The Detroit area’s 4th Motor City Nationals is truly a barn burner as a record event crowd witnessed a record car count and some outstanding racing. The event was highlighted by the return of Nitro Funny Cars to the facility for the first time in many years. A total of 14 machines made qualifying attempts which is proof positive that the IHRA’s re-introduction of the class is beginning to make headway.

California’s Gary Densham won his 2nd IHRA “Ironman” when he drove the Racebricks/Snap-On Tools Chevy Monte Carlo to victory. Densham ran a final round 5.017 secs at 300.80 mph to defeat Doug Kalitta who was entered in the class for the first time ever driving the Kalitta Racing Chevy Monte Carlo (usually driven by his cousin Scott). Kalitta’s machine had some tire spin problems in the final round loss to Densham.

Densham, who had qualified 4th with a 4.945 secs had beaten Terry Haddock and Bob Gilbertson in earlier competition. Gilbertson had recorded low ET of the meet while winning round one – 4.877 secs. He had earlier went 317.87 mph during qualifying for FC top speed.

For NHRA POWERade TF regular Doug Kalitta, his first meet in FC eliminator did produce a 4.964 secs qualifier (5th) and round wins over Del Worsham and Vince Arcadi. Kalitta’s win over Arcadi in the semis was of particular excitement because unfortunately Vincent did have a major league fire in the opposite lane. Arcadi, who is from New York state, ended up in the top end sand trap and his car suffered extensive damage, but thankfully he emerged unscathed.

Torco Top Fuel class action featured the first career win for Australia’s Andrew Cowin who put the class competition to sleep driving his Serta-sponsored machine. Cowin was the class of the field at this race qualifying number one with a track record (low ET/top speed) shot of 4.592 secs 325.45 mph and winning decisively over Bruce Litton and Rick Cooper. In the final round Cowin ran a 4.840 secs to hold off Bobby Lagana Jr who stayed close with a 4.945 secs.

Lagana Jr., who had won at Grand Bend one month earlier, defeated Clay Millican for the second time this season taking out the 5X defending World Champion in the first round.

Pro Modified racing featured a simply spectacular field with close to 40 machines jockeying for a position in Sunday’s final eliminations. Despite some heated atmospheric conditions the bump spot was a super quick 6.205 secs – second only to San Antonio this year on the sport’s all time quickest list.

Mike Janis was certainly on a mission at the event driving his Eaton-sponsored Chevy Cavalier and won for the 14th time in his illustrious career. Janis used great race day consistency to topple the competition and held off transplanted Canadian Danny Rowe in a spectacular final round dash, 6.181 secs 231.20 mph to 6.200 secs 231.48 mph. Janis had beaten Mike Castellana, Steve Bareman and points leader Glen Kerunsky in earlier rounds.

PM class racing was paced by Alberta’s Rick Distefano whose talented team lead by crew chief Al Billes parlayed him to both low ET and top speed of the meet at 6.088 secs 234.41 mph (both Milan track records). Distefano was however defeated in round one by Scott Cannon.

Glen Kerunsky’s “final four” finish in the class did pad the overall eMax PM points lead for the Western Canadian. Canada’s Carl Spiering also had a strong event – qualifying #4 with a 6.134 secs -- and winning round one before ignition gremlins prevented him from running against Cannon in round two.

The event’s “hard luck” award went to North Carolina’s Chip King who unfortunately crashed his one-of-a-kind ’69 Daytona Superbird during Saturday’s qualifying. King suffered a parachute failure and the car hit the top end sand and tire barrier at very high speed severely damaging his popular car. Thankfully King was not injured and plans to rebuild are being made.

Alcohol Funny Car racing featured an inspiring first national event win for Canada’s Paul Noakes who drove his Ford Mustang to victory. Noakes, who was participating in only his second IHRA race this season, got a good break in the final when his opponent Fred Tigges rolled the beams. Before that the London-based driver had slew class heavyweights Tom Carter and Robbie Atchison.

Rob Atchison, who has gone winless so far this season did run well at Milan gathering low ET of the event at 5.811 secs (track record). Ohio’s Mark Thomas nailed down top speed at 243.85 mph driving his Chevy Monte Carlo.

Pro Stock racing at Milan was hardly for the meek as it featured a super swift 16-car bump spot of 6.495 secs and 27 entries.

Virginia’s Robert Patrick won for the first time this season wheeling his mechanical marvel 2006 Ford Cobra to victory. Patrick recorded the only 6.3 secs run at the event (6.399 secs) to qualify #1 and then pounded on the field on Sunday with steady low six-forties. In the championship final Patrick reversed the recent final round outcome of IHRA Grand Bend by this time beating opponent Pete Berner to the stripe – 6.437 secs 218.12 mph to 6.448 secs 216.76 mph.

Top speed in Pro Stock went to Frank Gugliotta who reset the track record at nearly 220 mph with a super stout 219.22 mph driving Charlie Taylor’s Ford Escort.

Kudos to IHRA and Milan track personnel who were thrown a “hanging curve ball” just when Saturday’s final qualifying session commenced when the entire track experienced a power failure. Contingency plans including strategic placement of gas powered electric generators were quickly put into place and the event continued with only a minimum delay.