. Dave Wood, President and founder of AMS Staff Leasing, is pleased with the direction the series is headed in for 2005."From day one of our program, our goal has been to take the Pro Mod class to the next level. I feel that we have done just that with our new program for the 2005 season." Wood said. Joining Dave Wood and AMS Staff Leasing in 2005 will be presenting sponsor Tommy Lipar Racing. Tommy Lipar, a Texas-based businessman and Pro Mod team owner, is eager to begin his association with the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge. "The opportunity to join Dave Wood and AMS Staff Leasing in sponsoring the Pro Mod class is something that I am thrilled to be a part of," Lipar added. "2005 is going to be an exciting year for everyone involved." Kenny Nowling, President of Nowling Motorsports Management, a St. Louis, MO based motorsports marketing firm, will once again administrate the series in 2005. "I am honored that Dave Wood and Tommy Lipar have put their faith in me to manage and oversee this series again in 2005," Nowling said. "With the additional four races, a sixteen car field, increased payouts and a championship purse 2005 is going to be undoubtedly the best the Pro Mod class has ever seen". The rules structure for the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR will be different from that of the previous years of involvement. The highly volatile category will have a rulebook of its own as written by a special committee. In the past, the rules had mirrored that of the International Hot Rod Association. The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR will most likely produce the first ever legal five second by a doorslammer by removing many of the performance limiting factors the IHRA has added in the past two seasons. While AMS/TLR Pro Mod Challenge administrators have yet to print the official rulebook, the current plans are to increase the supercharger overdrive back to 29% for blown cars. Nitrous-injected doorslammers will have unlimited cubic inches. For the first time in the history of the class, turbocharged entries will figure into the equation. Additional rules amendments will reward drivers of pre-1972 model entries, with the exception of the 1963-1967 Corvettes, with a 100 pound weight break. The 1963-1967 Corvettes will receive a 50 pound weight break. The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR will further expand in 2005 to include a sixteen-car field. Qualifying will be reduced to three attempts, two on Friday and one on Saturday, with the first round of eliminations scheduled for Saturday and the remaining three rounds of eliminations on Sunday. All 10 AMS/TLR Pro Mod Challenge races held at the NHRA POWERade events will conform to an invitation only basis as determined by a special committee. The ten-race schedule at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events will remain the same as 2004, with the exception of one event. The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR will now feature two events in Las Vegas. The traditional stop in Memphis has been removed from the 2005 schedule. For the first time since the introduction of the category in 2001, a $100,000 points fund will be in place to reward the world champion with a $50,000 prize. Formally known as the AMS Pro Mod Shootout, the renamed AMS Pro Mod Clash will move back to Dallas in 2005. The purse has been increased from $10,000 to $44,000 with the winner receiving $25,000. Anyone to win both the event and the Clash would also receive a $5,000 "double up" bonus. 2005 AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR Schedule (10 of 14* Races to be held at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events listed below.) Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL, March 17 - 20 *Remaining 4 races TBD. 2005 AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR Event Payout (16 Car Field) Winner - $10,000 2005 AMS/TLR Pro Mod Clash (8 CAR FIELD) Winner- $25,000 2005 AMSPROMODS.COM Low Qualifier Bonus Per Event- $ 2,000 2005 AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR Championship Payout 1ST PLACE $ 50,000
NOV. 18, 2004 Al Billes and Jim Oddy team up for 2005 (courtesy Jeff Burk)
Billes will be much more than just the new driver of Jim Oddy's Summit Racing Equipment-backed car. The 2005 season will see a two-car effort for the Jim Oddy Racing team. Billes' '53 Corvette will be painted identical to Oddy's new Dodge Stratus and will have sponsorship from Oddy Racing's primary sponsor Summit Racing Equipment and major associates Isky Racing Cams and Blower Drive Service and all other associates.
