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Sunday eliminations By the numbers Sorry for the delay in posting the pro mod results, but it has been a crazy week for sure.
The report First Pair out on paper should have been the closest race, and man did it ever live up to expectations. Wayne is in Ross' old car and the two are very good friends and they live in the same city. The two left the tree within .007 of each other and both were dialed on the tree. A .029 to .036 (in favour of Hogenson). At half track they were less than a half car length apart and they stayed that close right to the finish line. The end results was a huge career best for Hogenson, a great 6.251@ 222 mph(Mission track nitrous record) to Hofer's new career best (we said that a lot this race, didn't we) 6.33@ 219mph. Second pair saw Johanns and Perry Thyr do battle. This one was all Thyr on the starting line as he had .043 at the tree, but by 330 feet Tommy had caught the Drayton Valley driver and went by to the tune of a 6.19/226 to Thyr's game 6.47/213. Pair # 3 had Joe Delehay and Vern Mills square off. The second Nitrous Vs Blower match -up. Vern had exactly 1/10th of a second at the tree and it needed to be two more as Delehay had to seriously pedal the car and Mills did the same. Further down track. Delehay recovered and ripped the back half of the track with a 6.826/229 to a 7.145/190, two tenths back at the finish line. The final match up had the #1 qualifier "Rickie D" and the #8 Dan "the man" Vogt pair up. Rickie dodged a bullet on this one as he was real late, and Dan was relatively on time, 3.73 to .095. Dan drove through the clutch on this run and laboured al the way down track. Rick had to seriously pedal the car, as he looked to rotate the earth. He recovered and chased down Dan by 1100 feet and won the race with a 6.840 to a 7.203. The margin was less than a tenth. The semi finals saw the top four fight for the final two. #4 Ross Hogenson had #1 DI Stefano and both were deadly at the starting line. Sub .05's for both but this one was all the "D' man as he came close to repeating his qualifying ark with a great 6.071 in the heat of the day. He also nailed top speed with a 234.61 monster shot. Ross Hogenson had to wish he was in the other pairing as his 6.260 would have been enough for the win. Tommy Johanns got the win against Joe Delehay, who left before the tree was activated. Tommy took his time leaving but the car did hook up to a 6.28@223. Final round Blower vs Blower, US vs Canada, 53 Corvette vs 53 Corvette. Team USA got this round with the scenario that plagued Rick Distefano all weekend a great run was followed by a tire shaker. I know that Rick's major concern on that weekend, was seeing how far he could pull the trigger and in the final he squeezed it a little too much. Johanns who has been very consistent on 5 of his 6 runs, drove right down broadway with a 6.306@220.mph.
Photo highlights
Hofer and Hogenson had THE race of eliminations in round one, as they were side by side (no pedal job) for the first 600 feet, until the Hogenson power pulled him ahead in the last half of the track. Perry Thyr gave it a game effort, but he did not have the power of the blown Colorado car, as Tommy Johanns lead from 100 feet on.
Joe Delehay was late off the tree in round one and then had to pedal the car to recover in time to catch the nitrous car of Vern Mills. Mills also was not without issues, as he was loose and lifted early allowing Delehay to pass him as 900 feet.
Di Stefano got his starting line issues sorted out in round two, in time for his race against Hogenson. Both cars had solid leaves, but the blown 53 was on a string as he went 6.07/234 to easily cover the strong 6.26 by Hogenson.
Johanns was the most consistent car all weekend long (up to this point) as he ran another '20 (this time a 6.28) to defeat a red lighting Delehay. Joe had a few issues all weekend long with the two step in the car. Final round...........Unfortunately was anti-climatic, as Di Stefano was loose again at the hit, he had the lead off the starting line, and then at 80 feet got crossed up with shake, while Johanns was up to the task, and he ran 6.30/220 to get the win and extend his point lead in the WCPM standings.
Saturday Qualifying. One of the comment made throughout Friday testing and Saturday Morning prior to round one of qualifying was whether or not the WCPM field would be a record breaking one. With the number of cars in competition, and most high quality ones, most were pretty confident it would happen. The record bump is a 6.46 set at Spokane this year.
