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New IHRA winner, new track records at Epping
Newcomer Tim Boychuk (near lane) drove past Terry McMillen in the final round at New England Dragway to claim his first career win at the IHRA Amalie Oil North American Nationals. Boychuk got past Mike Strasburg (who set the track speed record at 316.52 mph) in the first round and points leader Spencer Massey in the semifinals to get to the run for the money.
There he posted a 4.758 at 306.19 mph to knock off a tire-smoking McMillen. Prior to the July Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Todd and Barry Paton tapped Boychuk, from Edmonton, Alberta, to drive their 2004 McKinney for the remainder of the 2008 season.
Pete Berner’s Pro Stock win in the final over Jeff Dobbins set up the biggest race weekend of his life one month from now in Rockingham. Berner took the points lead with his finals victory, moving 25 points ahead of Dobbins. Rain washed away the final round of the $100,000 Torco Pro Stock Showdown, where Berner will face John Montecalvo. So in Rockingham Berner will be running for a world championship as well as trying to cash in on the $50,000 first prize in the Showdown.
Berner set a track-record speed of 221.67 during Friday evening’s qualifying session, with a 6.348 elapsed time.
Final rounds:
Top Fuel: Tim Boychuk, 4.758 seconds, 306.19 mph, def. Terry McMillen, 8.343 seconds, 100.57 mph.
Nitro Funny Car: Andy Kelley, Chevy Camaro, 5.160, 264.96, def. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 10.857, 95.69.
Pro Modified: Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.054, 233.64, def. Mike Castellana, Pontiac Firebird, 6.759, 154.28.
Alcohol Funny Car: Paul Noakes, Dodge Avenger, 5.884, 242.89, def. Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Pro Stock: Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 6.333, 222.88, def. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.370, 222.00.
Top Dragster: Nick Meloni, Dragster, 6.958, 187.63, def. Justin Mason, Dragster, 7.017, 189.34.
Top Sportsman: Todd Fontana, Chevy Corvette, 6.948, 199.70, def. Robert Jones, Corvette, 6.897, 197.91.
Super Stock: Joe Santangelo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 10.434, 112.68, def. Raffe Karaguezian, Chevy Nova, foul.
Stock: Gregory Gay, Plymouth Super Bee, 10.919, 111.24, def. Patrick Kelliher, Chevy Camaro, 12.227, 107.10.
Quick Rod: Steve Mikus, Dragster, 8.893, 158.69, def. Brad Coryell, Dragster, 8.851, 166.07.
Super Rod: Ryan Ondrejko, Chevy Corvette, 9.879, 151.26, def. Jim Lintner, Chevy Beretta, 9.867, 147.29.
Hot Rod: Tony Elrod, AMC Gremlin, 10.924, 126.19, def. Matt Harper, Chevy Malibu, 10.915, 125.11.
ET Bracket: Michael Caron, Dragster, 7.756, 171.88, def. Patrick Smith, Buick Regal, 10.081, 131.02.
Mod ET: Patrick Smith, Buick Regal, 10.128, 120.36, def. Bill Fraser, Ford P/U, 10.028, 131.91.
Top ET: Michael Caron, Dragster, 7.750, 172.08, def. Martel Mario, Chevy Blazer, 9.664, 138.94. (photo courtesy IHRA) [9/8/2008]
Thompson takes in the altered show
Brad Thompson, seriously injured last month at the Boise Nightfire Nationals, was seen over the weekend at the 4th Annual Chuy's AA/FA race at Fontana’s Auto Club Dragway.
We’ll have results and photos of the Chuy’s event Tuesday. (James Drew photo) [9/8/2008]
IHRA national event Pro Mod fields continue to be short
For the second straight national event the IHRA has had short fields in their Pro Modified division. Just like their NHRA counterparts, who are struggling to fill their Top Fuel fields on a regular basis, the IHRA is having trouble attracting cars to a professional class they invented. Both Tulsa and now Epping have had short fields with 13 cars. For the IHRA not to fill their Pro Mod field is something that just a year ago was virtually unthinkable. Blame it on the economy, says the Agent. [9/8/2008]
Another entry for the DRO AA/Funny Car Invitational
The newest entry in the DragRacingOnline.com AA/Funny Car Invitational is Kansas City racer/car owner Dusty Hunt. Hunt's car is a ’69 Mustang with a 496 inch BAE combination. The car hasn’t had many appearances recently and was built to compete on the Virgil Hartman Southern Circuit for AA/FC. That brings to six the number of cars with contracts racing at the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drag Race October 3-4!
“We expect a few more cars by then,” said event promoter John Troxel. “We are going to cash the Funny Car racers’ checks on the spot to try and help them out.” (photo courtesy DustyHunt) [9/8/2008]