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Oct. 25, 2004 A dominating performance for two of four professional #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. Pro Stock This was also a class that had the championship up for grabs, and it had six teams that could actually win it all. John Nobile and John Montecalvo were the favorites to win as they were 10 points apart and they lead the other four in the hunt by 70+ points. With the cool conditions and corrected air in the 500 -1500 range the numbers were outstanding. Four drivers went below the national record and by the end of qualifying, Nobile had the record in his hand based on his second session 6.435.
Mike Bell, Asheboro NC,
'04 ZX2, Right lane, (0.051) 6.503 212.86 def. Tony Gillig, Lake Bluff
IL, '04 Mustang, (-0.041 foul) 6.484 212.86
The one pairing in round one that would determine one of the " top six's" fate was Brian Gahm and Elijah Morton. Neither driver wanted to win this one, as both got really loose and tried to pedal it, Gahm hooked back up and won with a 7 second et. John Montecalvo also had his chance end in round one despite a quicker et against the newest "hitter" in the class, Rob Mansfield had a shocking .13 advantage at the tree and his 6.482 easily defeated John's 6.479. Ouch! The third 'top six ' driver to go out in round one was Rick Jones, who had to lift early in his race with Steve Spiess. Of note, Jones had to dole out $2,000 for the final two spot in the Quarter-Max 64.0 club this weekend. Jerry Haas and Mike Bell both got checks and jackets. In round two, the three remaining players actually ended up reduced to one, as Pete Berner and Brian Gahm had run out of rounds to pick up enough points to win the title. Congratulations to John Nobile, who went from never winning an event to winning the whole deal. Gahm could still get #2, but would have to win the event. In the second round all three drivers won, as well as Rob Mansfield. Pete Berner won his on a hole shot over Kenny Benso. The semis finals saw Nobile run close to his qualifying efforts with a Sunday quick 6.445 in defeat of Berner and Brian Gahm easily got the best of Mansfield who shook and had to lift. The final round had alot at stake, with two drivers in the hunt for second place. Montecalvo was second, but if Brian Gahm could defeat the favorite Nobile, he would get second place by two points. The weather was getting cooler so both would step on their rides. What a great drag race! Gahm got a .039 hole shot and held on for a 6.479 to 6.468 victory. The quickest side by side Pro Stock race in history. A fitting end to the season for the "Kings of the Factory Hot Rods" Pro Stock 1. John Nobile 928
Funny Car Rob Atchison showed a performance level in the last half of the season, that even the strongest team supporters must have thought was not possible. Rob was 7 rounds out of the lead near the half way point (after five events) in the season and was chasing 5 time series champion Mark Thomas. Thomas had defeated Atchison in three final rounds in the first half of the season. I don't know what was said at the locker room talk after Edmonton's semi final loss to Burnett (as he won the next race at Milan), and then following Toronto (where he lost again to Thomas), but it sure was a right angle turn around. He trailed by 134 points after the 7th race, and needed alot of karma on his side. Races 8 through 11 brought two wins and a final round finish to put him only 18 points back heading into the final event of the year. In qualifying, both Atchison and Thomas surprisingly struggled through the first qualifier, with both sitting in the middle of the pack. in round two and three they picked up the pace and wound up as the only cars in the 5.70's. Atchison finished qualifying #1 with a 5.782 and Thomas was #2 with a 5.786. The stage was set for the two to meet in the final round (if both stayed to form) for all the marbles. Round 1: Rob Atchison, London ON,
'02 Firebird, Right lane, (0.075) 5.873 238.72 def. Scott Wildgust,
Stratford ON, '00 Firebird, (0.077) 6.089 232.55
In round one, both Thomas and Atchison won relatively close matchups, but round two would be much tougher as they faced teams that were much closer in performance. Thomas would have the quicker opponent, as Fred Tigges has run solid numbers all season long. Atchison was up first, and he faced Chris Foster. Foster left first with a great .061 rt to Rob's .089rt. By half track Atchison have past Foster and took the stripe by .028 and a closer date with 2004 destiny In Thomas' race, both he and TIgges had great rt's, but Tigges shocked the IHRA contingent with a huge upset win running quicker on both ends of the track. Thomas fell off by a tenth and a half from his 5.70 and 5.80 performances earlier (he slowed to a 6.01 to Tigges' 5.89). The race for the championship was over. What a surprise and a bit of an anti climatic finish! Congratulations to the Atchison team on defending their title. They and the other three winners