Racing at IHRA’s Spring Nationals featured a slew of first time national event winners as all five IHRA Pro categories saw breakthrough victories.

Cory McClenathan, driver of the Carrier Boys owned, Fram Airhog sponsored dragster, led that barrage when he became the first driver other then Clay Millican to visit the Top Fuel winner’s circle at Rockingham Dragway since Paul Romine’s win here back in the spring of 2001. For McClenathan, who is no stranger to victory on the NHRA POWERade tour (28 career wins) the IHRA “Ironman” was his first. The Arizona-based driver won an exciting Top Fuel final round over Australia’s Andrew Cowin, driver for Scott Griffin’s potent new Serta-sponsored dragster. Cowin jumped to an early lead in the final round before his engine caught fire causing him to slow. That allowed McClenathan to sneak by to take a narrow 4.712 secs 209.91 mph to 4.786 secs 281.54 mph.

McClenathan’s win came from the pole after he ran both low ET 4.549 secs and top speed at 326.32 mph during time trails.

Perennial Rockingham event Champion Clay Millican, who had won no less then 10-straight times at the facility coming into the event had that amazing streak end in the semi-finals. R/UP Cowin beat the Werner Enterprises/Nitro Fish dragster 4.942 secs 275.06 mph to 5.075 secs 234.66 mph.

Top Fuel racing was a very competitive affair with 12 cars producing a quick bump spot of 4.794 secs. That came despite the fact that Pro qualifying was reduced to two sessions only after a major thunderstorm struck the track early Saturday evening and washed out scheduled action.

TF class racing also included the return to IHRA competition for Rhonda Hartman-Smith who had taken the last year off to give birth to her second child. Rhonda who is from South Carolina, qualified #7 with a 4.790 secs before being bounced out of competition by IHRA Torco Top Fuel points leader Doug Foley in round one.

IHRA’s 2nd event go with the return of Nitro Funny Car class racing produced a truly unexpected final round pairing with Iowa’s Jack Wyatt facing off against independent Vincent Arcadi. Wyatt, driving his RaceGirl-sponsored Pontiac Firebird won his first ever event in the class when his 5.033 secs at 290.01 mph just edged out Arcadi’s 5.102 secs at 294.44 mph.

Wyatt had upset Dale Creasy Jr and pole qualifier Bob Gilbertson in the first two rounds. Gilbertson, who is from nearby Charlotte NC had set both low ET and top speed of the meet during qualifying at 4.837 secs and 312.86 mph. Gilbertson’s single quick run was in fact the only run in the “fours” by a NFC all weekend.

The Nitro FC class at Rockingham did not exactly live up to the pre-event hype or expectations for class entries. Only eight cars showed for competition and the bump spot was a rather dismal 6.521 secs, two facts which should probably both be causes of concern for IHRA circuit officials.

Texan Josh Hernandez, driver of the popular Dr. Moon’s Rage Chevy Camaro, won in Pro Mod. Hernandez covered overall IHRA Pro Mod points leader Glen Kerunsky in the final round when his 6.274 secs at 228.07 mph won easily over Kerunsky’s tire-shaking shut off effort.

For Hernandez, who has 2 NHRA AMS Pro Mod wins to his credit, it was his first win on the IHRA tour.

Pro Mod racing at Rockingham was of it’s typical high intensity, with 34-cars battling for the elite 16-car field. Tommy D’Aprile earned the pole at 6.132 secs driving his ’63 Corvette and the bump spot was Matt Hagan (also in a ’63 Corvette) at 6.218 secs.

Another Texan, Tom Carter earned top honors in Alcohol Funny Car – his first win in the category. Carter outran Fred Tigges in a great final round match-up winning a very close 5.944 secs 236.42 mph to 5.931 secs 240.29 mph decision.

Pre-race AFC favorites Robbie Atchison and Mark Thomas both lost out in the semi-final round. Thomas fell to Carter while Atchison lost on a holeshot to Tigges. Atchison had pushed the new Erickson Manufacturing Chevy Monte Carlo to both low ET (5.774 secs) and top speed (246.08 mph) in earlier action.

Western Canadian racer Trevor Lebsack showed good improvement at the Rockingham event when he qualified in his highest position yet in AFC racing – 4th (5.905 secs). Driving his great-looking Ford Mustang, Lebsack lost out to eventual winner Carter in round one: 5.911 secs 230.88 mph to 6.044 secs 229.51 mph.

The Pro Stock title bout round also featured two surprise finalists with Illinois-based driver Tony Gillig facing off against Bert Jackson in a classic Ford VS Chevy battle. Gillig, driving his Mustang won rather easily as his 6.499 secs prevailed over Jackson’s machine which went into violent tire shake just off the starting line.

Pro Stock racing was a swift affair which featured all sixteen qualified cars running in the 6.4 secs zone. Recent IHRA Texas Nationals champ, Frank Gugliotta, driving the Ford Escort owned by Charlie Taylor, paced the program with a 6.420 secs (low ET), however Gugliotta had a blatant -.100 foul start racing Gillig in the 3rd round.

The event featured a rather sparkling performance by Canadian Larry O’Brien who went the semi-final round for the 2nd time in his career before losing out to Jackson. O’Brien was forced to abort his 3rd round effort when his car darted towards the centerline. O’Brien had earlier qualified #6 with a run of 6.450 secs.

IHRA’s Mountain-motor Pro Stock category continued to show it’s great strength with no less then 31 machines vying for qualifying slots.

The Rockingham race included Top Stock class racing for the first time this season with the booked-in 12-car field putting on a good program. Virginia’s Bo Kenney won that feature when his late model Pontiac Firebird held off the classic ’68 Camaro of Paul Mercure in the final round.