5th K&N Filters IHRA Nationals
(May 3-5th, 2002) Shreveport, LA
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Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
In stark contrast to usual IHRA national event standards, the Shreveport Louisiana event is poorly attended, particularly in a couple of Professional categories. Car count in Pro Modified is record low in IHRA history with only 13 cars showing for the eliminator. This compares to 21 teams which were entered for the 8-car field at the rival NHRA event in Atlanta. That development should be a big red flag for IHRA’s Pro Mod rules makers and cause concern for IHRA’s future.
The event is also plagued by the elements with rain curtailing a lot of Friday’s scheduled qualifying rounds. Top Fuel racers set the field based on two qualifying runs on Saturday while the rest of the Pro classes get three shots in total.
Shreveport’s Mountain-motor Pro Stock program helps to reprieve the event as it is a strong affair. That class is highlighted by a first career win for Carl Baker at the wheel of the Summit Racing Equipment Mercury Cougar. Baker clips the Citgo-Chevy of John Montecalvo in the final round winning 6.591 secs 212.03 mph to 6.629 secs at 210.14 mph. The sixteen-car show is a quick one with a bump spot of 6.673 secs putting it third on the all time fastest IHRA Pro Stock list.
Clay Millican dominates Top Fuel driving Peter Lehman’s Werner Enterprises dragster. Millican sets both low ET and top speed during qualifying at 4.757 secs and 309.34 mph. During eliminations he is no match for Roger Dean or Donald Reed in rounds one and two and then easily outdistances a tire-smoking Paul Romine in the final round.
North Carolina’s Ray Price resets the national record in Nitro Harley to 6.365 secs when he wins the final round over Mike Romine. Price’s third career win comes in his farewell season appearance as a rider at the facility. Price runs an equally impressive 6.370 secs in round two to back up the mark officially. Doug Vancil has top speed at 228.77 mph on the Vance and Hines “hog” but loses out in the semi final round.
Pennsylvania's Laurie Cannister runs the quickest and fastest times of her career in alcohol Funny Car speeding to a 5.775 secs at 243.63 mph to pace the field. Cannister and Company are consistently quick throughout the event but the car kicks the rods out during her burnout in round two and she is done. Georgia’s Jimmy Rector ultimately prevails in the class defeating a red-lighting Dale Brand in the final round. Rector’s victory is also somewhat tempered as attendance in the alcohol Funny Car class is dismal by usual IHRA standards with only ten cars showing for competition.
Canadian drag racing highlights from Shreveport include a strong semi-final round finish for Barrie’s Al Billes. Billes maintained his overall points lead in IHRA Pro Mod after qualifying 3rd (at 6.257 secs at 225.00 mph) and beating Chuck Nuytten and Quain Stott. Billes’s powerful Studebaker blew the tires off however in the semis while racing eventual winner Ed Hoover... Windsor’s Larry O’Brien had his Pro Stock Dodge Avenger in action and just missed again qualifying with his best effort of 6.679 secs (at 208.84 mph) falling short of the swift 6.673 secs bump spot....London’s Robbie Atchison ran well again in AFC qualifying the Pride Fighting Championships Firebird 5th at 5.984 secs and 233.94 mph. Robbie slapped a holeshot on Mark Thomas in round one (.479 to .517 RT) but lost when the car broke at the 800 foot mark...
Sportsman racing is highlighted by a popular win in Super Stock eliminator by Louisiana’s own Sid Bonnecarrere who takes the title driving “Big Joe” Teuton’s “Cajun Flyer” SS/AA ‘68 Dart. Bonnecarrere powered by the field after qualifying 2nd with a 9.02 secs run. Super Stock racing is also a thin affair with only 22 cars entered at the event.
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