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4th Mopar Parts World Finals
Gilliam, LA (Oct. 19-21st, 2001)

Notes| Results | Photos

NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:

IHRA’s Mopar World Finals, originally scheduled for Oct. 12-14th is delayed one week by rain and flooded spectator parking problems. The rescheduling unfortunately does affect the program with numerous teams being unable to return. Car counts in Pro Modified (19) and alcohol Funny Car (13) in particular are uncharacteristically low.

Ohio’s Mark Thomas clinches the 2001 IHRA Summit Racing Funny Car World championship which is the only undecided Pro title coming into the event. Thomas’s IHRA World title is the 5th of his career. Thomas loses in round two of competition. Iowa’s Dale Brand scores a second consecutive IHRA circuit win driving his Co-Line Pontiac Firebird. Brand is the quickest car at Shreveport running 5.743 secs for the pole.

Saturday’s Mopar Parts World Finals schedule includes the prestigious season-ending Mopar Performance Pro Mod Shootout. Number five seed based on season-long qualifying points Fred Hahn, takes the $20,000 first place cheque when he defeats Shannon Jenkins in the final round. Hahn and Jenkins both run identical elapsed times in (6.245 secs) but Hahn’s superior starting line RT (.447 to .478) gives him the win light. Hahn had driven Jim Oddy’s Summit Racing 2001 Corvette past Ed Hoover and Mike Janis in earlier competition.

Mike Janis caps his absolute dream season in Pro Modified with another win -- his 5th of the year. Janis cards top speed of the meet in the final round at 228.85-mph driving the New York-based Jan-Cen/Weber’s Corvette to handle Al Pittman. Janis’s final round 6.236 secs was also low ET of Sunday’s eliminations. Janis had already clinched his first career IHRA Pro Mod World championship coming into the Shreveport event. 2001 Professional Rookie of the Year? Hands down -- no brainer!

2001 World Champion Gene Wilson caps his astounding 2001 season with a final event victory. Wilson’s win in Pro Stock is his 8th of the season driving Charlie Hunt’s record-smashing Mercury Cougar. The eight wins ties Wilson with legendary Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden for the most wins in a single season in IHRA history. Wilson’s win was dominating once again -- he had both low ET and top speed at 6.548 secs and 212.39 mph.

Top Fuel racing sees Bruce Litton end his 2001 season on a winning note driving the Indianapolis-based Wix Filters dragster. Litton gets an easy final round win over Jim Head who breaks. Litton’s win includes both low ET and top speed which came during qualifying. His last previous event win had come at this event in 2000. 2001 World Champion Clay Millican is denied a 7th national event title of the season when he is upset in round two by Jim Head.

Doug Vancil, who clinched the 2001 Summit Racing World title in Nitro Harley at the previous event in Budds Creek MD, wins again -- his 4th title of the season. Vancil wins a troubled final round over Johnny Mancuso. Class highlights include as astounding 227.77 mph clocking by Tony Mattioli which comes in round one. The fast speed was initially suspicious but became more legitimate after Mattioli carded an equally impressive 222.07 in round two while losing to Vancil. That speed was not fast enough to back up the 227.77 mph for official IHRA record status but the 222.07 mph mark is official.

IHRA’s Mopar World Finals also includes 8-car shootouts in Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Saturday’s Lenco TD Shootout title goes easily to Eddie Careccia who singles when Rick Schneider breaks. Tim Savell, driving a Chevy Lumina wins the Lizzard TS Shootout over Ronnie Davis -- 6.892 secs to 6.977 secs.

Paul Mercure wins the event’s Top Stock title. Only 8 cars show for the eliminator. Mercure’s big-block ‘67 Camaro singles for the title when opponent Mike Keener breaks.

Houston’s Johnny Mancuso won the Inaugural Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley Shootout. Mancuso collects $8,000 for the win when he powers by Mark Conners whom red lights in the final round. Mancuso runs a winning 6.651 secs at 202.36 mph. He had defeated Jay Turner and Mike Romine in earlier competition.