A 2004-mph charge into 2005 or thereabouts

1/7/05

Jeff Burk Photo

I'm sitting here at 2:30 a.m in wringing wet Southern California, having no idea who won the NHRA year end awards. So, flying blind I'm going to give a few "awards, curses really, and then move on to this year.

I don't think you'll find any great revelations here.

Pro Driver of the Year: Greg Anderson (He dominated a competitive pro class with a comparatively lower budgeted car.) Same can't be said for Schumacher or Force.

Pro Wrench: Austin Coil. Just a hair ahead of Schumacher's Top Fuel wizard Alan Johnson. His and Bernie Fedderly's tuning on the 4.66 was the difference.

Pro Performance: (Tie) Force at Chicago #1. Funny Car 4.6s again the cutting edge and Doug Kalitta's 335.57 at 'Vegas.

Up n' comer: Jason Line, duh. Eric Medlen a strong second.

I know most of the readers of this slot aren't huge Sportsman followers, but a few notes.

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Story of the Year: Ashley Force. Personally I'd have been pleasantly surprised if she would have won a couple of NHRA points races, but Indy .... Nice work, kiddo.

Run of the Year: (Tie) Mitch Meyer's A/FD 5.11 and Jackie Stidham's 265.54 at the Jeg's All-Stars race. I could be wrong, but I think that's the best Alcohol Funny Car speed, and that's no mean feat considering the dying class seems stuck in the low 260s.

Sportsman Racer of the Year: Dean Carter. Two year's worth of world titles in a "nostalgia" car.

Okay with that pedestrian task out of the way, predictions for the new season.

1.) IHRA will continue its news blackout for the next year. If you're on the protected witness list and still want to do something other than sport dyed hair and a false mustache, race IHRA. Anonymity, outside of their paper, is guaranteed.

2.) Not everyone supports what's going on in Iraq. An NHRA national event will be the site of protests because of the Army's involvement. Hey, that's not a political opinion, it's a toe in the water and a response that it's getting warmer.