Pit Notes from SummitRacing.com Nationals

By Darr Hawthorne and Jeff Burk
Photos by Zak Hawthorne
4/7/03

BACA DOING IT THE AMERICAN WAY

David Baca knew what he was doing when he hired Johnny West away from rival Top Fuel driver/team owner Doug Herbert after the 2002 season. The team went to the semi-finals at Gainesville and are solidly in the show at Las Vegas.

40-MPH TAIL WIND HELPS DIXON SET NEW NATIONAL SPEED RECORD

A tailwind at Las Vegas reported by ESPN's Mike Dunn to be "forty mile an hour" may have had something to do with the new national speed record credited to Larry Dixon at 332.75. Both Dixon and number one qualifier Doug Kalitta recorded wind-aided speeds over 332 and Kalitta managed to dip into the .40's with a 4.499. Dixon followed in second with a respectable 4.52. Saturday, when the wind shifted direction 90 degrees to blowing cross track, the best speed of the day dropped to 326 and change by Kalitta.

WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE TOP FUEL TEAMS?

Only 17 Top Fuel teams showed for the Las Vegas race. The race in the past has regularly seen 25 or more Top Fuel dragsters trying to qualify. Many West Coast cars that used to show at this event such as Gary Clapshaw (whose shop is right across the street from the track), Garth Widdison and others have stayed away for this race.

WAYNE DUPUY HAS A GREAT BODY?

Well, not Wayne, but the trick, new carbon fiber one-piece body for Joe Amato's dragster that the fans were tipped to before the team was ready certainly isn't handicapping the team and may help them. The car, driven by Darrell Russell, ran a soft 4.60 on its last qualifying lap Saturday and ripped of a first round winning 4.57.

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