"We will race both cars but our main efforts will be to win the 2005 IHRA World Championship for Summit Racing Equipment and all of our other sponsors," said Oddy. Oddy, based in Elma, NY, and Billes, from Barrie, Ontario, Canada, both will retain their own race shops and dyno facilities in order to prepare and maintain both cars at championship levels. "I can't tell you how excited and proud I am to be chosen by Jim to drive for his team," said Billes. "I just want to race and win a World Championship. I think driving and working with Jim and the rest of the Summit Racing Equipment team gives me the best opportunity to do that I've ever had. I do have one personal goal and that is to be the first Canadian Pro Mod driver to win a World Championship. I think driving for Jim can make that happen." The team plans to get both cars and engine programs race ready then begin pre-season testing early in 2005 to get Billes and the team comfortable and familiar with each other. The new Stratus will debut at the first IHRA race of the season, March 31 in San Antonio, Texas. "Our goals for next season are the same as they were last season and every season that I have raced," said Oddy. "To win races, have fun and if possible win a championship for our sponsors." Major sponsorship for Jim Oddy Racing in 2005 comes from Summit Racing
Equipment; major associates include Isky Racing Cams, Blower Drive Service,
Red Line Oil, Hoosier Tires and MSD. Monday 16, 2004 A notice to all WCPM competitors, we are currently working on the 2005 schedule, and would like your input. Here are a few of the possibilities for your input. 1. Is an eight race schedule the best or would it be okay to have a nine or ten race series. 2. Edmonton would like to come back in 2005, but want to have their event as part of their "Hot August Night" event. It is Wednesday, either August 9 or August 16. 3. Three is a possibility of one to three more tracks added to the schedule. They are Woodburn (very probable), and Seattle, and Somona possibles. These three tracks are premier facilities on the West Coast and their facilities hosting WCPM dates would be great additions. 4. Rules for the 2005 series. Your input is very important, particularly with the AMS changes being bantered about. We want strong participation from both blower and nitrous cars and will not make rules that handicap either. That being said the participation from the blower cars in 2004 was not as strong as it could of been. We only had one blower car that was a regular competitor, and two notrous cars that raced at every event. One of the problems in 2004 was having events all bunched up on each other. That will be rectified this season. We had 22 differnet cars compete in 2004 and would like to see more in 2005. 12 blown cars and 10 nitrous cars, with the nitrous cars competing more regularly. The IHRA rules are what is currently run and they should probably be the rules for the class. With the addition of a couple more sea level type tracks will help to blower contingent. Email me to give your input. If you don't speak up, you have no right to complain. Let's make the 2005 season the best yet. Sunday Nov. 14 , 2004
Is a Dodge is Mike Janis' future??? Mike Janis Already Working on Title Defense
Keith Engling owner of Skinny Kid Race Cars in Highland, Michigan accepted the task of replacing one of the most successful Pro Modified machines ever to hit the track. Janis’ 63’ Vette made it’s on track debut nearly ten years ago and has since won two IHRA world titles, taken home 11 Iron Men, and set records in both the NHRA and IHRA. Engling may be best known for his work with NMRA (National Mustang Racers Association) racers Donny Walsh Jr., Mike Testani, Dan Millen, Billy Glidden, Pande Talevsky, among others.
Engling also campaigns one of the wildest Pro Street racing machines on the planet, a 72’ Hurts Olds 442 driven by Brian Robbins. The duo of Engling and Robbins compete in the Fastest Street Car Pro Edelbrock Drag Racing Series in the highly competitive Pro Street Class. Robbins holds both the speed and ET records for Pro Street Class with a 218.40 Top Speed and a 6.553 elapsed time behind the wheel of Engling’s Olds.
Janis and Engling will be running some tests this week at DaimlerChrysler’s state of the art $37.5 million aero-acoustic wind tunnel in Auburn Hills, MI. Janis and Engling hope the time spent in the wind tunnel will equate to lower ETs on the track and a third title for Janis.
