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April 23, 2006 Sunday Eliminations McClenathan Ends Millicans Dominance at The Rock
By Mike Perry | IHRA Communications
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (April 23, 2006) Clay Millican had owned Rockingham Dragway for a long time, winning nine consecutive national events heading into the Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts. One thing about winning streaks they eventually come to an end.
Cory McClenathan (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.) ended Millicans dominance and won his first eMax Drag Racing Series event when he squeaked by Andrew Cowin (Wrightsville Beach, N.C.). McClenathan became the first driver to visit the Top Fuel winners circle at Rockingham Dragway since Paul Romine won the 2001 spring race at the track.
The ironic thing is Cowin advanced to the final in the car McClenathan drove in competition last year. Scott Griffin, when he put his Top Fuel team together, purchased much of his equipment from McClenathans race team, the Carrier Boyz.
Andrew and I are good friends and there is a strong relationship between Scott Griffin and the Carrier Boyz, McClenathan said. It was funny because Scott was up in our lounge before the final, we were all up there cutting up and having fun. When do you think the last time two teams were going to the final against each other and they were hanging out in each others trailer? There is a lot of friendship there. They have a great car and are a great group of guys.
Cowin left early on McClenathan in the final, taking a .044 second advantage at the starting line, but his Serta dragsters engine gave out just past the 1,000-foot mark and McClenathan beat him to the stripe.
They should have beat us, McClenathan said. Andrew got me at the stripe and had me at the 1,000 foot mark, but our car didnt give up and his did just a little.
McClenathan ran a 4.712/309.91 pass to top Cowins 4.786/281.54.
This means a lot, especially for Mark and Andy Carrier since their father, Larry, founded the IHRA, McClenathan said. I have won plenty of times in NHRA competition, but this was my first one over here. I always wanted that Ironman and it is going to have a special place in my trophy case.
Jack Wyatt also visited the winners circle for the first time in eMax Drag Racing Series competition. Wyatt (Corydon, Iowa) topped Vinnie Arcadia (Lancaster, N.Y.) in the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car final at Rockingham Dragway, posting a 5.033 pass at 290.01 mph.
The car was very consistent all weekend, Wyatt said. I really didnt have a run I could point at as being my toughest. The car and crew did a great job and it was great to get a win here at Rockingham. The crowd was incredible this weekend and the fans really treated us well.
Joshua Hernandez was another driver who captured an Ironman for the first time at Rockingham Dragway. Hernandez (Conroe, Tex.) topped Calgary, Alberta resident Glen Kerunsky in the final to take home his first Torco Pro Modified win. Kerunsky won Pro Modified in the first eMax Drag Racing Series event of the season, the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in San Antonio.
We just love to race, Hernandez said. It doesnt matter where we are or what organization we are in, anyone who will let us come and race were going to do it. We had a really good weekend here and were able to get the win, so thats pretty much all we can ask for.
Hernandez has now won races in both exhibition Pro Modified series, the ADRL and AMS/NHRA, and now has a professional win under his belt. His 6.274/228.07 pass easily put him out in front of Kerunsky, who got out of the groove and had to lift in the final.
Sundays Torco Pro Stock victory wasnt the first for Tony Gillig (Lake Bluff, Ill.), but it was his first in a very long time. Gillig had not won on the eMax Drag Racing Series circuit since 1998.
It sure feels good to get the monkey off my back, Gillig said. It was about time I won one of these. The competition in Pro Stock is so tight and the field so balanced, anyone can win in any round.
Gillig defeated Bert Jackson (Glen Ellen, Va.) by running a 6.499 pass at 203.28 mph. It was Jacksons first career final.
Tom Carter (Cuero, Tex.) moved into an Alcohol Funny Car prior to last season. After finishing fourth in the points standings last season, Carter finally broke through and captured his first Ironman.
It is all about consistency, Carter said. I just try to do the same thing every time I get in the car, and it paid off. I dont know what to think right now, it hasnt really sunk in yet. This is great.
