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FUEL COUPE FAILURES
Surprises in qualifying included the newly focused Snake
Funny Car operation, leading Tommy Johnson Jr. to the #4 position under
new Chief Larry Meyer. Prudhomme tossed Mike Green from the compound
at the close of the Winternationals... just a thought, didn't Kenny
Bernstein trade Green for Tim & Kim Richards about the same time last
year? Phil Burkhart stunned the funny car ranks on Saturday with a personal
best 4.866 in his Camaro. But more surprising were the DNQ's of Dean
Skuza and Jerry Toliver among 22 fuel coupe entries.
GOOD DAY, SUNSHINE
Having had cloud cover for most of Saturday, the sun shone
brightly on Sunday morning, I got there early to avoid that traffic
and staying off the interstate. While walking through the pits, I ran
into a few of Gary Clapshaw's former crew members who were landing at
positions with other teams, one at Toliver Racing, another with Don
Lampus, a couple of others floating around. Vegas resident Clapshaw
will park the 2000 U.S. Nationals runner-up car until some serious sponsorship
materializes. Lampus, who is also feeling the sponsor pinch, will probably
also be forced to park his rig back in Dallas, but could head to Gainesville
if Matco Tools steps up to fund the trip.
TOP FUEL TIDBITS
Time to head back to the starting line as the POWERade
banner and American flag is dropping from the heavens. Graham Light
holds off the first pair while the flags and banners are being scooped
up from mid track, then gives the sign to fire Rhonda Hartman Smith
and Cory McClenathan. Rhonda chooses the left lane one that had some
problems in qualifying. Rhonda drilled a sleeping Cory Mac .412 to .524,
while Rhonda drops a supercharger belt in the lights 4.737 @ 250.
Next, Andrew Cowin in the Yankee's fueler and IHRA Champ
Clay Millican (photo) face-off. Cowin smokes the tires just off the
concrete while Millican rockets to a solid 4.580/322.73. Millican's
spin is that all of these runs have been in IHRA trim with the additional
75 lbs and the 25% blower overdrive restriction. The way this Mike Kloeber-tuned
car is running, the IHRA guys had better step up if they want to challenge
for that Championship.
God, is anybody else getting tired of the "beer wars"
cliché? I digress, as Doug Herbert stages against the Bud King Forever
Red tour of Kenny Bernstein. KB is out on Herbert but the "King" hazes
the tires to a 4.827 320.41 as Herbert strolls into the desert landscape
courtesy of a late chute combined with a 4.622 @ 322.88. So it's Forever
Goodbye to Kenny's Phoenix fans.
FOR EVER AND EVER AND EVER RED
In the pre-race festivities, Bernstein extolled the virtues
of the Phoenix crowd by once again proclaiming, "Phoenix fans are the
best fans in the world." I feel cheated, 'cause Kenny thought the Pomona
fans were "best fans in the world!" I have a funny feeling that this
Forever Red tour may be a bit much too much hype; it's the second race
of 2002, we had Clydesdales, we've got cardboard cut outs at every beer
store in town, we've got special logos and special jackets, special
interviews, "beer wars" cliché, Bud's ad agency is shooting a special
commercial for Kenny's farewell tour on Monday, but I don't remember
quite the fuss over Don Prudhomme's Final Strike retirement tour. If
you don't have all your special Forever Red stuff yet, they'll get to
you.
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