Nov. 2, 2004
Ashley was out on Monday testing. (Testing under the new expected rules for the AMS series in 2005, he ran 6.13
Nov. 1, 2004 Final AMS standings follow the weekend report The "Iceman" cometh (again) With Canadian Al Billes taking the top honours and the 10k (winner take all) in the Shoot-out (Challenge for the NHRA types) on Friday, what was left for the AMS series was crowning the season champion, and competing for the final event of the year. With a 16 car field competing this weekend for the first time (in what will be the norm starting in 2005), the qualifying session were cut down to three sessions (like their rivals, the TA classes), and first round of elimination's would go on Saturday night. After final qualifying, the two different types of cars were equally split amongst the top four. The two 'Speedtech' nitrous cars belonging to Mike Castellana and Shannon Jenkins were #'s one and three and the top blown car throughout the season, Mike Ashley, and newcomer Richie Stevens were #'s two and four. Only one other nitrous car made the field and that was West Coast standout Dennis Radford in the #12 position. Danny Rowe (in the hunt for the championship) and Wayne Torkelson were the only other West Coast drivers to make the field. Kirk Kuhns failed to qualify and ended up #18.
Elimination's In round one Saturday evening, the biggest matchup was #1 and 2 in the points Al Billes vs Danny Rowe. Billes had a slight chance to win the championship but he had to win the race and hope Mike Ashley lost in round one. Danny Rowe actually still had a chance for the title as well, but he to had to win the race and have Ashley lose in round one, but he also had to set the et and MPH records, worth an extra 200 points. It was a great race with Billes running quicker than Rowe, a 6.285 to a 6.312 but Rowe getting a 7/100's hole shot and holding on for a 4/100ths win. That basically put the championship to rest, but there still was a glimmer of hope for Rowe. The other key match-ups in round one were Scotty Cannon Jr. (taking over for the MAN), taking out Von Smith, Richie Stevens squeezing by Dennis Radford at 1000 feet, Shannon Jenkins taking out Wayne Torkelson, Jay Payne getting his 2nd round win of the year, over #1 qualifier Castellana and Mike Ashley deciding the championship in round one, with a victory and low et for the weekend (6.210) over Thomas Patterson. Congratulations to Mike Ashley and the "Unique Performance" team.
In Round two, team bragging right were on the line as Ashley took on Danny Rowe. Rowe has been one of the hottest drivers in the second half of the season, and wanted revenge after losing to his team owner in the 10K to win shoot-out Friday night. Danny did what he has done all season long, and get a big holeshot on his competitor. But like what has happened on many occasions as well, be struck the tires hard and went into tire shake and got real loose, having to click it early. To make matters worse, he had to watch Ashley have problems as well, and he too clicked it early. Ashley coasted to an 8 second win and a spot in the semis. Zach Barklage got a hole shot win over Stevens, Cannon Jr. had low et of the round (a 6.22) and a win over Payne, And Shannon Jenkins was still holding up the nitrous teams honor by defeating Chip King, when King rolled the beams. In the Semi finals, Cannon continued to make the old man happy as he got by Barklage on a holeshot, and Jenkins made it a classic final round nitrous/blown match-up, when he defeated the 2004 champion Ashley.
Semi finals (W) Shannon Jenkins
(Awesome Motorsports '68 Camaro) 0.088 6.277 222.58 (W) Scott Cannon Jr ('53 Studebaker)
0.038 6.332 224.36 Final Round The final round saw the wily veteran Shannon Jenkins vs the newest shoe (with alot of pedigree) in AMS competition. The winner of this event would be the sixth different winner of the 10 race season.