Carter defeated Fred Tigges (Holbrook, Mass.) on a holeshot. His elapsed time was worse than Tigges, 5.944 to 5.931, but he made up for it by taking a .049 advantage at the tree.
The next event on the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series is the MOPAR Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol, June 2 4, at Grand (Ontario) Bend Motorplex. Top Fuel Round 1: Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, Hadman-BAE, Left lane,
(0.083) 4.744 274.05 def. Bruce Litton, Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, McKinney-TFX, Left lane, (0.123)
4.705 295.01 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Andrew Cowin, Wilmington NC, Hadman-BAE, Left lane,
(0.109) 4.758 305.63 def. Michael Gunderson, Cory McClenathan, Anaheim CA, Hadman-BAE, Left lane,
(0.099) 4.807 250.92 def. Rick Cooper,
A Cowin, Right lane, (0.132) 4.942 275.06 def. C Millican, (0.113) 5.075 234.66 C McClenathan, Right lane, (0.099) 4.868 295.79 def. D Foley, (0.107) 11.016 88.98 Final round C McClenathan, Left lane, (0.139) 4.712 309.91 def. A Cowin, (0.095) 4.786 281.54 Top Fuel Funny Car Jack Wyatt, Cerydon IA, '02 Firebird, Left lane, (0.126)
5.010 283.79 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Vincent Arcadi, Lancaster NY, '00 Camaro, Left lane,
(0.100) 5.453 269.78 def. Gary Cooper, Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia NC, '05 Stratus, Left lane,
(0.106) 5.969 254.47 def. Terry Haddock, Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '05 Monte Carlo, Left
lane, (0.118) 6.409 164.89 def. Paul Lee, Semis J Wyatt, Left lane, (0.113) 5.037 269.03 def. B Gilbertson, (0.203) 5.466 220.55 V Arcadi, Left lane, (0.127) 5.196 292.33 def. G Densham, (0.119) 5.720 191.16 Final round J Wyatt, Left lane, (0.138) 5.033 290.01 def. V Arcadi, (0.124) 5.102 296.44
Pro Mod Round 1: Glen Kerunsky, Priddis AB, '57 Bel Air, Right lane,
(0.035) 6.209 226.81 def. Matt Hagan, Burton Auxier, Dixie WV, '53 Corvette, Left lane,
(0.117) 6.205 221.85 def. Carl Spiering, Jim Halsey, Street MD, '68 Camaro, Left lane, (0.047)
6.221 222.73 def. Jason Hamstra, Demotte Quain Stott, Columbus NC, '63 Corvette, Left lane,
(0.091) 6.156 229.94 def. Steve Vick, Josh Hernandez, Conroe TX, '68 Camaro, Left lane,
(0.072) 6.185 228.27 def. Rick Distefano, Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '06 Cobalt, Left lane, (0.122)
6.187 225.45 def. Chip King, Semora NC, Alan Pittman, Greenville SC, '62 Bel Air, Right lane,
NT-No Time Recordeddef. Mike Castellana, Tommy D'Aprile, Port Charlotte FL, '63 Corvette, Left
lane, (0.008) 6.358 226.43 def. Mike Bell, Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '05 Cavalier, Left lane,
(0.070) 6.194 227.42 def. Alan Pittman,
J Hernandez, Left lane, (0.041) 6.191 228.23 def. B Auxier, (0.063) 11.111 81.03 G Kerunsky, Left lane, (0.155) 8.039 200.08 def. M Castellana, (0.080) NT-Broke After Staging J Halsey, Right lane, (0.095) 6.218 225.22 def. M Janis, (0.069) 8.445 117.02 Q Stott, Left lane, (0.098) 6.204 230.53 def. T D'Aprile, (0.089) 6.554 218.19
J Hernandez, Left lane, (0.034) 6.248 227.54 def. Q Stott, (0.096) 6.195 229.51 G Kerunsky, Left lane, (0.075) 6.222 229.00 def. J Halsey, (0.097) 6.556 223.84
J Hernandez, Right lane, (0.039) 6.274 228.07 def. G Kerunsky, (0.052) 10.258 101.12 Pro Stock Bert Jackson, Glen Allen VA, '03 Cavalier, Left lane,
(0.048) 6.482 214.35 def. Cary Goforth, John Montecalvo, Center Moriches NY, '06 Cobalt, Left
