22nd Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals
Denver, CO (July 19-22nd, 2001)
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Biggest story of Mopar Parts sponsored event is the debut of Mopar’s much anticipated new Pro Stock flagship machines -- Hemi-powered 2001 Dodge Neon R/Ts. Team owner David Nickens (from Texas) debuts two driven by Darrell Alderman and Mark Osborne and Ohio’s Larry Morgan debuts a third. Cars run very well right out of the box -- Alderman qualifies fourth (7.285 secs) and Osborne is tenth (7.317 secs). Alderman takes out defending Winston Champion Jeg Coughlin Jr in huge round one race but then shakes the tires hard in the second frame and falls to Kurt Johnson. Osborne loses in round one to Mike Edwards. Morgan, who entered the event with the paint still wet and without making a single full run is a DNQ running a 7.390 secs best. All eyes will be on the slick new machines at Seattle’s sea-level event next weekend.
Pro Stock winner Warren Johnson collects his 86th career national event title which makes him NHRA’s all time winning Pro Stock racer, surpassing Bob Glidden’s long-standing mark of 85. Warren is sharp in the cockpit throughout the event and uses a holeshot in the final round (.449 RT) to beat his son Kurt 7.347 secs to 7.335 secs. Johnson also sets top speed at 189.71 mph. Bruce Allen is the pole qualifier running 7.273 secs (low ET) however Allen falls victim to the number 16 qualifier Dodge Avenger driver Allen Johnson. “AJ” unloads a .412 RT on him (best light in eliminations) and wins a shocking 7.432 secs to 7.384 secs decision.
Angelle Savoie surpasses Shirley Muldowney as drag racing’s all time winning Professional racer when she wins Pro Stock Bike for the 19th time in her career. Savoie and team owner George Bryce are the class of the field as they unload low ET of the meet in the final round (7.595 secs) to turn back Antron Brown. Savoie also sets top speed in the class at 179.35 mph.
Del Worsham, Frank Pedregon and Antron Brown all run special edition “Jurassic Park 3” paint schemes at Denver. For the most part however Dinosaurs don’t however frighten the competition as both Del and Frankie are surprising first round losers. Antron Brown does however make the PSB final and qualifies on the pole at 7.641 secs.
John Force collects another win in FC -- his 5th victory of the season. Force turns back a spunky effort by Bob Gilbertson and his tuner Paul Smith who make the final round with in their FMTV-sponsored machine. Gilbertson damages the Camaro body on his car during qualifying when he knocks out the top end timers -- and then switches to a wild looking new camouflage painted 2001 Firebird body. Gilbertson is consistent during eliminations while knocking out Scotty Cannon, Tommy Johnson Jr., and Dean Skuza -- but then tire smoke sets in while racing Force in the final round.
Larry Dixon closes to within 3 points of Winston Top Fuel leader Kenny Bernstein when he records his 3rd win of the 2001 season driving Don Prudhomme’s Miller Lite dragster. Dixon defeats a tire-smoking Doug Kalitta in the final round. Kalitta did not qualify for the Top Fuel show at Denver until his 4th and final attempt. Gary Scelzi gets both low ET and top speed at Bandimere Raceway running 4.646 secs and 315.64 mph while pacing the field but loses a close semi-final round decision to Kalitta.
Shelly Howard is dominant while winning in Federal Mogul Dragster. Oklahoma lady racer overcomes a big holeshot bid by Billy Bybee in the final round (.480 to .547) with a winning 5.704 secs at 249.58 mph performance. Howard was the pole qualifier (5.688 secs) and also ran low ET and top speed of the meet during eliminations (5.654 secs and 251.20 mph.) Jay Payne is the FMFC class winner. He drove his Valvoline-sponsored Camaro past Vern Moats in that final after earlier setting low ET of the meet at 5.965 secs.
Manitoba’s Ernie Penner is the latest Canadian to win a NHRA national event race. Penner wins in Super Stock with his GT/IA ’99 Firebird holding back Colorado’s Michael Tueffel (SS/BM ’98 Grand-Am) in the final round. Penner’s 2nd career NHRA national event win comes from the 5th qualified position.
Hometown favorite Tom Snyder (Longmont Co) is a popular winner in Competition eliminator driving his Pro Stock-powered A/A ’23 Chevy Bantam. Snyder wins from the pole with the wild-handling machine defeating Texan Charlie Stewart’s A/ED in the final round.
Pro Stock entry list includes a new machine for Mexico’s Arturo Delgado who debuts a slick new 2001 Pontiac Grand-Am at the event. Delgado runs well with the new car but just misses the high-altitude and thin air 7.359 secs Pro Stock cut with a 17th place 7.359 secs best.
