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Strong Season Start for Atchison
Bruce Biegler - April 7, 2008
 Canada's most prolific Alcohol Funny Car class racer, Rob Atchison, got his 2008 IHRA drag racing series off to a positive start during last weekend's Amalie Oil Texas Nationals near San Antonio -- a 1/8th mile affair.
Rob used some terrific starting line prowess to advance to the championship final round driving his London, Ontario-based, Erickson Manufacturing-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo.
After qualifying on the bump for the swift 8-car field, Rob advanced past the first rounds based on superior starting line reactions. That included a .027 RT which propelled his 3.884 secs effort past Tony Bogolo's quicker 3.812 secs and then a .037 RT which allowed his 4.006 secs to prevail over defending IHRA World Champion Mark Thomas's, 3.952 secs effort.
In the championship final, the team was simply outgunned by Laurie Cannister who sped to a convincing win driving the Kabones Grilling Sauce Chevy Camaro owned by Kevin and Wendy Simms. Cannister ran a winning 3.843 secs at 195.82 mph compared to Robbie's 3.928 secs at 194.66 mph.
The team knew going into the Texas event they were up against strong odds because their car's unique Chevrolet engine program is best known for making power on the back half of the track (1/8th mile and beyond).
"Our combination is not best suited for 1/8th mile racing," Rob said. "So the IHRA's decision to run 1/8 mile racing does affect us maybe more then others."
The teams next race will be the Spring Nationals at Rockingham April 18-20th -- a more familiar 1/4 mile format event.
(Bruce Biegler Photo)
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