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IHRA results by Bruce Mabrito


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by Bruce Mabrito

 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series successfully completed the first of twelve scheduled stops with a record-setting performance at San Antonio Raceway in San Antonio, Texas. Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Mitch Stott (Pro Modified), Tony Bogolo (Funny Car) and Rick Jones (Sunoco Pro Stock) posted professional victories at the inaugural Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira.

 

The event marked a new era for IHRA Top Fuel as sanctioning body officials rescinded supercharger and wight restrictions for the 2003 season and beyond. However, the rules may have been different but the outcome proved to be the same as it has been since 2001.

 

The personable Millican completed a 4.5-second barrage in his Peter Lehman-owned, Werner Enterprises dragster with a convincing victory over John Smith. The defending World Champion was clearly on his game as he posted a 4.598, 319.98 to easily cover the 4.731, 315.86 run from Smith's Prestone-sponsored dragster.

 

Millican may have been off of his usual torrid pace before the event's postponement, but he more than mde up for it a week later. In winning today, he extended a performance record in IHRA competition that lists only one round loss dating back to 2001.

 

"The final round scared the crap out of me, I'll admit to that," said Millican. "I knew John had red-lighted, but then I started second-guessing myself and asking if he really did. That was just as well because I was late getting off of the line. I never really felt comfortable until my guys came on the radio and told me that we had won."

 

Millican pointed out that this victory is as memorable as last year's Amalie Oil Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill. At that event, Millican also established a new world record en route to scoring the victory.

 

During the "Night of Fire" qualifying on Saturday evening, Millican became the first IHRA Top Fuel dragster pilot to record a 4.5-second run when he laid down a 4.591, 316.30 world record blast. He performed the required one-percent back-up in the first round of competition with a 4.608 elapsed time that beat Bob Hallock. Millican then extended his winning streak over Bruce Litton in the semi-finals with his slowest run of the day, a 4.639, 318.02.

 

For his part, Smith had a good day in the Virgil Hartman Top Fueler as he started from the third qualifying position and defeated Louie Allison and Don Sosenka to reach the final round.

 

Stott was a picture of consistency when it came to winning Pro Modified. The Mill Spring, NC-based driver of the Radiac-sponsored '63 Corvette picked up where he left off last year by winning his fourth national event in a row dating back to September of 2002. His latest victory came at the expense of home state racer Thomas Patterson, who hails from Houston.

 

"A lot of the guys in this class have really done their homework over the off-season," said Stott, who is credited with being the first doorslammer driver to post a five-second run. "We came into this season expecting to win some races, but by no means did we expect it to be a cakewalk. This was a tough fight and once we finished qualifying, we knew we were on our game."

 

Stott felt that if he didn't make any stupid mistakes that the race was his to win. He entered eliminations as the second quickest and recorded convincing wins over Frankie Taylor, Paul Athey and Al Billes.

 

Patterson, whose last victory came last season at the ACDelco Nationals in Toronto, entered the event with a brand new 1941 Willys. The third-year Pro Modified racer qualified eighth on his final attempt and waded through a list of opponents that was comprised of Chip King, low qualifier Mike Janis and Fred Hahn.

 

Bogolo was the darkhorse all day among Funny Car competitors. The Hamilton, Ohio-based driver methodically worked his way through the field while final round opponent Mark Thomas thundered through with much fanfare and blistering elapsed times and speeds. In the final round, Bogolo used a .045 deficit on the starting line to his advantage as he successfully fended off the multi-time world champion Thomas with a 5.901, 240.51. Thomas, of Louisville, Ohio, lost with a 5.974, 239.31.

 

"Anytime you can run with Mark Thomas and win is good," said Bogolo. "I knew I had to get out on him to have a good chance. He shook the tires and that was the break we needed today."

 

Bogolo opened eliminations as the fifth quickest and used better performances to defeat John Sullivan and Terry McMillen before taking a competition bye run into the final round.

 

Meanwhile, Thomas had been on a tear all weekend by establishing the top qualifying spot and maintaining a torrid pace en route to winning the first round on a bye run then stopping Chris Foster and Ronnie Midyette.

 

The Sunoco Pro Stock division provided a chance for the lone Chrysler participant to slay all giants that crossed his path. Jones, a renowned chassis builder from Galesburg, Ill., pushed his Hemi-powered Dodge Neon to a holeshot victory over defending world champion Brian Gahm of Lucasville, Ohio.

 

Jones, who represents the first mountain motor Mopar to win since Bobby Yowell in 1979, used a .087 starting line advantage to record a 6.613, 209.14 to 6.613, 210.14 decision. He entered eliminations as the fourth seeded entry.

