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Timely Surge for Team Atchison
Bruce Biegler - September 28, 2007
 Following his impressive victory during the IHRA's rain-delayed Motor City Nationals in Michigan last weekend, London's Rob Atchison is well aligned for a potential 4th IHRA Alcohol Funny Car World crown.
Driving his Erickson Manufacturing-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo, Rob won his second race of 2007 during his fifth final round appearance of the season by beating cross-town London rival Paul Noakes to the top end stripe at Milan Dragway. Atchison ran a winning 5.885 secs at 245.45 mph (top speed) compared to Noakes' 6.087 secs at 198.50 mph.
Atchison, who qualified #5 for the event had beaten Dale Brand in round one before taking the measure of overall IHRA points leader Mark Thomas in a crucial semi-final round. In that race Rob recorded his best run of the event at 5.818 secs at 243.33 mph to outdistance Thomas' 5.934 secs at 243.59 mph. The end result is that Atchison now only trails Thomas by a scant 10 points with two events remaining on the 2007 IHRA Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Series calendar.
 "The victory did not come easy," said Rob. "My crew worked hard all weekend to get the car into the finals. To add to drama the zipper broke on my firesuit while suiting up. I ran to the trailer next door and borrowed a firesuit. When I got out the car in victory lane I was wearing the Ethanol colors because the firesuit I used was that our dear friend and fellow racer Mark Thomas. When we race on the track we are arch rivals but when we are off the track we are really good buddies. We really appreciate Mark's sportsmanship."
The 2007 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car championship is thus tracking towards a truly dramatic showdown with three drivers, Thomas, Atchison along with Terry Monroe all close in points and bidding for the crown.
Next up is the President's Cup Nationals this weekend (in Maryland) followed by the World Finals at Rockingham, NC October 19-21st.
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
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