33rd IHRA Spring Nationals
Mar. 28-29, Oct. 16-18, 2003, Rockingham NC
Notes |
Results | Photos #1 | Photos #2
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
The IHRA’s season-ending event at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway features the conclusion of last March’s rain deferred Spring Nationals which is run down Thursday through Saturday. Any residue controversy about the condition of the track surface from last spring is a moot point because Earwood and his staff take no chances as returning racers are greeted by a totally resurfaced quarter-mile. The event had originally been marred by extremely poor track traction which theorists speculate fell somewhere between sand gnats and pollen being inadvertently sealed within the track surface. In a strange twist of fate the heavy rains which washed out the event on the original Sunday, may have in fact been a saving grace.
Canada's Robbie Atchison becomes only the second Canadian driver in IHRA Alcohol Funny Car racing history to win the overall points championship. Atchison is mathematically assured the title when he runs the Erickson Manufacturing Pontiac Firebird to low ET of the meet in the semi-final round (at 5.787 secs) while beating Tony Bogolo. The team then turns all the screws for the final round while racing Mark Thomas however that proves to be too much and the car smokes it's tires giving Thomas an easy 5.821 secs at 243.59 mph victory. Thomas speed is the fastest of the event and the win is his second of the year.
Mike Janis also notches his second victory of the season driving his “Widowmaker” ’63 Corvette to a big win in Pro Mod. The popular New York-based driver saves his best effort the final round as he carves out a 6.142 secs at 231.08-mph (low ET and top speed) to beat Canada’s Al Billes who shook his tires and shut off. Janis beats Mitch Stott, Tim McAmis and Shannon Jenkins in earlier action. The win helped Janis solidify a second place finish in final season Hooter’s Pro Mod points.
Al Billes runner-up finish is inspiring for his team, which had endured a lot of trouble and inconsistency ever since their crash at U.S. 131 Dragway, last August. Billes finds his stride at Rockingham running three straight 6.2’s during eliminations while beating Paul Athey, Mike Castellana and Ed Hoover.
Chassis builder Rick Jones makes a strong statement while winning in Pro Stock. Jones becomes only the 4th member of the prestigious Quarter-Max “Six-Forty Club” (which his company sponsors) during a dramatic final round win over defending Pro Stock champion Brian Gahm. Jones wheels is Hemi-powered Dodge Neon to a spectacular 6.480 secs at 213.23 mph numbers which are both low ET and top speed in the class. Jones’s run is the first 6.4 recorded in Pro Stock on U.S. soil -- the previous three had come at Ontario’s Grand Bend Motorplex.
Clay Millican’s domination in IHRA Top Fuel continues at the “Rock” has the talented team under Peter Lehman once again prevails. Millican runs 3-straight 4.6 secs runs to take the title and outguns Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the TF finale. Clay had entered the Rockingham race with the 2003 IHRA Hooters World Championship title clinched. That is his 3rd straight IHRA national championship. Millican’s best run comes in round two at 4.627 secs and 314.09 mph which is both low ET and top speed.
Runner-up Rhonda Hartman-Smith receives a break to advance to the final round. In the semi-final round she appeared to be on the losing end of a decision to California's Ken Zeal after Zeal jumps out to a quicker start and runs an apparent winning 4.814 secs at 284.09 mph. Rhonda is however re-instated when IHRA officials determine that Zeal run had an outer boundary foul during his run. Zeal's miscue proves to have double consequences. The semi-final round of the "spring" race was also the final round of qualifying for the World Finals event thus Zeal was relegated to a DNQ for Sunday.
Ohio’s Marco Abruzzi clinches the IHRA’s Top Sportsman World Title when he wins the “spring” event driving his nitrous-injected Camaro. Abruzzi’s World title win is by a scant 10 points however and that forces him into a rather bizarre situation. Because IHRA has a 15-points penalty “Black Flag” rule he could not take a chance of a miscue and thus withdraws from competition for the World Finals. Abruzzi’s title is assured however the IHRA rulebook sends their star class player home early.... go figure.
Roy Hill who was entered in Pro Mod competition at Rockingham is forced to leave the Rockingham premises under a shroud of controversy. Hill had qualified for the “spring” event driving his supercharged Mustang but subsequently sold that car. He returns to the event driving the nitrous-injected ’63 Corvette owned by Ronnie Hood. Hill however gets into a verbal and shoving match with IHRA officials on Saturday (allegedly around event admission) and is soon escorted off the property, fined $5000 and suspended for one calendar year.
