6th Amalie Oil Nationals
(May 17-19th, 2002) Cordova, IL
Notes|
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Peter Lehman’s Werner Enterprises team once again illustrates its absolute and now almost unfair domination of IHRA Top Fuel racing after another stellar winning performance. Crew chief Mike Kloeber choreographs driver Clay Millican to both ends of the IHRA national record with the fastest times ever seen in their history at 4.601 secs and 326.63 mph. Millican pounds a tire-smoking Bruce Litton in the final round to keep his undefeated 2002 season intact.
Doug Vancil makes history in IHRA Nitro Harley when he powers to the first sub 6.3 secs run in class history. Vancil carves out an electrifying 6.278 secs for the pole and then backs that mark up for an official national ET record by running 6.286 secs in round one. Vancil’s speed exploits do however fall short of victory lane which ultimately goes to Texan Johnny Mancuso. Only 7 Nitro Harleys show at the Cordova event -- another indication of some serious problems within the class which IHRA continues to flaunt despite dwindling racer participation.
Defending IHRA Pro Mod World Champion Mike Janis knocks out the field at Cordova driving his New York-based ‘63 Corvette. Janis powers to the quickest run seen since the cars were mandated to 2700 lbs minimum weight when he rips a 6.137 secs to qualify on the pole. Janis goes on to his 6th career win -- but first of the season -- when he takes out points leader Canadian Al Billes in the final round. Janis’s event win also includes top speed of the meet at 230.06 mph.
Incredibly cool and premium track conditions at Cordova help produce the quickest Pro Stock field in drag racing history with the all time 16-car bump spot being lowered to 6.637 secs (from 6.640 secs). Alabama’s Jason Collins wins for the first time in his career when scores first time out driving his new Mercury Cougar. Collins ambushes the field after qualifying 12th. In the final round Collins wins on a holeshot over Chevy pilot Doug Kirk and backs up the IHRA national mph record at the same time by running 213.10 mph. Collins had earlier ran 213.54 mph -- the fastest speed ever in IHRA Pro Stock history. The previous all time fastest IHRA mountain-motor Pro Stock run had been 213.37 mph by Gene Wilson at Budds Creek last fall.
Pro Stock class racing includes a career first pole position for driver Dwayne Rice. Rice, driving the Moser Engineering Pontiac Grand-Am, ran a career quick 6.555 secs to pace the field.
Like Clay Millican, Georgia’s Jimmy Rector kept his undefeated 2002 racing season intact so far by winning again in alcohol Funny Car. Rector handles Iowa’s Dale Brand in the final round after qualifying on the pole at 5.827 secs. Runner-up Dale Brand sets low ET at 5.787 secs while lady racer Laurie Cannister notched top speed at 242.54 mph.
Canadian event highlights included alcohol Funny Car class racing and a strong qualifying performance for Ontario’s Mike Etter. Etter ran his “Nerves of Steel” Pontiac Firebird to a 5.958 secs at 234.13 mph -- a career best time. Rather surprisingly, that made Etter the quickest of three Canadian cars in the class at the event over seasoned veterans Larry Dobbs and Robbie Atchison who qualified right behind Etter in 10th and 11th respectively. All three Canadian teams lost in round one -- but it was Etter by the closest margin (5.917 secs to 5.969 secs to Mike Comella).
IHRA presented it’s Top Stock class at Cordova for the third time this season and for the third consecutive event GM Performance Parts teamates Mike Adams and Monty Bogan faced off against one another. Bogan duplicated his event win at Virginia (April 20th) by running his ‘74 Corvette to a 10.054 secs at 131.48 mph to turn back Adam’s Chevy Camaro which ran 10.123 secs at 128.82 mph. Adams, who had defeated Bogan in the final round at Shreveport (May 4th), had paced the 16-car field with a 10.123 secs effort. Bogan ran 10.032 secs in round two, which was low ET of the meet.
Top Fuel class racing included the first ever round win for 17-year old rookie driver Josh Starcher. Starcher who also raced at Virginia and at Shreveport, qualified 4th with a 5.08 secs. Driving his Wix Filters cars he then takes the measure of Louie Allison in round one but in round two Starcher is no match for eventual winner Clay Millican who bombs him with a 4.632 at 324.75 mph.