lane, (0.052) 6.456 214.62 def. Michael Larry O'Brien, Lakeshore ON, '04 Stratus, Left lane,
(0.103) 6.470 212.93 def. Ed Machacek, John Bartunek, Pearl River NY, '06 Cobalt, Right lane,
(0.050) 6.454 214.89 def. Jeff Dobbins, John Nobile, Dix Hills NY, '03 ZX2, Left lane, (0.086)
6.454 214.48 def. Brian Gahm, Lucasville Tony Gillig, Lake Bluff IL, '04 Mustang, Left lane,
(0.069) 6.447 214.79 def. Dan Sweeney, Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg VA, '04 Cobra, Left
lane, (0.096) 6.451 214.62 def. Jason Frank Gugliotta, Mt. Airy MD, '05 Escort, Left lane,
(0.013) 6.450 215.48 def. Steve Spiess,
B Jackson, Right lane, (0.043) 6.962 211.56 def. J Nobile, (0.134) 7.340 164.37 L O'Brien, Right lane, (0.026) 6.510 213.50 def. R Patrick, (0.086) 7.448 142.84 F Gugliotta, Left lane, (0.028) 6.469 215.68 def. J Bartunek, (0.016) 6.495 214.31 T Gillig, Left lane, (0.063) 6.470 215.34 def. J Montecalvo, (0.067) 11.980 93.74
B Jackson, Right lane, (0.103) 6.521 213.23 def. L O'Brien, (0.104) 8.746 121.01 T Gillig, Right lane, (0.046) 6.483 214.96 def. F Gugliotta, (-0.100 foul) 6.458 216.00
T Gillig, Left lane, (0.092) 6.499 203.28 def. B Jackson, (0.068) 6.930 209.98 Alcohol Funny Car Round 1: Rob Atchison, London ON, '06 Monte Carlo, Left lane,
(0.089) 5.812 242.58 def. Neal Parker, Mark Thomas, Louisville OH, '06 Monte Carlo, Right
lane, (0.051) 5.869 238.55 def. Melinda Frederick Tigges, Holbrook MA, '01 Avenger, Right
lane, (0.013) 6.045 239.82 def. Larry Dobbs, Thomas Carter, Cuero TX, '05 Camaro, Right lane, (0.093)
5.911 230.88 def. Trevor Lebsack, Slave
F Tigges, Right lane, (0.051) 5.844 240.47 def. R Atchison, (0.100) 5.798 242.02 T Carter, Left lane, (0.175) 5.940 236.55 def. M Thomas, (0.173) 5.955 237.96
T Carter, Left lane, (0.097) 5.944 236.42 def. F Tigges,
(0.146) 5.931 240.29
Sportsman results Top Stock -- Bo Kenney, Firebird, 9.534, 138.13 def. Paul Mercure, Camaro, 9.725, 135.35. Top Sportsman -- Chris Nyerges, Pontiac Firebird, 7.176, 183.77 def. Gary Bingham, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.208, 190.22. Top Dragster -- Jason Lynch, Dragster, 7.357, 178.54 def. Brett Nesbitt, Dragster, 7.041, 182.48. Quick Rod -- Troy Williams Jr., Dragster, 8.884, 155.54 def. Larry Ericksmoen, Dragster, 8.857, 157.59. Super Rod -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.887, 155.81 def. Tracy Ogden, Chevy S-10, 9.869, 156.12. Hot Rod -- Kenny Underwood, Vega, 17.706, 72.15 def. Gary Bryant, Camaro, broke. Super Stock -- Scotty Stillings, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.502, 131.91 def. Joe Tysinger, Pontiac Firebird, 10.726, 123.24. Stock -- Travis Womble Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.506, 119.85 def. Myron Piatek, Dodge Dart, 11.758, 107.39. Final Qualifying Only two rounds of qualifying were run at Rockingham as the weather affected racing all day Saturday. The rains came and went on three different occasions and the plug was finally pulled at 8:30 PM just before racing was set to resume. Here are the fianl numbers from Saturday's second and final round of qualifying Top Fuel 1 19 Cory McClenathan, Anaheim CA, Hadman-BAE 4.549
326.32 326.32 Pro Mod 1 1382 Tommy D'Aprile, Port Charlotte FL, *'63 Corvet
6.132 230.69 231.24 Nitro Funny Car 1 206 Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia NC, '05 Stratus 4.837
312.86 312.86 Alcohol Funny Car 1 1 Rob Atchison, London ON, '06 Monte Carlo 5.774