The race ended up to be over early when Cannon got a bit too anxious, and red lit by 16/1000ths of a second giving the easy win to the "Iceman". (W) Shannon Jenkins
(Awesome Motorsports '68 Camaro 0.040 6.271 222.44
Weekend photo highlights
Here are the unofficial final point standings 1) Mike Ashley 1,843 (1 Win) 2158
Oct. 30, 2004 Al Billes takes the AMS Shootout in Vegas. Canadian Al Billes continued his winning ways with his 7th round win in a row in Pro Mod competition. He defeated Shannon Jenkin in a nitrous/blower final round in the AMS Shootout Friday night. Billes stormed to the quickest et (does not count towards qualifying though) of the weekend so far with a 6.233 to 6.253 victory, dispite Jenkin's .060 to .077 rt advantage. The margin was a close .003 (about two feet) . In the semi finals, Jenkins defeated Mike Ashley by .0001 (one inch) on a holeshot. SpeedZone's Jamie Clerf had a chance to talk to Billes
just after his win. "How does the Shootout win compare to your
other wins?"
In qualifying, Wayne Toerkelson and Danny Rowe are in the field from the West Coast, but Dennis Radford and Kirk Kuhns are just outside the field.
Oct. 28, 2004 LAS VEGAS The 16-car field also gives way to a change in the point system for the Pro Mods. At Vegas the winner will receive 500 points and the runner-up 400. The two semifinalists will be awarded 300 points each. Quarterfinal finishers earn 200 points, while the first round finishers receive 100 points. A driver can earn additional points for setting either an elapsed-time or speed record or both. Both E.T. and speed records are worth 100 extra points each. Those points, plus those awarded for qualifying (16 points for the No. 1 qualifier down to 1 point for the No. 16 qualifier), brings the most points that are available to a single driver to 716 points. With the Las Vegas event being the last race on the 2004 NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge schedule and the final event at which a driver can earn points, this means that only three drivers remain in contention for the DRO/NMM Cup, awarded to the driver that finishes No. 1 in the final point standings. The three drivers are Mike Ashley (with 1843 points), Al Billes (1526 points) and Danny Rowe (1313 points). It's going to be a shootout to see who is awarded the DRO/NMM Cup on Sunday night at the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge awards banquet at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Speaking of shootouts, eight drivers have their sights set on winning the second annual AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Shootout, a special race-within-a-race, which will take place on Oct. 30 during qualifying. The Shootout features the most consistent Pro Mod qualifiers throughout the NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge season with a winner take all purse of $10,000. The opening round pairings for the Shootout are: 1.) Mike Ashley ('67 Shelby Mustang) vs. 8.) Mike Castellana ('68 Camaro), 2.) Fred Hahn ('01 Corvette) vs. 7.) Zach Barklage ('04 Grand Am), 3.) Von Smith ('04 Mustang) vs. 6.) Mike Janis ('63 Corvette) and 4.) Al Billes ('53 Corvette) vs. 5.) Shannon Jenkins ('68 Camaro). Oct. 25, 2004 IHRA World Nationals, Rockingham North Carolina A dominating performance for two of four #1 qualifiers in Pro Mod and Funny Car as Canadian's Al Billes and Rob Atchison win at Rockingham. Clay Millican comes from the #5 hole to get his 6th consecutive "Rock" win and Brian Gahm gets the upset win in Pro Stock over #1 qualifier and new series champion John Nobile. In the biggest move I have ever seen in the final standings, Billes who was over 100 points out of second sitting in 6th, and needed a Herculean effort in order to move into second place in the standings. It probably was not even in the thought process of the Al and the team, after back to back first round exits at the previous two events. After setting the class on its ear, with a record setting performance in elimination's they had to think that just maybe they could pull off one of the biggest point swing in the class history, but a number of factors had to play into their hand. For starters, anyone who qualified in the tough 16 car field was capable of winning, and the