 

"We went the hard route with a Mopar because a lot of people run other brands of cars," Jones said. "It could have been easy to go with a Ford or Chevy, but we wanted to be unique. There are a lot of Mopar fans and we wanted to give them something to cheer for. I think we gave them something to be proud of today."

 

Jones was on his game all day winning three rounds in the tricky right lane. His only time in the left lane resulted in an opening round victory over Jeff Dobbins. Jones then defeated Elijah Morton and Steve Williford to reach the finals.

 

Gahm entered eliminations as the seventh quickest and reached the final round with victories over John Nobile, Pete Berner and Doug Kirk.

 

The next event on 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series is the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, NC., March 28-30.

 

 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Saturday's final results from the Inaugural Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira Cars, Trucks & RVs at San Antonio Raceway. The $1.1 million race is the first of 12 in the 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

 

Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.598 seconds, 319.98 mph def. John Smith, foul.

 

Pro Modified -- Mitch Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.243, 227.46 def. Thomas Patterson, Corvette, 6.487, 195.62.

 

Funny Car -- Tony Bogolo, Oldsmobile Achieva, 5.901, 240.51 def. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.974, 239.31.

 

Pro Stock -- Rick Jones, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.635, 209.14 def. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.613, 210.14.

 

Top Stock -- Kevin Helms, Chevy Camaro, 10.161, 129.77 def. Mony Bogan Jr., Camaro, 10.171, 129.39.

 

Top Sportsman -- Craig Hughes, Chevy Camaro, 7.613, 182.40 def. Britt Cummings, Pontiac Firebird, .285, 186.05.

 

Top Dragster -- Britt Cummings, Dragster, 7.554, 171.69 def. Stanley Albritton, Dragster, 7.500, 175.41.

 

Super Stock -- Don Grant, Pontiac Trans Am, 10.214, 130.43 def. J.B. Clegg, PontiacFirebird, foul.

 

Stock -- Steven Hall, Ford Mustang, 10.611, 121.85 def. Rusty Hall, Mustang, 10.689, 116.46.

 

Quick Rod -- Jeromy Hefler, Dragster, 8.915, 158.33 def. Ben Massey Jr., Dragster, 8.866, 159.80.

 

Super Rod -- Slate Cummings, Chevy Corvette, 9.906, 159.17 def. Brian Folk, Chevy Cavalier, 9.941, 139.76.

 

Hot Rod -- Eric Sandlin, Chevy Camaro, 10.902, 119.04 def. Stephen Lawson, Camaro, 10.882, 135.89.

 

Elapsed Time -- David Bitler, Ford Roadster, 9.434, 130.34 def. Jeff Carter, Plymouth Duster, 11.993, 108.36

 

 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira Cars, Trucks & RVs at San Antonio Raceway, the first of 12 events in the

2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

 

TOP FUEL:

 

ROUND ONE -- Bruce Litton, 4.706, 308.28 def. Josh Starcher, 4.781, 304.19; John Smith, 4.836, 284.45 def. Louie Allison, 5.015, 273.00; Donald Sosenka, 5.340, 221.96 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 5.596, 273.83; Clay Millican, 4.608, 312.86 def. Bob Hallock, 5.140, 236.55; SEMIFINALS -- Smith, 4.791, 295.59 def. Sosenka, 9.113, 71.48; Millican, 4.639, 318.02 def. Litton, 4.741, 308.07; FINAL -- Millican, 4.598, 319.98 def. Smith, foul.

 

PRO MODIFIED:

 

ROUND ONE -- Paul Athey, Chevy Corvette, 6.431, 228.58 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.454, 224.43; Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.310, 228.58 def. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 11.333, 76.22; Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.378, 227.23 def. Kevin O'Dell, Studebaker, 6.418, 221.20; Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.237, 227.00 def. Frankie Taylor, Pontiac Firebird, 6.417, 219.58; Fred Hahn, Corvette, 6.276, 221.71 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, foul; Al Billes, Studebaker, 6.266, 226.35 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.362, 207.82; Steve Vick, Camaro, 6.334, 221.82 def. Dale Brinsfield, Willys, 6.559, 217.49; Thomas Patterson, Corvette, 6.323, 223.84 def. Chip King, Dodge Avenger, 6.958, 162.08; QUARTERFINALS -- Patterson, 6.337, 224.62 def. Janis, 22.395, 29.46; M. Stott, 6.230, 226.58 def. Athey, 6.458, 227.23; Billes, 6.257, 225.94 def. Harper, 6.473, 226.13; Hahn, 6.175, 221.67 def. Vick, 6.322, 221.74; SEMIFINALS -- M. Stott, 6.225, 227.38 def. Billes, 6.292, 223.28; Patterson, 9.717, 109.85 def. Hahn, broke; FINAL -- M. Stott, 6.243, 227.46 def. Patterson, 6.487, 195.62.

