12th Presidents Cup Nationals
Sep. 26-28th, 2003 Budds Creek MD
Notes |
Results | Photos #1 | Photos #2
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Canada’s Carl Spiering breaks though in Pro Modified eliminator to win his first career national event title. Spiering drives the Eaton Cutler-Hammer ‘57 Chevy past a red-lighting Roy Wasko in the final round. The win for “Big Dog” is anything but an easy route as he must take the measure of previous ’03 national event winners Thomas Patterson and Mike Castellana in head-to-head action earlier during eliminations. The win moves Spiering into IHRA’s “top ten” in PM points standings.
Pro Mod racing sees Mike Janis rewrite the IHRA’s national speed record. In fact Janis sets the mark twice during the event, first at 231.40 mph and then ultimately to 232.07 mph. Janis also has low ET of the meet driving the “Widowmaker” Corvette running a 6.201 secs in qualifying. That time proved to be the quickest of all 39 PM cars entered at the event.
Robbie Atchison moves to the verge of clinching IHRA’s ’03 Alcohol Funny Car World title when he racks up his 6th win of the season. Atchison pretty well seals the fate of his closest points rival Mark Thomas in the final round when he beats Thomas in a tell tale meeting, 5.802 secs to 5.866 secs. Atchison’s win comes from the pole after running 5.757 secs, which is low ET of the meet, during Friday‘s session. That is the 8th time this season that the London, Ontario based driver has qualified low at a IHRA national event.
Canadian racers Glen Kerunsky and Larry Dobbs also have strong showings during IHRA’s President’s Cup Nationals. Kerunsky, who towed to Maryland from Calgary, has his best placing yet in IHRA national event competition with a semi final round finish in Pro Mod. Kerunsky qualifies his ’57 Chevy 9th at 6.307 secs at 223.47 mph and then rudely ousts points leader Quain Stott in round one and low qualifier Mike Janis in round two. Kerunsky’s car slips a bit in the semis however and his 6.579 secs cannot contain Roy Wasko’s 6.333 secs. Dobbs, from Welland ON, also finishes in the semi final round in Alcohol Funny Car. The original “Kardiac Kid” gets in the program 7th with a 5.907 secs and beats Chris Foster and John Vouros in rounds one and two. Dobbs runs a quick 5.890 secs in the semis but that is edged out by Mark Thomas who runs a winning 5.842 secs.
Clay Millican also moves to the very edge of clinching his third straight IHRA Top Fuel World Championship as he wins for the 8th time this season. You guessed it -- he beats Bruce Litton in the final round -- which is the 6th time those two have faced one another for an IHRA event title this year. The final is pretty darn ugly as both drivers lose traction and peddle their machines. Clay does however serve up an impressive number in qualifying running the Werner Enterprises car to both ends of the MIR track record at 4.680 secs at 312.13 mph.
Carl Baker wins in Pro Stock to take a small overall points lead into the final event(s) at Rockingham later this month. Baker struggles with big time tire shake during his first three qualifying shots driving the Summit Racing Equipment Mercury Cougar but gets in the program during a desparate final effort. Baker then finds his stride on race day winning over Chuck DeMory, Jerry Haas, Elijah Morton and ultimately Jeff Dobbins.
Pro Stock racing includes the much-anticipated debut of Larry O’Brien’s new ’03 Dodge Stratus, a first in IHRA competition. O’Brien, who is from Windsor, shows very well in the new Rick Jones-built car hitting a career quick 6.592 secs to qualify 6th. Larry outguns John Bartunek’s Chevy in round one with a 6.619 secs at 209.56 mph but his 6.606 secs at 210.93 mph loses out to Pete Berner’s Mustang in round two. Berner wins with a superior 6.571 secs 213.94 mph.
Pro Stock racing is paced by New York’s John Montecalvo who wheels his Citgo-sponsored Chevy Cavalier to the pole with a stout 6.555 secs effort. Montecalvo however is sent packing in a round one upset by another Chevy, driven by Steve Williford.
Top Stock racing sees Maryland’s Joe Aluise Jr win for the 4th time this season. Aluise, driving his classic ’64 Plymouth, beats Paul Mercure’s ‘67 Camaro in the final run, 9.924 secs 132.28 mph to 9.957 secs 133.28 mph. Aluise had qualified 3rd within the 10 cars entered in the class at the event. Top Stock racing was paced by Tom Rix who wheeled his ‘70 Buick GS to a 9.810 secs (low ET). Reportedly, that time is the quickest run yet by a Top Stock class racecar.
Canada’s Joe Boniferro is impressive again in Top Sportsman racing. The Niagara Falls-based racer wheels his potent supercharged Dodge Avenger to the pole for the 48-car field hitting a 6.509 secs at 215.41 mph. Boniferro loses out in round three of competition.
TS class racing includes the event’s most serious incident when Fidelio Montrond loses control of his nitrous-injected “Shooting Star” Corvette during qualifying and makes heavy contract with the left side guardwall. Montrond is not injured in the crash but his car receives major damage.