team had to be on top in round. To start elimination's, Harold Martin currently in third in the standings was not in the field so everyone on Sunday would pick-up qualifying and at least first round points that the AC Delco driver would not. In round one #2 qualifier Rick Distefano was the first casualty in the field, as he went down to Mike Castellana who went low (6.160) for elimination's, while Distefano shook and slowed to a 6.369. Quain Stott also in front of Billes, went out in round one as well, to Mike Janis. Billy Harper, who sat in 5th place, had already lost ground to Billes, based on qualifying points (16-6), so Billes had moved into 5th after qualifying. Distefano was the real loser in the field when it came to points, as he did not attend every race, so wasn't eligible for the 31 bonus points which was to play a key role in the final standings. In round two, Al defeated Von Smith in a close 6.196/226.70 to 6.224/226.73 match-up. In the semis, He would face fellow Ontario driver, Carl Spiering who had an easy second round victory over Chip King, who rolled the beams. The semi was another good drag race, with Billes taking it with almost an identical 6.195/226.70 from his previous round. Spiering went 6.256/225.03. The Final round would put Blower vs Nitrous, as Mike Castellana who defeated Mike Janis and Harper in rounds two and three. It was not much of a final as the Western Beef Camaro shook and got loose of the starting line while Billes took another 6.19 stroll, this time a 6.191/227 that moved him all the way up to 2nd (unofficial) place. That placing gave him a $12,500.00 extra pay day for his effort. To go along with the win and contingencies, he would walk away with around $35,000.00 for his efforts. Pro Mod Elimination's Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '68 Camaro,
Right lane, (0.071) 6.160 226.39 def. Rick DiStefano,Calgary AB, '53
Corvette, (0.063) 6.369 226.85
The full IHRA story is here Oct. 21, 2004 Final standings for the NW doorslammer (Top Sportsman) series PLACE CAR DRIVER POINTS P/BACK
Sept. 30, 2004
Danny Rowe gets his second win in three rounds....... Laguna Hills Danny Rowe has come into form in the last five races in the AMS Pro Mod series. After failing to qualify for the first four events of the season Danny has earned more points in the last five races than any other competitor in the series. He now sits in third place in the standings and has a chance for second place heading into the final event, a 16 car field at Las Vegas. His win this past weekend came from the #8 spot in the field and included An .001 rt in round one against #1 qualifier Fred Hahn in round one. He had the holeshot on all three of his competitors and had low et (the two quickest et's actually) of elimination's (6.230) in his final round defeat of Tommy Gray. Rowe's teammate has almost clicnched the title as he leads by over three rounds over Canadian Al Billes. A five round final race does give Billes a chance, but he certainly needs alot of luck. WCPM competitors Kirk Kuhns and Dennis Radford both made the field and faced each other in the first round. Kuhns blown Viper took the first round race despite Radford's .036 advantage at the starting line. Kuhn's lost to in the semis in a very close 6.24 to 6.27.
Final Qualifying
1) Mike Ashley 1,843 (1 Win) How points are earned Winner 400 Qualifying points are awarded as follows: 8pts for #1,
7 pts for #2 through to 1 pt for #8 qualifier. Sept. 28, 2004 The Canada West Doorslammers season final race results are here. And what a weekend it was!!! A weekend gallery is here. August 31, 2004 West Coast Pro Mod results from Mission are here. Canada West Doorslammer results are here. August 28, 2004