245.14 246.08 Pro Stock 1 2 Frank Gugliotta, Mt. Airy MD, '05 Escort 6.435
216.90 216.90 April 18, 2006 Big Name Late Entries Added to this Weekends Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway Gary Densham, John and Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Cory McClenathan Join Already Impressive eMax Drag Racing Series Nitro Fields
NORWALK, Ohio (April 14, 2006) Gary Densham enjoyed his first IHRA event so much he is coming back for more in Rockingham, N.C. Densham, who won the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car Ironman at the eMax Drag Racing Series season opener at San Antonio Raceway, will look to drive his Racebricks 05 Monte Carlo to a second straight victory at the Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway April 21-23.
I had such a great time in San Antonio, and winning the race made it even better, Densham said. I would like to run all the eMax events, but I cant this season. Hopefully we can come to Rockingham and win some more money. I think we have just as good a chance as anyone to win, and thats what were setting out to do.
Rhonda Hartman-Smith is making her return to competition after taking last season off for the birth of her son, Dylan. Hartman-Smith has three career eMax Drag Racing Series national event victories, has appeared in seven career final rounds and has finished as high as second in world championship points standings (to Doug Herbert in 1995). Hartman-Smith, who will field the Hartman Enterprises Craftsman Tools dragster, was the runner up at the IHRA World Finals in Rockingham, falling to Clay Millican to close out the 2003 season.
After taking the time off to have Dylan I have wanted to get back in the car, Hartman-Smith said. I bought a bunch of new parts I want to test. Rockingham Dragway is one of my favorite IHRA tracks, so I figured I could go out, test and compete at the same time.
Rhondas husband John Smith, IHRAs 2003 Rookie of the Year will come to Rockingham to make his Nitro Funny Car debut in his Paul Smith Racing Craftsman Tools entry. After competing in Top Fuel during the 2005 NHRA season, he sees this as a fitting track to make his entry into Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car competition.
Weve always done pretty well at Rockingham, so it feels good knowing well be returning, said Smith. Ive grew up around Rockingham over the years and raced with my Dad there in the late 70s. Its always been a dream of mine to race Nitro Funny Car, and Im happy to see that dream come true at Rockingham.
Cory McClenathan will also make the trip to Rockingham, bringing his Carrier Boyz FRAM Boost Top Fuel Dragster. McClenathan, who raced at the past two IHRA events at Norwalk Raceway Park, finished as runner up to Clay Millican at the 2005 Skull Gear World Nationals.
"I love to run IHRA when we can. If it were up to me, I would race every weekend, said McClenathan. Its a lot of fun and the fans are always good to us at Rockingham. I heard Rhonda will be returning to competition, so itll be nice to compete with her, Millican, and the rest of the Top Fuel field.
While happy to return to IHRA racing, McClenathan suffered a major wreck during his last Top Fuel race at Rockingham in 1993.
Ive had a checkered past at Rockingham, said McClenathan. I crashed pretty hard there in 93 and ended up in the burn center for a few days. I have been back since, but not in a Top Fuel dragster, so itll be an interesting weekend from that perspective.
