Inaugural Motor City Nationals
July 11-13th, 2003, Milan, MI
Notes |
Results | Photos #1 | Photos #2
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
The top story at IHRA’s Inaugural Motor City Nationals is the condition of the track surface. When Friday’s first Pro session begins it soon becomes apparent that the racing surface is nowhere near up to IHRA’s usual national event standards. Almost every Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Alcohol Funny Car class racer spins their tires and aborts their runs. Crew chiefs and drivers are heard cussing like sailors everywhere. One racer commented to me after his run: “I thought I made a wrong turn out of staging and went down a Detroit freeway!”
Racers and IHRA officials then huddle in desperation and it is decided to cancel Friday’s second Pro session so that the track can be ground smooth and competition can resume on Saturday. A dedicated crew works hard and the first 330 feet in both lanes are treated during an overnight marathon. Who is at fault for the track prep fiasco is subject to much conjecture however it is safe to report their are red faces within both Milan Dragway and IHRA management levels. There is no truth to the rumour that some hangman’s gallows had been hastily constructed behind staging. Ultimately the surface improves to a point however for the Pro cars good laps down track are more of a rarity then the norm.
Pro Stock racing sees Jason Collins win for the second event in a row driving his powerful Alabama-based Mercury Cougar. Collins, who won at Edmonton two week before, turns back former IHRA Pro Stock world Champion Floyd Cheek in the final round.
Another former IHRA World Champion, Chris Holbrook paces the PS class. The Michigan native has a terrific debut driving his brand new 2003 Ford Escort, a first in IHRA competition. Holbrook runs a 6.609 secs which is low ET of the meet to pace the field but loses out in round two when the car shakes its tires racing Collins. Holbrook’s sleek new machine also cards top speed for the class at 211.99 mph.
Pro Mod racing is the first post IHRA’s new and controversial supercharger restriction rules which kicked in July 1st. The step which lowered the allowed blower overdrive percentage from 29% to 25% seemed to have it’s intended effect as the final qualified field has more nitrous oxide presence -- 9 cars versus 7 supercharged then usual. However, supercharged racer Mike Janis was able to quickly adapt and the New York-based racer charged to his first circuit win since last season. Janis wheeled his very cool new “Widowmaker” ‘63 Corvette to both low ET and top speed while taking the title. The PM final is also IHRA’s desired outcome -- Janis’s supercharged car raced Steve Vick’s nitrous-injected machine.
Ed Hoover and Billy Harper are the first two racers to experiment with IHRA’s new rules allowing up to 740 CID maximum instead of 706 CID for nitrous-injected Pro Mods -- each run 728 CID powerplant at the event. Hoover qualifies 2nd and Harper 10th.
Pro Mod’s new supercharged class rules do take a heavy toll. Sunday’s eliminations open without its points leader Mitch Stott who is a shocking DNQ at only a 6.593 secs best.
AFC class racing produces a first time winner as John Vouros earns a much overdue first national event title. Vouros’s crew chief Jeff Burnett (from Australia) tunes Vouros to consistent runs on Sunday to earn the title. That includes 3-straight “fives“ to advance him to the final round. Vouros scores over Ronnie Midyette in the championship final.
IHRA points leader Robbie Atchison has a trying event as track conditions choke the normally pace-setting Chevy-powered Firebird. Atchison qualifies 5th but only after a desperate final session effort. The Canadian racer then suffers a stinging red light in round one to lose out to Chris Foster. Atchison’s foul start negates a low ET of the meet effort -- 5.869 secs. Another Canadian, Paul Noakes, set top speed in the AFC class at 240.29 mph.
Clay Millican avenges he recent final round loss to Bruce Litton at Edmonton as he turns the tables beating Litton at Milan. The TF finals sees both teams take a lot of power out of their cars to try to manage the tricky and hot surface but both cars still spin their tires. Millican gets to the stripe first at 5.003 secs to Litton’s 5.062 secs.
Top Fuel racing at Milan does attracts the biggest field for IHRA of the season with 13 cars vying for the 8 positions. The pole goes to rookie Tim Cullinan who runs 4.856 secs however Cullinan blows his tires off while racing Todd Paton in round one. On that run Paton does however suffer some mechanical carnage and cannot make the call for the semi final round.
The Top Stock title goes to Mopar-brand racer Joe Aluise Jr who drove his 1963 Plymouth Belvedere past Matt Morgan’s Camaro in a final round pairing of the number one and two qualified cars. Aluise has a bit of a surprise for Morgan however as he unloads low ET of the meet at 9.857 secs to upset Morgan’s 9.920 secs.
Detroit-area Mopar brand fans are treated to three other wins during the Motor City Nationals. In addition to Aluise’s win in Top Stock, Dodge cars won in Top Sportsman (Frank Teague), Super Stock (Tom Sheehan) and Bob Marshall (Stock).
