8th IHRA World Finals
Oct. 17-19th, 2003, Rockingham NC
Notes |
Results | Photos #1 | Photos #2
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Pro Mod class car racing steals the show at Rockingham “part 2”, the IHRA’s 2003 season finale. No less then 58 cars are entered in the category (a record count) and those racers produce by far the quickest Pro Mod show in drag racing history. The bump spot dips to an unheard off 6.225 secs (!) which compares to the sport’s previous all time quickest mark of 6.303 secs set at this event last autumn. Countless racers run career best times at the event but the toll is still heavy. No less then 11 drivers run sub 6.30 secs -- but miss the cut!
Shannon Jenkins wins his second event of the ‘03 season when he takes the Western Beef-sponsored, nitrous-injected Chevy Camaro past Harold Martin’s AC Delco Pontiac Grand-AM in the final round. Martin in fact runs quicker and faster but is denied his first career IHRA “Ironman” when Jenkins leaves first (.086 to .113 RT).
North Carolina’s Mitch Stott mathematically clinches his first career Pro Mod World championship title when he wins over Ed Hoover in round two of PM competition. Stott however loses out in the semi final round to eventual winner Shannon Jenkins when his car breaks.
Pro Mod history for nitrous-injected cars is also made at the event with Rickie Smith carding a superb 6.155 secs during qualifying, the quickest yet for that breed in the class. NO2 racers Mike Castellana (6.179 secs) and Harold Martin (6.193 secs) also run into the “teens”.
Brian Gahm clinches his second consecutive World Championship title in Pro Stock when he beats the quickest Pro Stock assembly in drag racing history. Gahm deflects a potential double-up from Mopar racer Rick Jones when he beats Jones (who had won the Spring Nationals title the previous day) in the final round. Gahm runs his Ford Mustang to a winning 6.563 secs at 210.21 mph over Jones’s 6.565 secs at 212.16 mph.
The Pro Stock bump was a spectacular 6.560 secs wiping out the previous all time quick mark of 6.599 secs set here last year. A terrific field of 31-Pro stock cars is entered at the event.
Ohio’s Carl Baker, who had entered the final weekend holding a narrow points lead saw it all evaporate. He suffered a crucial loss in round one during Saturday’s rainout race and then had a stinging DNQ for the World Finals event despite running an otherwise very quick 6.564 secs. Baker could then only watch helplessly from the sidelines as Gahm caught him and then passed him in points.
Clay Millican ends his 2003 season in ultra-high gear, doubling up at the Rockingham race. After winning over Rhonda Hartman-Smith during Saturday‘s Spring Nationals final, Millican repeats the task on Sunday to earn his 30th career win and 10th of the year in Top Fuel. Millican runs the quickest time ever in IHRA history during round one when he rips a 4.566 secs at 316.15 mph to handle Danny Dunn. Millican’s final round effort of 4.594 secs at 313.07 mph was good enough to back the mark up for an official national record.
Top Fuel racing was also a record-breaker for the IHRA as it produced the quickest 8-car bump spot yet for the organization at 4.905 secs. A total of 14 cars made qualifying laps for the World Finals event program.
By qualifying 6th for the World Finals event with a 4.891 secs, Canada’s Todd Paton puts a wrap on a third place finish in final IHRA Hooters Top Fuel points. That standing is very strong considering it is the rookie season for the Paton Racing operation in the TF class and the fact they missed the season-opening event. Todd lost a 4.796 secs to 4.964 secs round one decision to John Smith.
Von Smith won in Alcohol Funny Car driving the “Raptor” Dodge Avenger past the Chevy Camaro of Fred Tigges in the final round. The win was Smith’s first of the year and came in his 4th final round appearance.
Smith’s win also came over a record-setting program with the AFC bump spot being lowered to an all time quick 5.938 secs. That was the second time in IHRA history that all 16 class qualifiers have been in the five seconds zone. The previous quick mark had been set at Norwalk Raceway Park last August at 5.973 secs.
Pro Mod class car racing included the return of the “Christine” ’58 Plymouth Fury, which had first been brought to fame by owner Richard Earle. Now driven by North Carolina’s Bryon Rich -- the all new car had nothing but trouble during it’s first IHRA race back, placing last of the 58 cars entered.
The Top Stock title is won by Michigan’s Paul Mercure who beat Monty Bogan Jr in the all Camaro final round. That match is the quickest and fastest in class history with Mercure‘s 9.734 secs 135.78 mph winning over Bogan’s 9.779 secs at 133.51 mph. Top Stock racing was paced by Matt Morgan who ran his Chevy Camaro to a 9.750 secs. A total of 16-cars show for what some believe may have been the last ever Top Stock eliminator. The IHRA has confirmed it will re-evaluate the future of the class for 2004 due primarily to weaker then expected entry lists most of this past season.