Friday testing at MRP for the 'three part' Door car Shootout (West Coast Pro Mods, Canada west Doorslammers and Pro Street) included Rob and Randy Vischer, Joe Delehay and Keith Korecki out making test laps in Pro Mod, Bob Marshall out for the first time in his new Pro Stock style Grand Am, Grant Howell out making a bunch of laps in the 37 Chevy and newcomer Greg Anderson (from Wash) out for the first time in his Nova. In Pro Street, Rash Dhaliwal, Glen Braid, Ken Sihota, and Brian Lane all made hits, as well a new Firebird out of Washington (Jeremy something I believe) will debut his cool ride. Randy Parker and the clan are out testing the alky flopper as well and Walt Austin his lending a hand in the tuning end as Randy has struggled this season. They picked a good one to assist that is for sure. A Friday gallery is here for Pro Mod and CWDS. Another gallery with the Pro Street and others including buddy Gary and Nadine Fedyk's ultra cool Ford Wagon is here. In Norwalk Ohio only one session of pro qualifying including the Pro Mods was run as the weather socked in and was called. Rick Distefano is #1 with an opening 6.269, Carl Spiering is #12 with a 6.358 and Dennis Radford is #16 with 6.463. Glen Kerunsky and John Scialpi are just outside the field with 6.46's as well. Here are the West Coast Competitors after Friday. Saturday morning has rain and the schedule will probably be dropped down to only one session (if they are lucky). 1 6695 Rick DiStefano, Calgary AB, *'53 Corvette 6.269
227.46 227.46 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 671 Glen Kerunsky, Calgary AB, *'57 Bel Air 6.466 220.40 220.40
August 25, 2004
Memphis Mid South National's AMS Pro Mod results
Final Qualifying
August 20, 2004
Point Standings 1. Mike Janis 588 Here was final qualiying after three rounds in Pro Mod: 1. Mike Castellana 6.196 227.65
Pro Stock
Final Qualifying 1. John Montecalvo Citgo Cavalier 6.474 214.86 Point standings 1. John Montecalvo 658 August 3, 2004
August 3, 2004 Canadians cannot capitalize at third home event. (photos courtesy DragRaceCanada.com) Pro Mod------Canadians Al Billes, Rick Distefano,
Glen Kerunsky and Carl Spiering all have the same thing in common this
year when competing in their home country. They can't win! Billes and
Kerunsky both have wins in the Hooters series this year, south of the
border, and Rick has gone to the final round in Canada (Edmonton in
2004 and 2003).
The win moves Janis closer to Martin, and now trails his by 32 points heading into the home stretch. This is shaping up to be a close race with 5 races remaining.
Canadian Larry O'Brien went to round two in Pro Stock
June 29, 2004 St.Louis: Gateway International Raceway. Final Pro Mod Eliminations Danny Rowe follows up his r/u at Englishtown with a win at St.Louis. Danny Rowe, cannon fodder in the first four events of the year in the AMS Pro Mod Series is now looking like one of the favorites, as he reaces his second final in a row, culminating with a win this past weekend at Gateway International Raceway. On a day when it was hard to celebrate with the death of Top Fuel favorite Darrell Russell, The team had to keep their cool and continue through eliminations knowing that there was a serious crash just earlier. Danny weent into eliminations with a very consistant car for the first time all season and used that advantage to run no worse than 6.22 and have no worse light than a .086 to defeat East Coast hitter Von Smith in a Ford vs Chevy Final. The win by Danny combined with the r/u a week earleir at Englishtown vaulted him into the top 6 in the standings, when only two races earlier he was not even on the radar screen.
Points standings 1) Al Billes 1,418 (3 Wins)
June 20, 2004 Englishtown New Jersey. Final Pro Mod eliminations
Pointas after 5 events 1) Al Billes 1,418 (3 Wins) Here is how points are earned in the AMS Pro Mod series Winner 400
May 25, 2004 AMS Pro Mods at Chicago Race four in the ten race AMS Pro Mod series wrapped
up on Sunday, and the first Nitrous winner of the year was crowned.
Mike Castellana in one of two "Awesome Motorsports" Camaros
ran like there was complete parity between the Nitrous and Blown cars.
He qualified in the top half and had the second and third quickest ET's
of elimination's.
Final Qualifying 1. Fred Hahn 6.191 229.35
2 Mike Ashley 6.208 226.54
To get the win, Castellana had to take out Canadian and two time 2004 winner Al Billes in round one and Houston event Mike Ashley in the semi finals before defeating #1 qualifier Fred Hahn. Hahn got around Von Smith in round one and Zach Barklage in the semi finals. In the final Castellana cut a great .017 light and went 6.22 to Hahn's .042 light and 6.28 for an almost tenth of a second margin of victory.
Here are the point standings following race #4 (Chicago May 23, 2004).
