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August 25, 2003 Race summary and photos courtesy Guy Van Syckle (and are copyright speedzonemagazine.com) Photos are here Norwalk, Ohio: 3 days
of fun in the sun. Skies were mostly clear, with temps in the high
70s. Norwalk Raceway Park was groomed to perfection, and as always,
ice cream is still $1 a pound. Large car counts in all classes, and
the first 16 car TF field in IHRA in several years. Even with all
the entries, it looked like another Millican/Litton final, though
Scott Kalitta, in his debut after several years in retirement, looked
to be a factor too. Other new TF cars in attendance were KC Spurlock
in the Carrier Boyz car, as well as Tim Gibson in the Stevens Family/George
Thourogood car. World Nationals Norwalk Ohio final results courtesy Drag Race Central Top Fuel -- Bruce Litton, 4.938 seconds, 294.50 mph def. Clay Millican, 5.512 seconds, 197.31 mph. Pro Modified -- Thomas Patterson, Willys, 6.378, 221.31 def. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.497, 219.79. Funny Car -- Jim Sickles, Chevy Camaro, 5.828, 245.23 def. Von Smith, Dodge Avenger, 5.880, 240.55. Pro Stock -- Doug Kirk, Ford Mustang, 6.585, 210.18 def. Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, broke. Sunoco Pro Stock Shootout -- Frank Gugliotta, Mercury Cougar, 6.581, 211.99 def. Pete Berner, Ford Mustang, 6.740, 173.45. Top Stock -- Tom Rix, Grand Sport, 9.854, 132.75 def. Monty Bogan Jr., Camaro, 9.962, 131.81. Top Sportsman -- Tony Fagnilli, Monte Carlo, 7.208, 192.06 def. Nick Meloni, Cavalier, 6.947, 199.20. Top Dragster -- Bill Spangler, Dragster, 6.827, 199.08 def. Ricky Adkins, Dragster, 6.938, 182.60. Quick Rod -- Troy Williams, Dragster, 8.904, 155.10 def. Luke Bogacki, Dragster, 8.884, 158.69. Super Rod -- Tom Dimond, '27-T Ford, 9.924, 148.99 def. Paul Brown, Dart, 9.899, 146.96. Hot Rod -- Steve Corker, Camaro, 10.894, 129.70 def. Vic Ellinger, Dart, 10.881, 130.78. Super Stock -- Mike Morris, S-10, 10.716, 118.85 def. Sid Bonnecarrere, Dart, 9.072, 142.36. Stock -- Wes McCracken, Camaro, 11.644, 95.60 def. Larry Strohscher, Malibu Wgn, 11.694, 112.88. ET Bracket -- Tim Bowman, Plymouth Fury, 9.897, 136.03 def. Bob Handschuh, Chevy Camaro, 11.122, 119.41. ET Box -- Bob Handschuh, 11.162, 117.68 def. Lindie Baker-Hammersmith, 8.136, 166.54.
August 20, 2003 A sixteen car field for the first titme in the IHRA's recent history. Here is the entry list for this weekends event at Norwalk Ohio: Clay Millican, Bruce Litton, Todd Paton, Scott Kalitta, Don Sosenka, Doc Sipple, Jack Ostrander, Louie Allison, Grant Flowers, Tim Cullinan, Bobby Lagana Jr., Roger Dean, Danny Dunn, Vicki Fanning and Josh Starcher. The Hartman-Smith team were supposed to be at Norwalk but it is unlikely they will compete. With the larger field, the payout has been increased as well: winner - $30,000; runner-up - $15,000; semifinalists - $12,000; quarterfinalists - $10,000; first round - $8,000. August 18, 2003 IHRA World Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio The Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series makes it’s ninth stop of the year at the 26th Annual Sunoco World Nationals presented by PPG August 21-24 at Norwalk Raceway Park. For the first time since the 70s, IHRA will host a 16-car Top Fuel field. In addition to these 6,000-horsepower dragsters, Sunday’s show will feature four front engine Nitro dragsters, making for a total of 20 fuel cars. Fans attending Sunday’s elimination rounds will find a great value on admission, as IHRA and Norwalk Raceway Park open the gates for fans to see 20 fuel cars for only $20. Known as "20 for $20", the deal will run all day Sunday covering General Admission tickets. "We understand our valued customers, especially families, have a choice where they spend their leisure dollars," stated IHRA Vice President of Marketing Aaron Polburn. "Fans coming to Norwalk Raceway Park will find IHRA wants to make our