18th O’Reilly Fall Nationals
Oct. 9-13th, 2003, Ennis TX
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
2003 NHRA POWERade World Championship titles are decided in both Pro Stock and Top Fuel during the O’Reilly Fall Nationals. Greg Anderson wins his 10th event of the season and with that clinches his first career NHRA Pro Stock crown. Anderson wins from the pole position driving Ken Black’s feared Vegas General Construction Pontiac and defeats Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round.
Larry Dixon also mathematically clinches the ‘03 Top Fuel Championship title when he wins his second round match-up against Darrell Russell. Dixon then loses to a suddenly resurgent Kenny Bernstein who goes on to his second event win in three races driving the Budweiser Dragster. Bernstein rips Scott Kalitta in the final round winning at a decisive 4.514 secs 327.86 mph while Kalitta smokes his tires. The runner-up for Scott Kalitta is his best finish so far since his comeback to the sport in August.
Scott Kalitta runs the fastest terminal speed in drag racing history at Dallas when he cards a spectacular 333.95 mph driving the Jesse James/Mac Tools Dragster during a round two win over his cousin Doug Kalitta. Scott is not however able to back up the mark for an official new NHRA record.
John Force creeps closer to Whit Bazemore and a second place finish in Funny Car points when he wins his third event of the ’03 season. Force beats a spunky Dean Skuza who takes his independent Pontiac Firebird to its second final round appearance in the last four events. Points leader Tony Pedregon stretches out his points lead a bit over Bazemore when he goes to the semi final round before losing to Skuza. Force’s FC win is his 109th NHRA title.
Sportsman drag racing (from Super Stock on down) is run off completely on Monday at Dallas after torrential rain soaks the pit area on Wednesday and Thursday forcing NHRA to adjust their schedule and instruct Sportsman racing teams to vacate the Texas Motorplex facility premises temporarily.
The Dallas race includes a number of special features events. Fast Import cars are on hand within the Street Glow Extreme Rush exhibition. The Rear Wheel Drive title goes to Stephan Papakakis who runs low ET and top speed of the meet at 6.711 secs 207.46 mph in the final round driving his A.E.M ‘03 Honda Civic. His opponent George Ioannou fouled out while staging. The Front Wheel Drive feature went to Jarrod Silvers over Jerrold Rhodes. Silvers had low ET of the FWD machines at 8.905 secs.
AMS Pro Mod cars hold their 9th event of the season and that action produced a first time circuit win for Von Smith. Smith, driving the supercharged Ford Mustang owned by Roy Hill wins the final round on a holeshot over the nitrous-injected Corvette driven by Rickie Smith. Von Smith set both low ET and top speed of the meet at 6.219 secs and 230.94 mph when while beating Shannon Jenkins in round two. Von Smith had had two previous runner-up finishes in AMS action this season.
NHRA’s AMS series also includes a special Pro Mod shootout event on Saturday which features the top 8 runners based on qualifying positions from previous races this season. Mitch Stott picks up a $10,000 first place check driving the Radiac Abrasives sponsored Corvette when he runs a final round 6.276 secs at 226.64 mph to beat Shannon Jenkins who ran a losing 6.316 secs at 221.94 mph.
The event also includes the third and final Screamin’ Eagle-backed Nitro Harley exhibition. New Mexico’s Doug Vancil scores that title when he beats Steve Stordeur in a great final round: 6.385 secs 215.05 mph to 6.444 secs 219.08 mph. Stordeur, aboard Johnny Mancuso’s Bike set both low ET and top speed in earlier action at 6.377 secs and 221.07 mph.
Warren Johnson sets both low ET and top speed at the event at 6.799 secs and 203.71 mph in round one but still loses out when his opponent, Gene Wilson, has a rare perfect .000 RT in the other lane.
Scotty Cannon, in his second start with a Dodge Stratus Funny Car shows immediate benefits as he sets top speed of the meet at 325.73 mph, the fastest ride of his career. However the fast runs comes during a losing 4.849 secs to 4.874 secs decision in round one to Phil Burkart Jr.