in the 1/4 finals still had some work to do to determine the final FC champion of the year. Tony Bogolo defeated Terry Munroe to take on Atchison and Tigges opponent was transplanted "Aussie" Jeff Burnett. Tigges continued his winning ways with an easy win over a tire shaking Burnett and Atchison also got an easy win as Bogolo cross the center line, giving an automatic win to Atchison. Both the finalists ran very strong in their semi races, but Fred Tigges got lane choice with a quicker 5.840 to a 5.872 for Rob. The final was a barn burner, even though both teams fell off the pace a bit, and Tigges got his first ever IHRA win on both ends of the track, a quicker leaving (.044 to .063) 5.91 to 5.936. Congratulations to both teams for a great race and kudos to both the Mark Thomas team and the Atchison team for their epic battle down to the final event of the year. Funny Car 1. Rob Atchison 1,178
Pro Modified 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 of the AC Delco driver. 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
Pro Modified 1. Mike Janis 885
Oct. 24, 2004 Wow, what a Saturday!!!!!!!....................The final day of Qualifying in the IHRA 204 schedule was one for the record books. IHRA world records were set in three of the four professional categories. In Top Fuel a new force has again entered the fray and taken some of the spotlight away from Clay Millican. Clay has won the 2004 championship and won 6 events this year, but Doug Foley has come on in his rookie year and won three events, and now "Aussie" Andrew Cowin shatters the ET record with two runs quicker than the old (4.566) one. In the first round of qualifying on Friday he ripped off a 4.550 and then in the final qualifier Saturday night during the "Night of Fire", he went even quicker, with a 4.534, and top a record quick IHRA Top Fuel field. The bump spot was a solid 4.766 held down by another rookie, Joel Collins. Californian CJ Nelson was not in the field despite a career best 4.776. Five IHRA regulars including Todd Paton and Tim Cullinan did not make the field. Cullinan was in a nasty crash Friday night, but was not injured in the incident. Doc Sipple, Rick Cooper, the "Greek" and Roger Dean also failed to qualify. Also notable is Clay Millican sitting in the #5 spot in a field that had 6 of the driver in the 4.60's or better. 1 835 Andrew Cowin, Saugus CA, McKinney-BAE 4.534
316.23 316.23 Pro Mod....................... 46 cars trying for the 16 car field that included three Canadians taking the spotlight. Rick Distefano started off the barrage, with a 6.114 on Friday, but Al Billes took all the thunder with an awesome 6.102 that goes under the record by a hundredth. He backed it up in the final session Saturday with a 6.13. One more Canadian is in the top four, as Carl "Big Dog" Speiring runs his quickest ever, a 6.127 to sit #4. Mike Janis is the lone 'Yank' in the top four with a 6.125. He holds down the # 3 spot. 1 69 Al Billes, Barrie ON, *'53 Corvette 6.102$ 229.35
229.74 Pro Stock..............was the other pro class that set the sport on its ear. For over two years, the race to sub 6.50 (the "Rick Jones Race Cars 6.40" club) has been competed in earnest at this race almost the entire field filled the club. 15 cars were in the 6.40's including three that ran under the old national record. John Nobile has it after final qualifying, but it may change throughout Sunday elimination's. Pro Stock will also be interesting,as six different drivers (believe it or not) have a chance to win the 2004 championship. Nobile and John Montecalvo are the front runners but Brian Gahm, Rick Jones, Elijah Morton and Pete Berner all have a slim chance. 1 777 John Nobile, Dix Hills NY, '03 ZX2 6.435 215.07
215.07 Funny Car Mark Thomas and Rob Atchison are battling down to the this the last race of the IHRA season. Thomas has seen hid lead dwindle down from 160 points to 18 heading into this event. Both drivers made the only 5.70 laps of qualifying, and Atchison sits #1 with a 5.782. Thomas went 5.786 to sit right on the Canadian's butt. The top half of the field is all tightly bunch for the first time this season, as there is less than 8/100's separating the fast half of the field. 1 1 Rob Atchison, London ON, '02 Firebird 5.782 240.89
240.89
Oct. 23, 2004 Andrew Cowin sets et record in Top Fuel with a 4.550 to sit one spot ahead of Clay Millican (4.66). and Rob Atchison struggles to a 6th best 5.924/240. Pro Stock has two under the current 6.44 record. Steve Spiess 6.437 and Frank Gugliotta goes 6.436. Eight are in the 6.40's after one round, and #1 and 2 (John Nobile and John Montecalvo) in points are not in after aborted attempts. In Top Fuel Cowin hits on all eight and goes the quickest ever (4.566 is the current record) in cool temperatures. Louie Allison is #3 with a great 4.679 and the "West Coast Hippie", CJ Nelson runs a career best by 4/10ths, a 4.776 to sit #4. 16 cars are on hand to try and make what will probably be the quickest field in IHRA history.