Round one of qualifying saw teams trying to rotate the earth in the sea level air at Mission Raceway, only a couple cars made decent laps and they included Wayne Hofer who lowered his career best to a 6.38@ 218 mph. All four blower cars literally blew their tires off, as they were trying for 6.0s or better. After one round there were only three cars in the 6's and Hofer lead.
Round two was much better, with point leader Tommy Johanns taking the lead with a strong 6.24 (a career best) @ 225 mph. Joe Delehay went 232 mph but it only had a 6.91 in front of it as he pedaled the car for the first 200 feet. Vern Mills went 6.50@221, Dan Vogt went 6.54 Wade Sjostrom went 6.91 a new best, the bump spot had lowered to a 7.05.
The final round was run in much cooler air and most of the teams responded big time. Tommy Johanns threw down the gauntlet with a new career best a great 6.199@ 228 mph. The Colorado team was just ecstatic to say the least.
Ross Hogenson then layed down a great 6.34 that looked to be the quickest Nitrous lap.
Rick Di Stefano threw down THE number of the weekend, A great 6.06 232 to lay claim to the # 1 spot. Joe Delehay was going for his first '0 as well, but fell just short with a 6.13@228mph. Perry Thyr ran his best ever, a great 6.443@215 in his new Camaro. Duane Grosart launched on what would be his best ever run.
The Chilliwack greens keeper in the blown black 55 Chevy blasted to the tune a a very respectable 6.65/213.
Keith Korecki was trying to tame a wild beast all weekend long, but could not get a handle on the starting line. Rod Pearce suffered the same fate but was exaggerated big time with his new Sonny's 894 inch wedge.
The car just flat out would not leave the starting line without it shaking and turning hard right. He made six runs over the weekend to try and sort out the chassis and the clutch as the torque on the wedge just did not cooperate.
Tom Meheden had electrical issues all weekend long and finally got them sourced before round three. He went out did a strong burnout, and then unfortuantely had a minor nitorus explosion and had to shut off. No run for Meheden all weekend long, Thank god he had a decent event last weekend at the Rocky's.
Wade Sjostrom was still learning this Pro Mod deal and went a 6.90 best in Perry Thyr's old Camaro.
Jeff Hill had good top end numbers but his 55 is soft on the starting line. He went a best of 6.96 on the weekend When qualifying was said and done it was an eight car field with the #1 spot held by Rick Di Stefano (6.062) and the bump spot held down by the 2008 champion Dan Vogt with a non record breaking 6.54. Final qualifying Rick Di Stefano, Calgary AB 6.062@232.49 DNQ Eliminations The first round pairings: #4 Ross Hogenson takes on #5 Wayne Hofer. #3 Tommy Johanns vs #6 Perry Thyr. #2 Joe Delehay Vs#7 Vern Mills. #1 Rick Di Stefano Vs #8 Dan Vogt.
The win moved him further out in the lead in the WCPM standings. Vern Mills remained #2 and Joe Delehay stayed #3 but a bit closer to Mills. The next race is in a month at Spokane for their huge Summer shoot-out. Pit notes and photos to come.
Friday testing. Only one run close to a full hit as Wayne Hofer runs a career best 6.45/186. He lifts and pulls the chutes at 1000 feet. Would have been a mid 6.30. Most others had great 60 foots but either overpowered or in a few cases did not have enough clutch in it. When they get dialed in Saturday, it will be a kick ass field for sure. a few testing photos.
Here is the projected entry list for this weekend's Can Am Challenge at Mission Raceway Park. The coverage here at SpeedZone Magazine will be presented by RH Race Cars Perry Thyr 02 Camaro Drayton
Valley Ab. I Did talk to Trevor two weeks ago and at that time he told me they were not running at this event, but he may have been keeping his cards to himself at that time. It will be cool to see him and Glen May at this event. If the cars pre entered show up and the weather is good (it is supposed to be cool and little chance of rain), we could see a record bump spot. |
