IHRA’s 2004 season-ender is a very entertaining event featuring record fast performances, dramatic conclusions and a rash of incidents.

Canadian Al Billes tops a record smashing Pro Mod program with a record smashing performance. Billes, driving the Ontario-based Stratford Motor Products Corvette, establishes a new IHRA national ET record during qualifying at a super swift 6.102 secs then demolishes the field on Sunday with a barrage of consistent runs. When Al beats Mike Castellana’s nitrous-injected Camaro in the final, it is his 10th career IHRA national event title and vaulted him into a 2nd place finish in final 2004 PM season points.

Canadian Pro Mod racers dominate qualifying action -- taking 3 of 4 top qualified positions. In addition to Billes on the pole, Calgary’s Rick Distefano is 2nd at 6.114 secs and Carl “Big Dog” Spiering is 4th at 6.127 secs. Spiering, driving the Eaton Cutler Hammer Chevy, also has a strong run on Sunday lasting until the semi final round before losing out in a close match to Billes.

Pro Mod racing at Rockingham establishes the quickest 16-car field in class history with the bump spot dipping to an amazing 6.226 secs. Mike Janis, who had already wrapped up the 2004 PM World title going into the event sets top speed at 231.00 mph driving the Eaton Automotive Corvette.

Canada’s Robbie Atchison collects his second straight IHRA Alcohol Funny Car world title when he ultimately prevails in a season-long points tug of war over Mark Thomas. Atchison is assured the championship in the 2nd round when he beats out Chris Foster and Thomas falls to Fred Tigges. Atchison goes on to the final round before losing out to Tigges, who cards his first ever IHRA national event win driving his Chevy Camaro.

Tigges’s win includes top speed of the meet at 241.80 mph and earlier round wins over Bunny Burkett and Jeff Burnett. Atchison’s championship winning event includes low ET of the meet at 5.782 secs, which flashed up during qualifying.

IHRA’s mountain-motor Pro Stock championship chase is also decided at the event with New York’s John Nobile prevailing. Nobile is assured the title when his closest opponent and close friend John Montecalvo loses out on a holeshot in round one to Rob Mansfield. Nobile goes on to the final round before he too loses on a holeshot -- to Brian Gahm -- 6.477 secs to 6.468 secs.

Nobile’s IHRA Championship marks the 10th straight season that a Ford product has prevailed in final Pro Stock points.

Pro Stock racing sees the establishment of a couple new national marks. 15 of 16 qualifiers run in the 6.4 secs zone (!) and the bump spot is a new all time quick 6.502 secs. Nobile runs his Ford Escort ZX2 to a new national ET mark of 6.435 secs.

Top Fuel racing also sees a new national ET mark. Australia’s Andrew Cowin wrestles that distinction away from perennial holder Clay Millican when he blasts out a pair of very impressive runs during qualifying to take the pole. Andrew resets the IHRA clock to 4.532 secs and uses a 4.550 secs as the necessary back-up - both career bests. Cowin cannot however ultimately turn that performance into victory when he blows the tires off while racing Millican in the semi-final round.

Clay Millican wins for the 37th time in his career when he defeats Danny Dunn in a rematch of the Rockingham Spring Nationals final round from earlier this season. Amazingly Millican is undefeated at Rockingham Dragway in his career -- now 7 and 0 for event appearances there. Millican, had clinched his 4th straight IHRA Hooters Series championship coming into the event driving for Peter Lehman and Werner Enterprises.

Top Fuel racing included another rather impressive outing for independent driver Bobby Lagana Jr, who hit a career best 4.654 secs to qualify 3rd. Lagana Jr. then beat Louie Allison in round one before losing a 4.786 secs to 4.843 secs matchup to Dunn in the semi-finals.

The Rockingham season finale included the prestigious ACCEL sponsored Survivor Series Championships which was run off on Saturday. Sportsman racers campaigned for $70G in total prize money. North Carolina’s Steve Furr won two championships and the Cummings Brothers, Slate and Britt each claimed a title. Furr captured titles in Top Dragster and Super Rod while Britt Cummings won Quick Rod and Slate Cummings scored in Super Stock. Other winners included Joe Baker (Top Sportsman) Steve Corker (Hot Rod) and Eddie Bolton (Stock).

Racing at the event included more then a usual share of oil down delays and on track incidents. Pro racers Tim Cullinan (Top Fuel), Ed Machacek (Pro Stock) and Tim Stevens (Alcohol Funny Car) all had wrecks, forcing them to withdraw from competition. The Steven’s crash was the most serious one. Following a fire and hard contact, Steven was flown to nearby hospital by emergency life flight for treatment but thankfully was not seriously injured. Top Sportsman drivers Kevin O’Dell and Candyce Marsh also both made heavy contact with the guardwall and lost out. Popular Top Fuel driver Doc Sipple suffered an apparent heart attack at the event and was also taken to hospital for observation.

The event also marked the farewell appearance for visionary IHRA President Bill Bader who recently stepped down from his position. Everyone at DragRaceCanada wishes Bill the very best!