unique brand of drag racing and entertainment as affordable as possible." IHRA and Norwalk Raceway Park also offer fans a discount on tickets for Friday’s "Nitro Jam," when ages 13-21 will be addmitted for only $10 all day. "Free parking and a free pit pass are always included in the price of your ticket to the World Nationals," explains Polburn. "We believe in "opening our locker room to the public" so fans can meet drivers, get an autograph and see the teams work on their cars, close up. You can reach out and touch the drivers. IHRA and Norwalk Raceway Park work hard to present a quality show and value for our fans." Tickets for Children 6-12 at all IHRA National Events, including the World Nationals, are always a bargain at only $5. "We want families to be able to bring their kids out for an unforgettable evening of fireworks and entertainment, in addition to the world-class drag racing," adds Polburn. In addition to a 16-car Top Fuel field, fans at the 26th annual Sunoco World Nationals presented by PPG will experience supercharged vs. nitrous Pro Modifieds, Funny Cars and the world’s fastest Sunoco Race Fuels "Mountain Motor" Pro Stocks. Pro Stock is the IHRA version of NASCAR, with Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and Pontiac competing for bragging rights at 210 miles-per-hour. Champions will also be crowned in eight sportsman classes. Saturday’s "Night of Fire," presented by Advanced Auto Parts, features the final round of pro qualifying under the lights, Al Hanna’s Top Secret jet Funny Car, the wheel standing School Bus of Ken Nelson, Jon Oswell’s wheel standing "Ladder Truck 33", the legendary 200 mile-per-hour, ground-pounding Jet Kenworth Truck of Bob Motz, and a giant fireworks display. For tickets contact the track at 419-668-5555 or visit their website at www.norwalkraceway.com.
August 10, 2003 Martin Mich. (photos courtesy Guy Van Syckle and are copyright SpeedZone Magazine.com 2003)
Alcohol Funny Car pilot Rob Atchison (above) extended his lead after defeating veteran Von Smith in the final round at US-131 Motorsport park. The win, his 4th of the season gives him a 132 point lead over Mark Thomas.
Photo page from Martin is here.
The next event of the year is the biggest event for the IHRA, the 26th annual World Nationals at Norwalk. Here are the point standings after the Martin event. TOP FUEL 1. Clay Millican(6) 891 2. Bruce Litton(1) 651 3. Todd Paton 407 4. Grant Flowers 370 5. Bobby Lagana 308 PRO MODIFIED 1. Mitch Stott(3) 558 2. Mike Janis(1) 419 3. Quain Stott(1) 395 4. Harold Martin 303 5. Mike Castellana(1) 267 FUNNY CAR 1. Rob Atchison(4) 591 2. Mark Thomas(1) 459 3. Tony Bogolo(1) 453 4. Ronnie Midyette 448 5. John Vouros(1) 355 SUNOCO RACE FUELS PRO STOCK 1. Jason Collins(2) 440 2. Brian Gahm 437 3. Carl Baker(2) 394 4. Frank Gugliotta 380 5. Doug Kirk 379
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In
Pro Mod, the biggest news was that of Canadian Al Billes crashing
his new 53 Corvette during the first qualifying session Friday. The
car drifted hard to the right at around 1000 feet. After hitting the
wall Billes pulled the chutes after dislocating his right arm. The
team will regroup for the next event at Norwalk with the old trusty
Studebaker. Al hopes to get the Corvette back from McAmis' shop before
the end of the year. Mitch Stott (above) got the win over Fred Hahn
extending his leads in the standings to 140 points over semi final
loser Mike Janis. 
In
Pro Stock, Elijah Morton was involved in a crash with his Mustang
in the final qualifying session. He was unhurt in the crash but was
unable to return to action. Tim Bell (left) got his first ever win
in Pro Stock over Jason Collins. With the runner-up, Collins takes
the lead in Pro Stock by 3 points over Brian Gahm. 
Top
Fuel saw Clay Millican reset the record books, by winning for
the 26th time in the "Kings of the Sport" class. His 6th
win of the season was over surprise finalist Tim Cullinan (right).