16th O’Reilly Spring Nationals
Baytown, TX (Apr. 10-13, 2003)
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Pro Stock class steals the event headlines as it features huge numbers at almost every turn. Kurt Johnson leapfrogs over Greg Anderson into first place in POWERade points following a dramatic record setting event win driving his AC Delco Chevy Cavalier. Enroute, Johnson runs the fastest speed in NHRA PS class history at 205.57 mph, which is a new national speed record.
Warren Johnson also sets a national record in Pro Stock when he carves out a seemingly perfect 6.720 secs to pace the field driving his GM Performance Parts Pontiac. Johnson’s ET is the quickest in history for a 500 CID Pro Stock machine.
Scott Geoffrion falls just short of giving Ford it’s first NHRA Pro Stock event win in years when he goes to the final round driving the flashy new “Nitro Fish” Ford Escort ZX2. Geoffrion loses a narrow decision to Kurt Johnson in the first Ford versus Chevy final round in NHRA Pro Stock since 1990.
Pro Stock racing produces a monumental field. No fewer then 14 different drivers manufacture career quick elapsed times and 15 different drivers’ clock personal best speeds. The 16-car bump spot is numbing at 6.768 secs -- far eclipsing the 6.811 secs set at the ’03 season-opening K&N Winternationals.
Doug Kalitta qualifies low for the 5th consecutive event in Top Fuel but this time turns that performance into victory - his first win of the year. Kalitta drives the Mac Tools dragster to a decisive win that includes the fastest speed ever recorded in the sport at -- 333.91 mph! That vicious terminal speed comes during a track record 4.486 secs qualifier which was low ET of the event. Doug easily defeats a tire spinning Cory McClenathan in the final round.
2-time IHRA World Champ Clay Millican runs his career best times at Houston including a stunning 4.505 secs at 330.23 mph in his debut race for new team co-sponsor 104+ Octane Boost. Other TF racers hitting career best times include John Smith and Melanie Troxel who dip into the 4.5s for the first time. Top Fuel racing at Houston is histories 2nd quickest field with the bump spot of 4.695 secs falling just short of the 4.694 secs mark set at Gainesville one month before.
AMS Pro Mod cars come to play in NHRA for the second time this season. The Radiac Maniac -- Mitch Stott, who has been the most dominate class car in recent months, wins again when he edges out his brother Quain Stott in an all supercharged Corvette final round. Stott’s win is his first in NHRA AMS. Pro Mod qualifying produced the quickest official run yet in class history from Fred Hahn who piloted Jim Oddy’s now Hemi-powered Summit Racing Equipment Corvette to a spectacular 6.072 secs to pace the field.
The Pro Mod bump spot at Houston is a 6.228 secs which is the quickest field so far in NHRA’s AMS series.
Funny Car class racing saw Tony Pedregon extend his overall lead in POWERade points by winning his second straight event and third of the ‘03 season. Tony edged out Del Worsham in a close back and forth final round battle. Tony had in round two taken out his boss John Force to continue the season problems for the 12X and defending NHRA World Champ.
FC racing was paced by Force & Pedregon team mate Gary Densham who rewrote both ends of the Houston Raceway Park track record to 4.755 secs and 325.69 mph driving the AAA Auto Club Ford Mustang.
NHRA’s Pro Stock Bikes hold their second event of the season with the overall title going to Angelle Savoie. Savoie beats Craig Treble in the final round. She had recorded low ET of the meet at 7.132 secs while beating fellow female rider Karen Stoffer in the semi-final round.
NHRA’s event at Houston is a rare “Full Monty”. Not including the exhibition AMS Pro Modifieds, it featured the maximum number of classes available - 4 Pro and 8 Sportsman - to create 12 individual winners.