Not in the field include regulars Doug Foley, Tim Cullinan (who did crash, but was not hurt), Jack Ostrander, Todd Paton, Bobby Lagana and Chris Karamsines. In Pro Mod, Rick Distefano's career best 6.114 is 2/1000ths shy of the the IHRA record. Newly crowned champion Mike Janis is #2 with a 6.125/231.00 48 cars attempted to qualify for what will be a low 6.20 bump based on the top 12 quicker than 6.24 already. The other Calgarian Glen Kerunsky is not in the field after getting real loose on his first attempt. Glen is trying a completely different 481x combination this weekend, in what is a testing weekend for his 2005 season.
Pro Stock after one session
Funny Car
Oct. 21, 2004 IHRA event and team Previews for Rockingham............. and the final IHRA event of the 2004 season. TWO PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THE LINE AT ROCKINGHAM
While the 2004 IHRA championships in Top Fuel and Pro Modified have been locked up, Pro Stock and Funny Car are going down to the wire heading into the Ninth Annual Bethesda Softworks World Nationals at Rockingham Dragway taking place October 22-24.
Clay Millican clinched his fourth consecutive title in Top Fuel, and Mike Janis clinched the season crown in Pro Modified, but Funny Car and Sunoco Pro Stock are a different story. In Sunoco Pro Stock, John Nobile leads with 786 points, but John Montecalvo is only ten points behind. Elijah Morton, Rick Jones, and two-time defending champion Brian Gahm and Budds Creek champion Pete Berner also remain in the hunt.
“It really shouldn’t be this way,” Gahm said. “We haven’t qualified for three events this year and are still within 100 points. I don’t know if anyone wants to win the championship this year.” Gahm won the championship by just 49 points last year over Carl Baker. With the race as tight as it is this year, he knows competition will be fierce. “I’ve said it for years, that Pro Stock is the best class the IHRA has,” Gahm said. “You take anybody that qualifies for any event…come Sunday they can win it.”
The Funny Car title is down to two racers with a heated rivalry. Defending champ Rob Atchison and current points leader Mark Thomas go into the final weekend of racing each looking for the other to flinch. Atchison and Thomas have a well known rivalry that both liken to “big brother vs. little brother.”
“Rob and I probably have the most heated rivalry there has ever been in drag racing and there is no love lost between us on the track,” Thomas said. “We know we are going to finish #1 and #2 in the world…we both want what we have worked so hard for…to be #1.” Atchison ended up defeating Thomas in the second round at Budds Creek when Thomas red lighted.
The Top Fuel crown has been won by Clay Millican, who wrapped the championship up at the rescheduled World Nationals presented by PPG at Norwalk Raceway Park. But just because he collected his fourth consecutive title, that doesn’t mean that the weekend will be devoid of any suspense in Top Fuel. Doug Foley, a leading candidate for IHRA rookie of the year, is locked in a heated battle with Tim Cullinan for third place.
“We want to finish third, we’ve decided that third place is ours,” Foley said.
While Rockingham will be an exciting weekend for the professional classes, it will be equally exciting for the sportsmen as the Mr. Gasket Accel Survivor Series crowns its champions. The top eight drivers in each class, as determined by Mr. Gasket points, will run off to determine the season’s best sportsman driver. Erson Cams Top Sportsman, Mallory Top Dragster, Accel DFI Super Stock, Hays Stock, Accel Quick Rod, Lakewood Super Rod, and Hurst Hot Rod will all have their top eight in the field for eliminations.
Purchase tickets for the Ninth Annual Bethesda Softworks World Nationals by calling (910)-582-3400. Log onto www.rockinghamdragway.com or www.ihra.com for more information. ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – The closest points chase in Pro Stock drag racing history will be decided Oct. 20-22 when Rockingham Dragway plays host to more than 700 of the nation's top straight-line racers in the ninth annual Bethesda Softworks World Finals, concluding event in the 2004 IHRA Hooters Series.