For Immediate Release Atchison ready to "Rock" at Rockingham London, Ontario, March 22 , 2006 Defending IHRA "3 Straight" Funny Car Champion Rob Atchison returns to Rockingham fresh off a runner-up finish the Texas Nationals. "We ran real well here last fall clinching our championship and setting the ET record," stated Rob Atchison. It would be real nice to add a Spring Nationals Ironman to our collection after breaking our draught at " The Rock" during the World Finals. We had our problems getting some of our new stuff sorted out in Texas but we are confident we can get things going here. We knocked the new car smell out of the Erickson Tie Downs and Tow Straps Monte Carlo in the first qualifier by going in the sand. The Monte Carlo is back at Ultimate Touch getting some cosmetic work done but should be done in time for the trip to North Carolina but if not we will take the our Pontiac out of the mothballs. " We had a problem getting a handle on things
in Texas at the start of the IHRA eMax Series because it is not feasible
for us to test during off season for two reasons," stated Atchison.
First, we were very busy at our machine shop in London building motors
for customers as well as preparing engines for both of our cars. Three
of our customers (Glen Kerunsky IHRA/NHRA Pro Mod), (Trevor Lowe West
Coast Pro Mod) and (Tim O'Hare NMCA) have already started their seasons
on a positive note. Glen was runner-up at the NHRA GatorNationals
and won the IHRA Texas Nationals, Trevor raced his Pro Mod against
Nitro Coupes in Pomona at the Super Chevy event and won the event
and Tim O'Hare became the first car in his Outlaw Street class to
run a 6.40 setting the ET record on his way to a runner-up finish
in Bradenton. Secondly, it is also next to impossible to load the
race trailer early in the year because the weather here is so unpredictable
because of the Great Lakes weather effect. We missed the first Texas
Nationals because we had freezing rainstorms followed by major snow
squalls in 2003. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Carl Spiering Motorsports debuts new Eaton Electrical Camaro at Rockingham A 200 mph trip into the wall is not my idea of how to begin
the season!
The 41-year-old Spiering crashed the Carl Spiering Motorsports Eaton Electrical Pro Modified Chevrolet Corvette in the quarterfinals at the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals at San Antonio Raceway March 26 in Texas. The Camaro will be replacing the Corvette.
A 200 mph trip into the wall is not my idea of how to begin the season, said Spiering, who hails from Jordan Station, ON. We had some terrible luck and got beat up pretty bad in San Antonio. I will be fine and the Eaton Electrical team will rebound stronger than ever.
Spiering was taken to hospital after the incident and released the same night with broken ribs, bumps, and bruises. Carl Spiering Motorsport would like to thank the IHRA's safety and track rescue team of emergency medical technicians, paramedics and fire fighters, the on-site physician, and the Brooks Army Medical Center for their help and support.
We had big corporate plans for the introduction of the new Camaro with Eaton, Spiering added. The situation at Texas changed all of those plans and we immediately started to get the new Eaton Road Warrior ready for the next race.
Spiering leads the points chase for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout and had a strong season in 2005. Winning the IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout and the IHRA ACDelco Nationals. The Eaton Electrical Pro Modified placed third in the IHRA World Championship National Event Tour.
With a serious passion for fast machines in any type of competition, Carl Spiering is quickly becoming one of the hottest Pro Modified racers on the drag race circuit.
The Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts will begin Friday, April 21, at Rockingham Dragway and will conclude with championship eliminations Sunday, April 23. For information about Rockingham Dragway 910.582.3400 or visit www.rockinghamdragway.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE There's Nothing Like Home Cooking For Quain Stott Drag Racing April 18, 2006 Columbus, N.C. - In just about every sport, home field
has it's Stott is no stranger to "The Rock", one
of the fastest quarter Stott enjoys making as many ADRL races as his schedule
will While the team enjoys some of the early season momentum,
Stott Quain Stott Drag Racing is partnered with Lee Boy,
TORCO Racing To learn more about Quain Stott, Tommy D'Aprile and
the Quain
McMillen Looks For Magic Rockingham Formula April 18, 2006 Rockingham, N.C. - Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil
InstiGator Success in Rockingham could prove to be a key ingredient
for In 2004, McMillen used a semi-final finish in Rockingham
to "Right now, we control our destiny," said
McMillen. "We've got Professional qualifying for the Nicko's NY Style Pizza
Spring Kerunsky ready for IHRA Spring Nationals Priddis, Alberta, Canada March 27, 2006 Fresh off his IHRA Texas Nationals victory, Western Canadas Glen Kerunsky returns to Rockingham, North Carolina and the IHRA Spring Nationals. We look forward returning to the Rock and its record setting track surface and the great North Carolina fans, states current IHRA Torco Pro Mod points leader Glen Kerunsky. We are committed to run the full IHRA eMax Drag Racing Series in 2006 and we hope we can continue to gain valuable eMax Series points at each event. We had our car set up to run consistent in Texas and we were rewarded with a trip to the Winners Circle. The competition in IHRA Torco Pro Mod is world class and with 30 cars at each event you had better bring your A game or you will be going home early.
