The Race That Almost Was
It was called the Jerry Haas Race Cars Factory Hot Rod Showdown, but it turned out to be something less than was expected. The June 6 event was to be run at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL, along with a regular Wednesday night Test ‘n’ Tune. Several of the NHRA and IHRA touring pros had been at the track testing for a couple of days. While the IHRA teams took part in the event, most of the NHRA teams declined, after making many test runs at the Gateway track on their way to this weekend’s NHRA national event in Joliet, IL. One can only assume they were saving their parts for the “big show.”
Dan Saitz (Bret Kepner photo)
Mark Micke (Bret Kepner photo)
St. Louisan Dan Saitz scored a warm-up victory prior to his attempt to defend his Outlaw Division title at the June 9-10 NOPI Drag Racing Series event by winning the Pro Modified
Eliminator crown at the Jerry Haas Race Cars Factory Hot Rod Showdown. Saitz wheeled his gorgeous twin-turbocharged small block-powered 2007 Mustang to a new GIR track speed record for turbocharged machines at 223.62 miles per hour with a best elapsed time of 6.54 seconds before stopping the radical ProCharger-equipped ‘68 Camaro of Springfield, Missouri’s Mark Micke in the final round with a tire-shaking 7.46/207.91 to a tire-smoking 12.33/80.86.
