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A Season-ending Statement - Courtesy of Al Billes!
Bruce Biegler - October 26, 2004
Canada's most prolific Pro Modified class racer, Al Billes, went for the jugular during last weekend's IHRA event in North Carolina and that may have produced his
most impressive career victory yet.....
 Driving the ultra-powerful Stratford Motor Products-sponsored '53 Corvette, the Barrie, Ontario-based driver left very little on the table while winning the IHRA's season-ending Bethesda Softworks World Finals -- his 10th career IHRA national event victory. Billes proved he had the quickest car in the massive and record-setting Pro Modified program when he unloaded a career quick 6.102 secs during qualifying and then never looked back.
On raceday Sunday, Billes and his team got progressively quicker while disposing of the field in consistent fashion. After opening final eliminations with a 6.224 secs 227.19 mph win over Ronnie Hood, Billes carded three straight runs at 6.196, 6.195, and 6.191 (secs) while beating Von Smith, fellow Canadian Carl Spiering and ultimately Mike Castellana in the championship final. Billes's victory came over the quickest 16-car assembly of Pro Mod cars yet (featuring a stunning 6.226 secs bump spot) and vaulted the talented driver into a 2nd place finish in final 2004 Hooters Drag Racing Series points. That is the third time that Billes has finished 2nd in final IHRA Pro Mod points.
"Going into the event we knew there would be close to 50 cars," said Billes. "Our objective was just to qualify and then take things from there. After we went a couple rounds I began to think we could win this thing. In the final after I swapped feet and then saw Mike fall back I thought for a moment I might have redlit. Then I was just praying -- don't break -- don't break! Its funny all the thoughts that can run through your mind in just a little over six seconds."
Billes's 6.102 secs was in fact a new IHRA national ET record for Pro Mod cars. He used a similar 6.127 secs time trial run which was well within the required 1%.
 "We always knew the car had the power to be the quickest -- it was just a matter of putting it all together," Al reflected about the new national mark. "We finally figured out the car at Budds Creek -- but our performance here had a lot to do with the conditions. The surface was phenomenal and the weather was cool and overcast. That was the key to both the speed and the consistency."
Al Billes will round out his 2004 racing season at the AMS Pro Mod Final round during NHRA's ACDelco Las Vegas nationals next weekend. Billes, who has 3 AMS Staff Leasing Challenge wins to his credit this season, currently sits second in points 300 behind leader Mike Ashley. With some 500 total points available at the final event, a potential AMS Pro Mod Challenge championship also remains within his reach.
(Bruce Biegler photos)
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