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The session continued with several drivers improving, but
Verstuyft was again the biggest surprise with a third qualifying
4.93 @ 241.24 mph. The thirteen boats battled for two sessions,
and in the end it took a great 5.19 to crack the 8 boat starting
line-up. Scotty Lumbert was the highlight of the last session
as he stormed to a 4.95 at the second fastest speed EVER -253.04
mph with his Illinois based “Public Nuisance.”
He now had a leg on the 252.24 speed record established by
Haas just one round earlier. Included in the non qualifier
list was Top Fuel legend Ron Braaksma in the all new “Madness.”
The final day of the 2005 Coors Light World Finals was a
mirror image of the previous three days, as huge crowds enjoyed
Mid 70 degree temperatures and a light, cool breeze. With
an unheard of six Top Fuel boats recording sub 5-second ETs,
and a record bump time, there was no clear cut favorite going
into round one. The first pair began with John Haas screaming
to a 4.80 @ 250.52, BUT he left .004 too soon and handed the
win to Rex Childers who was unable to cross the finish line
in “Whiskey River II.”
The second pair was scheduled to be Wilson and Kutz, but
Kutz’s “Plumb Crazy” was swamped by the
previous pair, and ended up on the bottom of Firebird Lake.
In IHBA racing alternates are allowed, and third alternate
John White in “Hot Licks” was ready to go. While
White was being launched Ishimaru followed Haas’ lead,
and redlighted away a great 4.90 handing the win to Greg Tedesco’s
“Loose Cannon” who posted a 5.15. Defending event
winner Lumbert was the third victim of the red bulb, and rookie
Verstuyft was more than ready, as he blasted to the second
best run of the weekend at a 4.81, 249.40 charge to advance
to the semi-finals, and a date with Tedesco. The last pair
turned into a great duel as Wilson’s 4.92 @ 229.06 just
nipped White’s 4.99, 230, and Wilson would be heavily
favored against the fortunate Childers. The semis began with
Childers surprising Wilson as he ran his best run of the weekend,
5.03 to outdistance Wilson’s off pace 5.55.
Greg Tedesco
The second half of the semis pitted one of the most experienced,
and decorated, Top Fuel drivers in Tedesco, against a 3-day-old
boat/driver combination in Verstuyft. When the green light
flashed Tedesco left slightly ahead of the “Rooster,”
and at half track looked like the winner, but the motor let
go, and Verstuyft roared by with low ET of the meet, the fourth
quickest et., and fastest speed EVER, 4.768 at a whopping
254.40 mph to Tedesco’s 5.29 @ 164. For the third time
a leg was set on the speed record, and only Verstuyft would
have an opportunity to claim it. The pits were buzzing as
Verstuyft and the entire Hot Licks Enterprise/Nitro Chicken
crew poured 99 percent nitro in the tank, and after a crowd
dispersing warm-up, were ready to meet Childers and “Whiskey
River II.”
As the other class champions were being crowned, darkness
fell over Firebird as the two red fuelers readied for the
final. At 5:42 PM the start sequence was activated, and at
the green Childers engine went silent as Verstuyft buried
the pedal, six foot header flames following the “Nitro
Chicken” to a 4.87 @ 242 mph triumph. Verstuyft had
seemingly done the impossible. He brought a brand new crew,
boat, and driver combination to the biggest race of the year,
strung together consecutive runs of 5.06, 5.11, 4.93, 4.81,
4.76 @ the fastest speed ever (254.40), and a final round
4.87, and left with the IHBA World Finals gold man.
Other 2005 World Finals Professional Class
Winners
Top Alcohol Hydro: Gus Ward 5.52/214mph
def. Ted Faggart 5.49 / 215
Top Alcohol Flat: Tony Scarlatta 6.73/162
mph def. Ken Singleton 6.82 / 158
Pro Mod: Jarrett Silvey 7.04/160mph def.
Steve Rajcic 7.10 / 168
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