fairy tale race for the defending Pro Mod
champ who came from the 16th
qualifying spot to win the title. Martin’s
runner-up finish, combined with
points leader Jay Payne’s
first-round loss, significantly
tightened up the points
chase with Payne now having
1,571 markers to Martin’s
1.447 total. Shelly Payne,
driving one of dad Brad
Anderson’s Dodge Strati,
qualified on the pole with
a 6.189 and Ashley was
Photos by Ron Lewis and Jeff Burk
6/28/06
on the bump with a troubled 6.916. There was a lot of engine and drivetrain failure at St. Louis. The 14th qualifier, Brandon Pesz, reportedly had unfixable engine damage that caused him to withdraw and No. 15 qualifier Scott Ray’s engine had a rear-main bearing failure in the final and also had to withdrew. First alternate Cody Barklage also had a rear-end failure which allowed second alternate Byron Mackey and third alternate Troy Critchley to get into the field on the AMS break rule.
Although Ashley’s move from 16th qualifier to setting low ET of the meet and winning the event was impressive, Critchley’s performance coming from the third alternate spot might have been
even more so. The
best
that Critchley and
crew
chief Howard
Moon
could do in three
tries
was a 7.83/137,
but
after getting into the
field on the break rule
the Texas-based
Aussie took out No. 2
qualifier Eddie Ware in
the first round and then
trailered fellow Texas
racer Thomas
Patterson in the
second round with a
6.177/237.09 lap that set Top Speed of the meet. He then lost to race winner Mike Ashley in the semi-finals.