1) Al Billes 1,013 (2 Wins)
May 17, 2004 The Lucas Oil Canada West Doorslammer race #1 results A CWDoorslammer Photo Gallery is
here
May 16, 2004 Joe
Mellof capped off a great day for the Maple Ridge racing family and
a start to a defense of the title he won in 2003, as he defeated Rob
Charlton in the final round. The 14 car field was lead by TCS Driver
Bob Marshall in his 555 inch Ron Parr built BB Chevy. Duane Grosart,
the expected #1 qualifier in his six second Blown 55 Chevy Pro Mod,
got only one of four qualifying attempt in, and it was the last session
on Sunday, so the team just made an easy In Elimination's, the qualifying ladder is set up so
the guys closest in qualifying race each other in the first round making
for very close side by side runs. Mellof defeated Marshall by 2/1000ths
as both cars broke out, and Mellof was closer to his dial by that slim
Margin. Grosart dialed a six in his first round race against Ray Kirton,
but only got a 7.12 for his second lap of the season with the new engine
combo. Kirton's 7.69 was more than enough. Terry Spargo could not handle
Mike Bedsworth's .028 light despite his best et's with the nitrous Camaro.
Bedsworth had his best effort in Doorslammer, and it was with an all
new car for the Marysville based driver. Rob Charlton defeated engine
builder Brian Kikel in Steve Buerger's 63 Corvette, as both drivers
were off on their usual good lights. Hall of Famer The "Lucas Oil" CWDS association would like to thank RJ Enterprises for bringing you this weekend's event. They would also like to thank all the other series sponsors including Lucas Oil, "Up in Flames" Clothing Company, Charlton Automotive, Pro Stock Performance, TCS Performance Products, Jet Tools and Equipment, Aurora Electronics, Davenport Custom Race Cars, B&B Tireland and the two latest and newest sponsors Ray Kirton Trucking and Mopac Performance. A CWDoorslammer Photo Gallery is here. Here is Final Qualifying for Race #1:
Cool new ditigal reader board from RacePak is in Duane Grosart's 55 Chevy. The "Lucas Oil" Canada West Doorslammer series race #1 presented by
Race one for the CWDS series started Saturday with qualfiying at Mission Raceway Park. 16 cars are trying for the 8.70 min. bump. Unfortunately for the Super Save Gas sponsored Layne Wooley, he won't play on Sunday as he broke Saturday ending his weekend. The #1 qualifier so far is Bob Marshall driving his Pro Stock style Cutlass. He ran 7.41 @ 185. The expected #1 qualifier Duane Grosart, has yet to make a lap in his blown 55 Chevy. #2 in the field is Joe Mellof. One more session of quaolifying goes Sunday Morning before eliminations at noon. Pictures Sunday. May 1, 2004 The IHRA announces new Over Drive rules effective immediately. The rule drops the OD limit to 20.0%. Let's start the debate boys.
May 3, 2004 Bristol Thunder Valley Nationals Pro Mod Coverage Semi Finals (W) Al Billes (SMP *'53 Corvette) 0.057 6.218 226.24 (W) Mitch Stott (Radiac Abrasives *'63 Camaro) 0.062 6.224 226.77 Final Round (W) Al Billes (SMP *'53 Corvette) 0.074 6.243 226.24
March/April archives are here. All other months are in the right column. |
Check out the West Coast Pro Mod web site for all their series news
2004 April 2004 archives are here
2003 Archives February 2003 Doorslammer Zone
Your favorite West Coast and Canadian Pro Mod and Doorslammers web sites: Trevor Lowe Al Billes John Scialpi Pat Stoken
|
presented
by 
driver
Al Billes to replace the retired Fred Hahn as driver for the team. 
The
'Vette will compete in selected races on the AMS/NHRA circuit and in
Canada with an engine program developed using NHRA rules. The team's
2005 Dodge Stratus will compete for the IHRA World Championship and
have a dedicated engine program based on IHRA rules. Billes will drive
both cars. 
Canadian
Glen Kernusky goes to his second final round...........of the year,
unfortunately he did not come away with the win. Mike Janis runs his
second low 6.20 of elimination's to take a 1/10th of a second win over
the Canadian. This was the second time Glen had come for the bottom
half of the field to make the final round of an IHRA National event.
