Malice in the Palace

By Susan Wade

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Weis had been out of racing for nearly two years after suffering a broken vertebra in June 2007, at Joliet, Ill. His own dragster was in mothballs, and veteran crew chief Wayne Dupuy offered him the use of Urs Erbacher's car while the Swiss European Top Fuel champion was overseas.

"This deal came together in about a week's time," Weis, of Ashland, Va., said. "Wayne called me on Saturday of last week and asked if I want to go to Dallas." He said reacquainting himself with the dragster "was kind of like riding a bike. Once you get back in the controls are etched in your mind."

He beat Terry McMillen in the final round with a 4.837-second pass 298.87 mph -- the second-fastest speed of the weekend – against the tire-smoking McMillen (6.838/120.01).

"I have been trying for a really long time to win in a fuel car," Weis said, "and to do it in my first time back after sitting for two years, it is amazing."

Pro Mod winner Chris Russo said he, too, had been lurking in the background, while reigning champion Kenny Lang had the attention.

"Flying under the radar, we have been doing that for a long time," the Cedar Grove, N.J., resident said. "This weekend was not like the last few IHRA races that I have been to. We have had nothing but problems breaking parts, and even this weekend we broke a camshaft. But at the end of the day, the people who keep working on it and keep trying, and go to sleep until 4 a.m., those are the people that succeed in this kind of sport. And I am happy that on this day I was able to do that."

He did, with a 6.223-second run at 230.13 mph. Lang had a 6.302/229.35.

"When I saw him leave and he was next to me, I honestly thought we were done, because I didn't think I could drive around him. Not many people can," Russo said. "He got loose in the middle of the track, and our car stuck and we were able to motor right on down there.

"To be honest, I was really nervous. Anytime you run someone like Lang, who is a world champion, it is intimidating. I mean, they are fast, legitimately one of the fastest out here," Russo said. "It legitimizes the win. No one shook the tires, no one broke, we went out there and we raced. And for me, that is a lot more satisfying."