In addition to the duel for the factory Hot Rod championship, the season finale also will provide Clay Millican will an opportunity to write another piece of history at the wheel of the all-conquering Werner Enterprises Top Fuel dragster in which he has won four consecutive IHRA titles.
Millican, who already owns most of the Top Fuel records in the sport including those for consecutive victories (10 in 2002) and victories in a single season (11, also in 2002), will be trying to win at Rockingham for the seventh consecutive time, a streak that dates back to 2001. No one ever has won seven straight times at one racetrack.
As for the Pro Stock championship, it will come down to a one-on-one duel between John Nobile and John Montecalvo, friends off the track but arch rivals on it. The two New York drivers are separated by just 10 championship points in a duel with far-reaching implications.
If Nobile holds on to win, he'll become the eighth different Ford driver to win the championship in 10 straight seasons of Ford dominance.
If Montecalvo wins, he'll become the first Chevrolet champion since 1992 when Billy Huff drove a Chevy Beretta to the title. Huff also was the last to win the title in a General Motors product, prevailing in a Olds Cutlass in 1994.
Nobile's bid for the title may be the most unlikely in history.
Until this season, he never had won an event on either the IHRA or NHRA circuit. In fact, before the 2004 campaign, Nobile was known more for his dogged persistence than for his dominating performance. In fact, he once went an entire season on the rival NHRA circuit without even qualifying for a race. He was 0-for-23.
This year, though, with a new Ford Escort ZX2 beneath him and momentum behind him, the Dix Hills, N.Y., businessman has put himself in a position to make IHRA history.
Runner-up to Montecalvo in last April's Spring Nationals, Nobile used his consistency, a national record-setting 6.473 second quarter mile at Richmond, Va., and a breakthrough victory at Epping, N.H., to move around the Chevy driver and into the points lead for the first time in his career.
In addition to Top Fuel and Pro Stock, World Finals champions also will be crowned in Pro Modified, Top Fuel Harley-Davidson, Funny Car and eight Mr. Gasket sportsman categories including Top Dragster and Top Sportsman.
Racing begins Friday with the first of two "Night of Fire" qualifying sessions presented by the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority. In addition to pro qualifying, the 7 p.m. show will feature Bob Motz and the "Original Jet Truck," a jet-powered Kenworth tractor, wheelstanders and a fireworks display.
A second "Night of Fire" qualifying show is scheduled for the same time on Saturday with single elimination finals beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday. Bethesda Softworks WORLD FINALS: FACT SHEET
WHAT: Ninth annual Bethesda Softworks World Finals, concluding
event in the 12-race 2004 IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series.
WHERE: Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, N.C. Track is located on U.S. Highway 1 across from North Carolina Speedway, 10 miles north of the city of Rockingham, 75 miles south of Raleigh, N.C., and 80 miles east of Charlotte, N.C.
WHO: The stars of the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series including reigning series champions Clay Millican of Drummonds, Tenn., in Top Fuel; Mitch Stott of Mill Spring, N.C., in Pro Modified; Brian Gahm of Lucasville, Ohio, in Pro Stock; and Rob Atchison of London, Ontario, Canada in Funny Car plus current points leaders Mike Janis (Pro Mod), Mark Thomas (Funny Car) and John Nobile (Pro Stock). Also, the nation's top sportsman drivers competing in eight Mr. Gasket sportsman classes including Top Dragster and Top Sportsman.
NIGHT(S) OF FIRE: Thanks to the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, race fans will get a double dose of IHRA's popular "Night of Fire" qualifying extravaganza featuring not only 320 mile-an-hour Top Fuel dragsters, Top Fuel Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Pro Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Funny Cars, but also Bob Motz and The Original Jet Truck, Jon Oswell's "Ladder Truck 33" wheelstanding firetruck, Ken Nelson's "Cool bus" wheelstander and a giant fireworks show. "Night of Fire" qualifying will begin at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
TELEVISION: SPEED Channel, in cooperation with Clear Channel Entertainment, will produce and air four hours of highlight coverage airing in pair of two-hour shows. The first show, featuring Top Fuel dragsters and Pro Modifieds, will air at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. The second, focusing on Funny Car and Pro Stock, will air at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20.
PURSE: More than $875,000 in cash and contingency awards including $20,500 to the Top Fuel champion, $10,000 to the Pro Modified champion and $7,000 each to the winners in Pro Stock and Funny Car.
