Pro Stock (photos by Guy Van Syckle, Mark King and Rich Carlson)

Saturday and Sunday photos courtesy of Greg Gage. Weekend Photos are here as well.

Funny Car is on this page

Top Fuel is here.

Sunday April 6, 2003, Final rounds . Photo highlights to follow later this week.

Pro Stock went to form for the first time this season, with the number one and two qualifiers Greg Anderson and Kurt Johnson respectively, marching through eliminations, cutting great lights, and running the numbers on every pass.In fact, if it wasn't for Scott Geoffrion having trouble in his second round loss to Mark Whisnant, it would have probably been the top four qualifiers going to the semi finals. Instead Whisnant replaced the Nitro Fish car in the final four, with Anderson, KJ and WJ. Greg Anderson in his Vegas Construction Grand am, took on Warren Johnson (right) and the GM backed Grand am in one semi, and Warren got the jump (the old man is very good on the tree this year), only to have problems at half track and slow, allowing Greg to take the win, with a strong 6.901/201 mph blast. Kurt Johnson and the AC Delco Cavalier got left on by Mark Whisnant and his Cavalier, but the Johnson horesepower caught him by the 1000 foot mark, and Kurt went on to a lane choice winning 6.891/201.16. The Final was a real concern for Anderson, as it was the first time he did not have lane choice. He stated that the lanes were a couple hundreths apart, and he would have to have his laser beam eyes to get a light, and hope he could hold on for his second win. He basically wrote the script in his comments, as he cut a brilliant .016 light to Kurts average (for Pro Stock) .051 and held on for a hole shot 6.907/200.95 win, to a quicker but losing 6.896/201.10. With the win, Anderson extented his points lead to 63 points over Kurt Johnson.

Saturday 4:30 pm Qualifying is complete, and there were a number of surprising stories. For starters, the Ford is looking very strong. The Hurley Blakeney/ Panella combination seems to have hit their mark, as the Escort is near the top of the pack for the second race in a row. Scott Geoffrion ran a 6.898/200.50 to sit in the #3 position entering Sunday's finals. The Nitro Fish team will be a threat at this, and possibly every event, if this team continues the way they have started. Way to go guys! On top of the field, is one of the 2003 title contenders, Greg Anderson. Greg set both ends of the track record, with a very strong 6.880/201.74 lap. Kurt Johnson is #2 with a very close 6.883/200.74 shot. WJ was fourth after running a 6.900/200.00. Bruce Allen, Mark Whisnant, V. Gaines and Barry Grant rounded out the top half of the 16 car field that was separated by only .045. Jeg Coughlin surprisingly is in the #16 position, after getting his best lap of the weekend on his last attempt. Not in the field are Greg Stanfield, Jim Yates, Troy Coughlin, Mark Pawuk (darn), local George Marnell, and the lone NW competitor, JR Carr who wound up 22 out of the 31 cars entered. Photo courtesy Greg Gage

Friday April 4, 2003. Yes there are favorites in this class, Jeggie, Warren KJ, Anderson and a few others. But when you have a class that has 30+ cars less than a tenth apart, anyone in the field has a great chance. Usually only half a tenth separates the qualified field. That being said, the trusty odds makers are just going to pick who they perceive will be in Sundays eliminations. One thing that should be a lock for this weekend is record bump. The record bump at Vegas is 7.012 in the spring race and 6.967 in the fall race. The bump will be a low 6.90 or maybe even in the 6.80's, it could beat the current track record of 6.921. For sure the low et will be in the 6.86 range. Up to now there has not been a 6.80 pass at Vegas, that will change this weekend.

Jeg Coughlin has been to the winners circle here before and I expect him to be one of the four semifinalists this weekend. He has yet to win this season, as the rt advantage he has used on numerous occasions in the past has been eliminated, with the new LED lights. He still it one of the better leaver's, but now HP is almost the key word in winning. Brother Troy Coughlin has been in one final already as well, and it could spell trouble if both cars start running well.

With horse power being a bigger factor in my opinion this year, The Johnson Clan (Warren and Kurt) may find that 2003 is their year. While they don't have a 3 - 5 hundredths advantage they had five or more years ago they seem to have a top end advantage that will give them an edge at a number of races in 2003. Both already have a win after only three races. Kurt's car seems to be the more aerodynamic one as his top speeds are unmatched so far, and being the kid, his rt's are maybe a bit better or more consistent. But will dad give Kurt a true chance at a race or title if either one has an equal car, that has yet to be seen.

Greg Anderson will be in the hunt at almost every event and I don't expect this weekend to be any different. He can flat out drive and tune a Pro Stock car. The team is well funded and they are in the owners back yard.

 

Allen Johnson and his two car team are one of the few bright spots in the Dodge Pro Stock line up. The Stratus so far has been a huge bust and lucky for Allan and teammate Darrell Alderman, they are running Neons. Allen is one of the drivers that has been negatively affected by by the LED's but, he is still one of the best leaver's, if he can slow the clutch down enough, and the car makes good power. He is probably the closest to WJ in the HP department.

Bruce Allen has looked very good so far capturing the #1 qualifying spot twice already and going a few rounds. The Reher and Morrison power has become one of the top four power plants and is in a number of PS cars again this season. Bruce's driving is pretty good, and look for him in the winners circle before to long.

Scott Geoffrion and the Hurley Blakeney/Panella Motorsport team is making us Ford fans proud. In the first weekend out with the new Escort, they went to the semis and ran in the 6.70's for the first time in Ford's long storied Pro Stock history. Scott is a pretty good leaver, and I expect Bob Panella to make even more power as the year goes on.

Mark Pawuk already has more round wins after three races than he had all of 2002. And I think thanks have to go out to the "legend" Bob Glidden. With well prepped motors Mark can concentrate on driving the car, and in keeping his sponsor "Summit" happy.

Ron Krisher is another guy with very good power under the hood. His problems in the past were usually driver related. Ron has made a much bigger commitment on that end (unfortunately he has a couple red lights to show for his efforts, but that will be corrected) and I expect to see me go more round at most events in 2003.

Jim Yates is a ways down on the list, and I'm sure there is some concern in the Split Fire camp. A usual top half qualifier, he was #15 and #16 at two races and had a DNQ at Pomona. This dry spell should not last to long though.

I expect Greg Stanfield to be the next in line for the Dodge Pro Stocks. They have a very good engine program and with a bit more experience under that teams belt in this very tough class, a win or two this year is not out of the question.

The other big Mopar backed Pro Stock team, owned by Larry Morgan, is like a train wreck waiting to happen. With all the hype to start the year with the new Stratus bodies and power that Morgans team was going to make, they have been an absolute bust. Three races and six DNQ's for Larry and teammate Gene Wilson. How long before a shakeup happens. Any of the the rest of the contingent, because this class is so close, could come out and win this or any weekend. With the likes of V. Gaines , Mike Edwards, Mark Whisnant, Tom Hammonds, Terry Adams, Derek Jeter, and Randy Daniels all with one round win or just qualifying, you know that it is a very tough class.

 

 

Funny Car is on this page . Top Fuel is here. Weekend Photos are here as well.