| Billy Meyer on the new Motorplex
Assuming the 42,000 people of Grand Prairie, Texas say yes in a special election on Nov.
2, Billy Meyer will unveil the most innovative dragstrip yet. Our Dave Densmore will fill
in with more details in a later issue, but the place will be spectacular. The tower at the
current Motorplex is 18,000 square feet, the new tower built somewhat along the lines of
the Route 66 Raceway will be 120,000 feet. It’s going to be big, modern, and state of
the art. (more)
|
Hill Spectacular in First-Round Loss
Eddie Hill turned in the Top Fuel engine explosion of the year in a
first-round loss to Doug Herbert’s Snap-On dragster. The two left together, but at
roughly 100 feet, Hill lit the tires and filled the spectator lane with a gigantic
fireball, one that probably measured 20 feet in height. The engine lifted completely out
of the chassis in a tsunami of spinning shrapnel. The clean-up took a good 45 minutes.
Hill, who was not hurt, was knocked a bit woozy from the shrapnel
exploding into the metal shield in the driver’s cage behind his head.
"I probably blacked out for a few seconds," Hill said.
"Guys were asking me if I was all right, but I needed a minute or two to access the
situation. As to the cause, the incident appeared to be due to parts failure. I looked at
the computer tape and it gave no indication that something like this would happen. The
block appeared to break. The only thing in the car was the crankshaft and the bottom ends
of some of the rods." |
Force Clinches Ninth
Winston Championship
JOHN FORCE, 50, of Yorba Linda, Calif., driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, clinched
his ninth Winston Funny Car Championship, his seventh in succession when teammate
Tony
Pedregon, the only driver with a mathematical chance of catching him, was beaten in the
second round by Whit Bazemore. This is the third time Force has clinched the championship
at the Texas Motorplex where he also sewed
up his 1995 and 1997 titles. The 79-time tour winner now is only one
series title shy of tying the record set by Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden, whose 10 series
championships spanned 15 years (1975-1989). -Dave Densmore
In addition, Warren Johnson stands to join Force as a Winston Champ if he
wins Pro Stock at the Motorplex. Considering his 6.82, 202 qualifying leader and
6.8's in eliminations. "W.J." appears to be on his way to his 5th Winston title. |
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