IHRA’s North American Nationals features a record-smashing Pro Stock field as class competitors take full advantage of the best atmospheric conditions of the season so far. No less then 10 drivers dip into the 6.4 secs zone during qualifying. Relatively unknown racer, Florida’s Rob Mansfield, drove his Pontiac Grand-Am to the quickest and fastest times ever for a Pro Stock class car, hitting an amazing 6.425 secs at 216.20 mph to pace the field. Mansfield’s 216.40 mph is a barrier breaker -- the first to top the 216 mph mark.

Mansfield cannot however turn that performance into an official national record or an ultimate victory as he loses out in the final round to New York’s John Nobile. For Nobile, the win is the first of his IHRA career and is filled with high emotion. Just prior to the event Nobile had learned of the passing of his long-time friend and fellow drag racer Bob Losordo. Nobile dedicated his victory to his fallen comrade. The victory did vault Nobile into first place in overall points in IHRA Pro Stock, 19 ahead of John Montecalvo with 3 events remaining on the ’04 calendar.

Pro Stock racing did see the establishment of a new IHRA national ET mark by defending World Champion Brian Gahm. Gahm rode his Ohio-based Ford Mustang to a 6.442 secs and used a 6.479 secs later to back it up officially.

Top Fuel racing featured the first win of the season for Indiana’s Bruce Litton. Driving his Lucas Oil-sponsored, Litton singled for the overall title when his scheduled final round opponent, Tim Cullinan, could not make repairs in time following his semi final round victory. Cullinan had earlier sped to top speed of the meet at 317.97 mph.

Top Fuel class racing a New England Dragway was a quick affair with all 8-qualified cars running in the four-seconds zone. Canada’s Todd Paton rounded out the field with his best qualifying effort of the season running a 4.876 secs at 304.19 mph driving the Ontario-based Tim Hortons dragster. Todd quickened his pace to a even faster 4.841 secs in round one Sunday however that effort was turned back by Clay Millican who ran a winning 4.691 secs at 311.27 mph. Millican, who lost out to Litton in round two, had earlier paced the program with a 4.682 secs qualifier in the Werner Enterprises dragster, which was low ET of the event.

Pro Mod racing produced a first time IHRA winner as former Pro Street star racer Pat Musi earned his first “Ironman”. Driving his unique EFI nitrous-injected machine, Musi won an final round pairing of ‘57 Chevy replicas, when he turned back the supercharged car driven by Steve Salvadore. With the victory, Musi joins Harold Martin as the only Pro Mod title winners in IHRA history to do it with electronic fuel injection systems.

Pro Mod racing included another spirited effort from Canadian Rick Distefano who once again came very close to earning his first IHRA national event title. The Calgary-based driver wailed on the field throughout time trials running his supercharged ‘53 Corvette to both low ET (6.146 secs) and top speed (230.80 mph). Distefano entered his semi-final round as the preferred favourite over Salvadore, only to have the burst panel on the supercharger blow when he hit the throttle.

Overall IHRA Pro Mod points leader Mike Janis lost out in a round two upset to Musi (6.349 secs to 6.422 secs) but still built on his points margin at the event when his nearest opponent, Harold Martin, lost out in round one.

Alcohol Funny Car competition at the North American Nationals produced the second win of the season and the third in the career of Jim Sickles. Sickles ran a final round 6.051 secs at 236.42 mph to beat Canada’s Robbie Atchison. Atchison had jumped to a significant early lead in the final only to run into tire shake problems forcing him to shut off.

Atchison’s runner-up finish did however tighten up the IHRA World Championship chase points chase as leader Mark Thomas also lost out to Sickles, in the semi final round. Mark leads Rob by 71 points with three events remaining.

Charlie Kenopic was the only Canadian winner at the Amalie North American Nationals. Kenopic, from Renfrew, Ontario, prevailed in the Super Rod (9.90) class driving his meticulous 27T Ford Roadster. When Kenopic defeated Bob Moran in the final round (9.944 secs to 9.957 secs) he earned his 4th career IHRA national event title. Kenopic also had one win previously to his credit at Epping NH, back in 1992.