3rd Mopar Performance Parts Canadian Nationals
Grand Bend, ON (June 7-9, 2002)
Notes|
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
3rd Annual Mopar Performance Parts Canadian Nationals is arguably the largest and most successful weekend in Canadian drag racing history. Over 21,000 jam Grand Bend Motorplex on Saturday alone - the largest single day crowd in Canada for drag racing -- ever. After dealing with cool and foul weather during it’s first two event attempts in 2000 and 2001, everyone attending this years race is greeted by far more typical chamber of commerce like days. Hot and sunny conditions do slow the pace in some categories however sales of sun block and Molson beer are brisk.
Peter Lehman’s Werner Enterprises team returns to the site of their first ever team Top Fuel win (in 2000) and dominate action again. Crew chief Mike Kloeber sends his driver Clay Millican to the quickest run ever on Canadian soil at 4.615 secs during qualifying which shatters the 4.656 secs he set here last year. Millican also sets top speed of the meet at 317.23 mph during qualifying action. Sunday’s action is really no contest. Millican keeps his phenomenal 2002 undefeated season intact based on singles in round one and two -- running solid consecutive laps. In the final the team detunes a bit while taking a conservative 4.868 secs at 301.70 mph win light over a tire-smoking Paul Romine. Romine’s runner-up finish comes with his newly appointed crew chief Jimmy Walsh calling the shots.
Alabama’s Jimmy Rector also keeps his undefeated 2002 racing season in Alcohol Funny Car going when he tops number two points man and defending Canadian Nationals champion Dale Brand in the final round. Rector just nips Brand at the finish line after falling behind out of the gate.
Iowa’s Dale Brand resets the GB Motorplex track ET record at 5.820 secs in round one. Lady racer Laurie Cannister had a strong semi-final round finish and also set a GBM track record - 243.83 mph. Rector’s victory march includes a key semi-final round win over Canada’s Rob Atchison. Atchison has a great run at home driving the London-based Price FC Funny Car. He is the top qualifying Canadian racer at the event (5th) running his unique Chevy-powered Firebird, at 5.888 secs. Canadians Larry Dobbs (Welland), Mike Etter (Waterdown) and Paul Noakes (London) also crack the tough Sunday field but all lose in round one.
Pro Mod action features the second win this season in IHRA for Ed Hoover driving a nitrous-injected car. Hoover, from South Carolina, drives the Trussell Motorsports ’63 Corvette past Mitch Stott’s supercharged Radiac ’63 Corvette in the final round. Stott had been the favourite going into the final round after earning lane choice from the semi finals and also after setting low ET of the meet a 6.225 secs during qualifying. Fred Hahn, who won the inaugural Mopar Canadian Nationals back in 2000, cards the fastest Pro Mod run ever in Canada at a track record 227.73 mph. Hahn went on to a semi-final round finish losing a tight one to Stott 6.280 secs to 6.289 secs.
A record eight different Canadian racers attempt to qualify for Pro Mod at Grand Bend with three making the field. Carl Spiering is the quickest at 6.301 secs driving the Cutler-Hammer ’57 to his best run yet in IHRA national event competition for the third position. Points leader Al Billes runs 6.421 secs for 13th. Brantford’s Mark Nielsen is the biggest surprise running a 6.428 secs at 219.61 mph in his Chevy Camaro for 14th and to make his first ever IHRA PM Program. Neilsen then rudely upsets Carl Speiring in round one when Spiering’s machine shakes its tires. Nielsen then gives eventual winner Ed Hoover a good match in round two before falling back with mechanical problems at the 1000’ mark. Canadian drivers Kasey Janzen (6.524 secs), Tony Pontieri (6.567 secs), Gary Irving (6.569 secs), Larry Sinke (6.621 secs) and Raymond Commisso (6.671 secs) all make solid efforts but fall short of qualifying.
The Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley division sees Canadian records pummelled with Steve Stordeur riding Johnny Mancuso’s #2 bike to a death defying 6.347 secs at 217.39 mph. It is however Doug Vancil who wins for the second straight season at Grand Bend. The New Mexico rider tops sentimental favourite Ray Price in the final round with a winning 6.427 secs at 212.77 mph.
Ohio’s Brian Gahm earned his third career win in Pro Stock after a truly impressive performance driving his Mountain-motored 2000 Ford Mustang. Gahm sets both low ET and top speed in Pro Stock during qualifying at 6.565 secs and 211.61 mph which were not only GBM track records but were also the fastest Pro Stock runs ever on Canadian soil. Gahm defeats former IHRA Top Sportsman World Champion Jeff Dobbins in the all Ford-brand final round, 6.592 secs to 6.614 secs.
Pro Stock racing saw two Canadians entered, Larry O’Brien (from Windsor) and Anthony Paone (from Toronto). O’Brien runs a best of 6.700 secs and Paone a 6.738 secs but both miss the 6.665 secs class cut.
Pro Mod qualifying of Friday includes a wild incident when Paul Athey’s nitrous-injected ‘63 Corvette has a huge nitrous explosion at half-track. The blast literally disinegrates the front end of Athey’s Lee-Boy sponsored ‘63 Corvette. Athey is uninjured however damage sidelines his car for the remainder of the event.
Pro Mod racing features a true oddity as normal class icon and top points contender Shannon Jenkins shockingly does not qualify. The “Iceman” has serious tire shake problems throughout qualifying with is nitrous-injected Camaro.
Canadian Joe Boniferro is the quickest of the lot in Top Sportsman. The Niagara Falls racers drives his fan favourite supercharged Dodge Avenger to the pole at 6.571 secs at 209.05 mph for the pole. That mark holds up for low ET of the meet amongst 42 cars entered. Boniferro loses in round four.
Stratford’s Kevin Wicke is the top finishing Canadian in Top Sportsman overall breaking out at 7.445 secs (7.45 dial in) to Bruno Massel in the 5th round.
