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It didn't matter to Wilson, who said he and Polburn have
settled the problem.
"It was just a miscommunication. He's going to correct
it," Wilson said. "He must've been venting. But he's definitely a good
friend of mine. The IHRA helped me tremendously through my career. I
think the world of the folks over there."
Wilson said he understands the dilemma defending IHRA
Top Fuel king Clay Millican has in making a complete break to race the
NHRA schedule. Like Millican, Wilson said, "You can't go wrong with
either organization."
Now Wilson can concentrate on getting used to the 1999
Neon and putting it in an NHRA event for the first time. The Conroe,
Texas, driver qualified 27th at Las Vegas -- well off the 7.012 bump
time, although he gap between his time and that of No. 16 qualifier
J.R. Carr was just .041 of a second. Wilson missed the Gatornationals
field by just two spots and .002 of a second.
Meanwhile, teammate Darrell Alderman won at Gainesville
and was runner-up to Ron Krisher at Las Vegas. -- Susan Wade
BIRTHDAY BASH (ALMOST)
Tommy Johnson Jr. came close to a second straight birthday
weekend victory, but he came up a few feet short.
Johnson's Blue Skoal Racing Funny Car was slowed by traction
problems early in the run, permitting Gary Densham to pull away. But
Densham's momentum went away when a broken blower belt stopped the engine.
As he coasted toward the finish line, Johnson's tires hooked up again
and he went after the win. Densham's car got there first with a 5.409/205.13
run, followed closely by Johnson at 5.447/272.61.
"We overpowered the track and I gave the throttle a pedal,"
Johnson said. "Then our car took off and I though I was going to get
him. We were coming awful hard, but we came up a few inches short. It
was the first time the engine didn't drop a cylinder all day and we
smoked the tires. All-in-all, it was a pretty good weekend."
Johnson and Prudhomme have April 6 birthdays. Last year
Johnson won on April 8. - Joe Sherk (photo by Zak Hawthorne)
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