TICKETS: Friday --General admission, including pit access
and free parking, $35 for adults, $5 children 6-12; reserved seating
$5 additonal; VIP parking $20.
INFORMATION: Rockingham Dragway, 910-582-3400. Team Releases Rob Atchison.................... 2003 World Champion Rob Atchison takes the Erickson Manufacturing Pontiac into the World Finals a mere 18 points behind 5 time World Champion Mark Thomas. "The fans have to love how close the points races are in Funny Car and Pro Stock" stated Atchison. Mark and I are good friends when we are not on the track racing each other and no matter what we are going to finish # 1 and # 2. and both of our crews should be honored for their accomplishments this season. We are ready to "Rock" and I bet Mark,Rod and Jimmy are ready as well so it is going to be fun for us and entertaining for the fans. Mike Janis............With
the 2004 Hooters/IHRA Pro Modified Championship firmly in hand, Mike
Janis and his Eaton Automotive/Aeroquip team would like nothing better
than to finish 04’ with a win at the Rock. Clay Millican of Team Werner/Lehman Racing, the 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 IHRA Top Fuel Champion and winningest professional driver in IHRA history, will look for his seventh straight victory at the Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, N.C., on October 22-24 when he competes at the IHRA World Finals. No driver has ever won seven straight races at one racetrack. Millican recently clinched an unprecedented fourth consecutive IHRA Top Fuel Championship at the IHRA World Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio with Team Werner. He has a total of 36 career Top Fuel victories in just five full seasons on the IHRA circuit, and has gone undefeated in Rockingham since 2001. "Now that the championship is clinched, I just want to go out
there and have some fun," said Millican. "All of the pressure
is off, so we can just put on a great show for the fans and hope for
our seventh win of the year." In his last race, the IHRA World Nationals in Norwalk, Millican advanced to the final round of eliminations, where he was narrowly defeated by Doug Foley. It marked Millican's eighth IHRA final of the season. He has amassed an impressive final round winning percentage of 85.7%, and a round winning percentage of 87.7%. Jeff Burnett Funny Car............Much like baseball, drag racing is thought by many as an American sport, and as in baseball drag racing is finding it’s newest stars from outside of the United States. One such example is Australian native, Jeff Burnett. Originally from Brisbane, Queensland Australia, Burnett came to the states after a long career of drag racing down under and is quickly making a name for himself at the wheel of his JBR Firebird.
Currently sandwiched between fifth place John Foster (477) and seventh place Terry Munroe (402) sits Burnett in sixth with 472 points. For Burnett and his JBR crew of Joe Rose, Dan Martin, and Kevin Lazzaro to reach their goal of a top five finish they need to go one round further than Foster to take over fifth place.
Being from another continent is not the only thing that makes the JBR team different from the pack in IHRA Funny Car. Burnett and his crew have somewhat of a different combination than the other teams they compete against. One such example is Burnett’s use of Mickey Thompson Racing tires. Burnett has proved that this combination is a viable one by posting the only win this season for an IHRA Funny Car on Mickey Thompson tires.
2004 marks Burnett’s first year behind the wheel of an IHRA Pro Funny Car and with the season coming to a close this weekend in Rockingham it looks like the Aussie Native has made his mark on American drag racing.
The JBR team will wrap up the 2004 season at the 9th annual Bethesda Softworks World Finals in Rockingham, N.C. at Rockingham Dragway. The team will be afforded one qualifying pass on Friday with two more to follow on Saturday. Eliminations will begin Sunday at approximately 11 AM.
Oct. 12, 2004 Bill Bader to Step Down As IHRA President
(Norwalk, OH) - Bill Bader, President of IHRA, has announced he will step down and that Aaron Polburn will take over the top spot at the Norwalk, Ohio based drag racing and motorsports company.
“I have worked to the exclusion of my family and faith my entire professional life,” stated Bader. “Whatever the current project, it received my full attention. It’s time to step back and smell the roses. I have been considering this the past 12 months and simply thought…..it’s time.
“After purchasing IHRA in 1998 my goal was to instill pride, attitude, integrity and profitability to the struggling organization”, added Bader. “Attitude was achieved almost immediately and profitability the second year. Better facilities, bigger markets, excellent sponsor support and quality events brought with them much needed integrity and pride.”