At the first event of the year, Glen was #16 qualifier but went through
the top half of the field to get the win. Here he was the #14 qualifier
and took on the "Iceman" in round one and ran his quickest
lap since the 20% rule, a solid 6.286 to Jenkin's loose and early shut
off 12 second et. In round two, Kerunsky faced Paul Athey and got another
relative easy win, 6.30 to 6.95, when Athey got close to the wall and
clicked it early. In the semi finals, He faced fellow Calgarian Rick
Distefano, who was running very quick, but hurt an engine in the second
round, after running 6.227 (the second quickest of elimination's). The
team 
made
an engine swap, but Rick pulled the trigger way too early and red lit
away his chance. Glen ran a 6.294 and got lane choice over Janis who
also ran a 6.294 in his semi final win over Fred Hahn. The final round
was close off the starting line until the 330 clock where the Janis
HP started to pull ahead and steadily moved in front of Kerunsky until
a 6.226 (low ET of elimination's) to 6.321 came up on the scoreboards.
Janis's win moved him into 1st place in the standings, ahead of Harold
Martin who was a first round fodder at Martin. Rick Distefano, sits
in 6th place in the standings but is only one round out of 3rd place.
But
the home jinx reared its ugly head for the third consecutive race. Distefano
looked to be an even odds favorite heading into elimination's, when
he qualified #2 with an awesome 6.174/229.08. In round one he took on
Pat Moore and Moore had the starting line advantage and held off a tire
shaking Distefano 6.372 to 6.376. Kerunsky went in as an alternate when
Mike Lockwood could not make the call and he was defeated in a close
matchup with Mike Castellana, Carl Spiering lost to event winner Mike
Janis and Al Billes got outrun by Ed Hoover. 
Mike
Janis had a tough one in round two against point leader Harold Martin,
and both cars ran great 6.21's. Janis had .07 at the tree though and
won easily. He stream rolled over Ed Hoover in the semis and took on
Billy Harper in the final round. The final was not close as Janis stayed
in the 20's with a 6.25 and Harper shook at the top of first gear and
cold only run a 6.49 in the final round. 
Mike
in the Western Beef Camaro, qualified #3 with a 6.22 and team mate Shannon
Jenkins was #7 with a 6.27 to be the only Nitrous cars to qualify. The
only other nitrous car entered, was driven by West Coast standout Dennis
Radford, and he ended up #14 of 22. Danny Rowe and Wayner Wayne, two
other West Coast regulars also failed to qualify at Chicago.
lap
to assure they would be in the field. 
Frank
Nelson went in deep and got the red light against the newly painted
62 Belair driven by Dave Warren. Unfortunately for Warren he hurt his
new big inch powerplant and did not return for round two. John Collette
was easy pickings for rookie Ron Beauchoin when he and crew chief Paul
forgot to activate the nitrous bottle, and in the final pairing of round
one, Steve Ellis won the race but lost the war against Grant Howell
as he got the win but hurt the motor and failing to make round two.
The second round saw only one pairing due to the 1st round carnage,
and in the lone side by side, Mike Bedsworth defeated Ray Kirton in
the blown pickup with a great .017 light and 7.82 to 7.67 for Kirton.
Mellof got the odd car bye run and Charlton and Beaudoin both got singles
due to breakage. In the semis, Mellof had a great 
.019
light and defeated Bedsworth who had a game .025 light, but could not
run his 7.78 number. Rob Charlton got to be the other finalist as he
defeated Beaudoin after both has rt's within .004 of each other. The
final round had 2003 #1 and #3 face each other, when friendly rival
Joe Mellof and Rob Charlton in opposite ends of the Chevy spectrum faced
each other. Charlton in the newer 2000 S-10 faced the 63 Corvette driven
by Joe Mellof. Mellof got the huge hole-shot .009 - .061 and scrubbed
10 mph off at the finish line to take a 7.59 to 7.89 win light. A good
start to defending his 2003 championship. 