 

FUNNY CAR:

 

ROUND ONE -- Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.844, 235.80 was unopposed; Terry McMillen, Avenger,

13.533, 80.62 def. Steve Burck, Avenger, broke; Mike Comella, Avenger, 6.068, 212.86 def. Ron Rice, Dodge Daytona, 6.489, 175.34; Ronnie Midyette, Chevy Camaro, 5.940, 236.46 def. Dan Crownhart, Chevy Corvette, 6.381, 216.65; Tony Bogolo, Olds Achieva, 5.894, 239.48 def. John Sullivan, Pontiac Firehawk, 6.247, 227.11; Chris Foster, Avenger, 6.071, 231.44 def. Ray Drew, Ford Mustang, broke; QUARTERFINALS -- Bogolo, 5.955, 221.09 def. McMillen, 6.662, 208.94; Thomas, 5.810, 242.32 def. Foster, 6.837, 145.97; Midyette, 11.610, 100.11 def. Comella, broke; SEMIFINALS -- Thomas, 5.822, 238.55 def. Midyette, 5.964, 237.96; Bogolo, 17.014, 57.12 was unopposed; FINAL -- Bogolo, 5.901, 240.51 def. Thomas, 5.974, 239.31.

 

PRO STOCK:

 

ROUND ONE -- Steve Williford, Chevy Cavalier, 6.621, 209.23 def. Frank Gugliotta, Mercury Cougar, 6.633, 210.80; Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.623, 210.44 def. John Nobile, Cavalier, 6.798, 206.13; Chuck DeMory, Ford Probe, 6.675, 205.66 def. John Montecalvo, Cavalier, 9.733, 110.77; Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.606, 210.97 def. Floyd Cheek, Mustang, 6.620, 210.14; Rick Jones, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.631, 209.10 def. Jeff Dobbins, Probe, 6.713, 210.67; Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.624, 209.33 def. John Bartunek, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.667, 209.07; Pete Berner, Mustang, 13.328, 63.22 def. Jason Collins, Cougar, foul; Steve Spiess, Grand

Am, 6.671, 208.07 def. Charlie Peppers, Mustang, 6.612, 210.54; QUARTERFINALS -- Kirk, 6.648, 208.59 def. DeMory, 6.714, 204.54; Gahm, 6.619, 210.21 def. Berner, 12.861, 66.04; Williford, 6.639, 209.07 def. Spiess, 6.689, 207.94; Jones, 6.662, 208.94 def. Morton, 6.609, 210.83; SEMIFINALS -- Jones, 6.661, 208.20 def. Williford, 6.678, 208.88; Gahm, 6.630, 209.82 def. Kirk, 6.696, 208.26; FINAL -- Jones, 6.635, 209.14 def. Gahm, 6.613, 210.14.

 

 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Inaugural Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira Cars, Trucks & RVs at San Antonio Raceway, the first of 12 events in the 2003 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

 

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 131; 2. John Smith, 109; 3. Bruce Litton, 88; 4. Donald Sosenka, 80; 5. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 70; 6. Josh Starcher, 67; 7. Bob Hallock, 64; 8. Louie Allison, 46; 9. Vicky Fanning, 25; 10. (tie) Grant Flowers, 20, Bobby Lagana Jr, 20.

 

Pro Modified

1. Mitch Stott, 115; 2. Thomas Patterson, 89; 3. Al Billes, 74; 4. Fred Hahn, 73; 5. Mike Janis, 56; 6. Steve Vick, 52; 7. Billy Harper, 51; 8. Paul Athey, 47; 9. Quain Stott, 30; 10. Chip King, 28.

 

Funny Car

1. Tony Bogolo, 112; 2. Mark Thomas, 96; 3. Ronnie Midyette, 73; 4. Terry McMillen, 55; 5. Mike Comella, 54; 6. Chris Foster, 50; 7. Ray Drew, 31; 8. John Sullivan, 29; 9. Dan Crownhart, 28; 10. Steve Burck, 26.

 

Pro Stock

1. Rick Jones, 113; 2. Brian Gahm, 90; 3. Doug Kirk, 74; 4. Steve Williford, 69; 5. Elijah Morton, 52; 6. Chuck DeMory, 51; 7. Pete Berner, 42; 8. Steve Spiess, 41; 9. Charlie Peppers, 36; 10. Jason Collins, 35.

 

Results provided by the FastNews Network,

courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment

** http://www.summitracing.com/ **

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