PRO STOCK FACTOIDS

Jim Hawkins, DRO's statistician sent along a few tidbits about the NHRA Pro Stock season. Of special note in the reaction time stats is that Jeg Coughlin regained his No. 1 ranking after dropping to second place last year. In addition, Coughlin, Bob Panella and Mark Pawuk all recorded perfect lights this year. Bruce Allen's only win came on a holeshot at the first Chicago event. While Allen is consistently ranked high on the average reaction time list, he has a 41-40 holeshot record since 1987, which shows that great reaction times don't always translate to a great holeshot record.

Larry Morgan led the Pro Stock class in low elapsed time average (6.759) and average top speed (204.45 mph).

Twenty-five different Pro Stock drivers qualified for NHRA's 23 event in 2005. Although Greg Anderson won the title, he didn't dominate the way he did last year. He qualified No. 1 at seven events and won 53 rounds this year while last year he won 76 rounds. (Ron Lewis photo) [12-19-2005]

AK MILLER PASSES AWAY

One of the founding fathers of drag racing, Ak Miller, died Dec. 15. Miller was a hot rodder and member of the Road

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Runners Car Club along with Wally Parks in the late 1930s and '40s. Miller followed Parks as president of the Southern California Timing Association, and in 1951 helped Parks begin the NHRA, serving as the organization's first vice president.

Born Akton Moeller in Denmark, his family moved to Southern California when he was just a child. Over the years he also raced autos on the dry lake beds of the Southwest, road races and hill climbs. His ashes will be scattered at Bonneville, Baja, and Pike's Peak. [12-19-2005]

 

DUELL SUCCUMBS

Dave Duell, an IHRA B/CM and Nostalgia Super Stock racer from Evansville, IN, succumbed to cancer on Dec.16, 2005. He was runner up in Classic Super Stock at this year's 2nd annual Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, KY, driving his '64 Plymouth wagon named "Drag'n Wag'n." And also an IHRA B/CM class winner in his black '68 Hemi powered Cuda. He leaves behind his wife, Sharon, and sons Doug and Greg. [12-19-2005]