Kerunsky Racings beautiful bright yellow 57 Chevy is powered by an Alan Johnson 481x Chevy built by London, Ontario, Canadas Atchison Machine Service Inc. and tucked neatly into the frame rails of a Tim McAmis Race Cars chassis. We have a great car and engine combination that gives our team confidence every time we race, states Kerunsky. It makes my job easier as driver and tuner when we are all confident in our equipment and each other. I think this shows in our first 2 races this year with the runner-up at the Gator Nationals and our victory in Texas that we are on all on the same page.
Kerunsky racing will return to Canada for the Mopar Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex June 2-4 before making the cross Canada trip to the Eaton-Cutler Hammer Pro Mod Invitational June 17-18 at the newly repaved NHRA Div.6 track in Mission, British Columbia. Following the Eaton Cutler Invitational it will be off to Edmonton for the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals. This part of our schedule we will log a lot of miles but we really miss racing at home in front of our many Canadian fans, states Kerunsky. We concentrated on the full AMS/Pro Mod Challenge in 2005 and even though we had some good success it just wasnt as much fun as racing at home in front our fans.
This 2006 Kerunsky Racing Team consists of Crew Members Mike Gondziola, Mike Pople along with Glens wife Cindy Kerunsky. The new Kerunsky Racing website is nearly complete and scheduled for launch soon. The new website address will be www.kerunskyracing.com.
Mike Janis Eaton Team is Looking for A Buffalo Style Win at The Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals
Courtesy of: Mike Janis Racing Inc. For Immediate Release April 18, 2006
Elma, NY With Nickos NY Style Pizza signing as the title sponsor of the Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals at Rockingham its only fitting that some Buffalo Style be added to the event. Two Time IHRA Pro Modified World Champion Mike Janis and his Eaton sponsored Pro Modified team will bring some Hot and Spicy Buffalo Style Racing to the Rockingham event.
Much like Buffalo Wings, Buffalo style Drag Racing is hot with Mike Janis Eaton team leading the way. Buffalo style is a no-nonsense in your face style with a commitment to excellence driven by a hard work ethic. Nothing exemplifies this more than Mike Janis Eaton team and their Two World Titiles.
Janis finished off the 2005 season with a win at the Rockingham World Finals and is looking to get his first win of 06 on the same track. The Rock has always been good to us. Steve Earwood has a great facility that has brought me a few wins (three to be exact) and we are hoping to get two more from him this season starting with the Spring Nationals, said Team Owner/Driver Mike Janis.
Crew Chief Mike Janis Jr. knows that this race will not be easy but hes still looking for some serious performance gains from his team. Rockingham usually has a large Pro Mod field for its races, both the Spring Nats and the World Finals, for several teams this will be their first National event of the season and they will be hungry but I think well be ready. We had a few little bugs we had to work out and I think weve got them figured out now. This new car has a lot of potential and I feel weve only tickled the power of our new Jan-Cen prepared Hemi, said Mike Jr..
The Nickos NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts featuring the Castrol Night Of Fire at Rockingham Dragway, April 21-23, the second event on the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series. To Follow all the racing action as it happens go to http://www.dragracecentral.com/
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