Added Bader, “What makes this easy is the great staff we currently have in place. There isn’t anything they can’t do. Aaron is the most capable person I know to succeed me; I hired him over 30 years ago to teach me the business. IHRA is in very good hands. Since the planning for 2005 and 2006 is going on right now we thought this was the best time to pass the torch.”
Polburn assumes his new duties effective immediately and reflected on his new position.
“I’m very excited and humbled at the same time. The staff at IHRA and Clear Channel Motorsports is poised to grow IHRA and have a lot of fun doing it. But, in the mean time all prayers will be gratefully accepted.”
Clear Channel Motorsports President Charlie Mancuso added, “We would like to thank Bill for all he has done for IHRA and look forward to working hand in hand with Aaron and his team to build a very, very bright future.” Oct. 10, 2004
Rick Distefano moves into second
place in the Pro Mod standings in the IHRA with a semi final finish
at Norwalk. He can't catch Mike Janis, who has clinched the title.
Rob Atchison stays in second. Atchison can still defend his title
in Funny Car. He has to finish one round ahead of Mark Thomas at the
final race. Doug Foley defeats Clay Millican in a pedal fest in Top
Fuel. It is his third win of the season. A shoe-in for rookie of the
year, Foley an ex Division champion in
Here are the final round results from Norwalk Top Fuel -- Doug Foley, 6.722 seconds, 220.04 mph def. Clay Millican, 9.535 seconds, 84.79 mph. Pro Modified -- Pat Moore, Chevy Bel Air, 6.310, 219.86 def. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.358, 228.27.
Pro Stock -- Mike Bell, Ford ZX2, 6.525, 212.59 def. Ron Miller, Chevy Cavalier, 10.023, 87.67.
Top Stock -- Matt Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 9.616, 137.43 def. Monty Bogan Jr., Chevy Corvette, 9.733, 137.55. Top Sportsman -- Marco Abruzzi, Chevy Camaro, 7.057, 192.88 def. Gary Bingham, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.056, 189.63. Top Dragster -- Bob Mandell, Dragster, 6.909, 192.63 def. Bruce Holland, Dragster, 6.728, 200.62. Quick Rod -- Bobby Cireddu, Dragster, 8.897, 148.17 def. Marty Brown, Dragster, 8.892, 159.46. Super Rod -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.860, 152.78 def. Chris Cipollone, Dodge Viper, 9.900, 154.26. Hot Rod -- John Swink, Chevy Nova, 10.903, 147.17 def. Kevin Edmonds, Chevy Camaro, 10.934, 139.21. Super Stock -- Chuck Nagy, GMC Sonoma, 10.189, 128.46 def. T.C. Morris, Chevy Nova, 11.065, 117.64. Stock -- Craig Marshall, Dodge Dart, 10.972, 115.06 def. Chuck Garey, Pontiac Firebird, 10.777, 120.87. ET Bracket -- Mary Jo West, Dragster, 7.798, 160.38 def. David Banks, Ford Roadster, 9.938, 129.83. ET Box -- Mary Jo West, Dragster, 7.780, 165.17 def. Ray Nealey, Chevy Camaro, 9.996, 133.24. ET No Box -- David Banks, Ford Roadster, 9.926, 127.38 def. Shawn Coon, Chevy Nova, 10.880, 121.11. Point standings Top Fuel 1. Clay Millican 1,266 Pro Modified 1. Mike Janis 806 Funny Car 1. Mark Thomas 1,039 Pro Stock 1. John Nobile 766 March April Archives
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Top
Alcohol Dragster in the NHRA entered Top Fuel in the IHRA with team
owner Tim Lewis, hoping for some minor success, but their plan was
to use this year as a total learning curve. They bought a combination
that was easy to tune (from Bruce Litton), in hopes they could go
out and run competitively, but not hurt alot of parts and get their
team experienced in professional drag racing. By the third race of
the year the team proved to be regular qualifiers. The Foley and Lewis
have won three of the last five national events and moved up from
eight place in the standings after race five to third place heading
into the final event of the year. Like I said, rookie of the year.
Pat
Moore won Pro Mod over Quain Stott giving a nitrous car the win for
the fourth time this season. Mike Janis going to the semi finals,
clinched the Pro Mod Championship. Rick Distefano also went to the
semis and moved into second place in the standings despite missing
the Milan race. 
Funny
Car -- Jim Sickles, Dodge Avenger, 5.929, 239.57 def. Fred Tigges,
Chevy Camaro, 5.881, 240.21. 