The 28th Annual U.S.
Pro Stock Open

Words and photos by Stephen Jones
5/23/03

ay 14, 2003 — The 28th running of the U.S. Pro Stock Open at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, MD is now in the books with Kurt Johnson taking out Greg Anderson on a .25 holeshot.

The spectator turnout for this long running event was surprising, considering it was held on a Wednesday night.

MIR has always had some of the top Pro Stock drivers in the country at this event and the 2003 edition was no different. Among the 11 at this event, four are currently in the NHRA POWERade Top 10: current points leader Kurt Johnson (#1), Greg Anderson (#2), Warren Johnson (#3), and Allen Johnson (#8). The struggling Jim Yates team was in attendance as was Gene Wilson and the Mopar contingent. Ex-Pro Stock Truck driver Randy Daniels was on the premises with his gorgeous Bailey Trucking sponsored '03 Pontiac Grand Am. Crofton, MD's Capital Raceway owner James Cunningham competed and Kenny Koretsky brought his '99 Neon.

When the qualifying battles were finished, Kurt Johnson was on the pole with an amazing 6.789/204.39 run. Rickie Smith, who was driving for Darrell Alderman and the Larry Morgan team and also was asked to fill in the driving shoes of the unavailable Bob Benza, filled out the eight-car field with a 6.887/202.70 run.

Three did not qualify. A genuinely displeased but always friendly Gene Wilson, James Cunningham, and Kenny Koretsky, who suffered a rare mechanical problem when the transmission split right down the middle during qualifying.

In Round 1 of Pro Stock eliminations, Kurt Johnson (6.801/204.29) defeated Smith (6.882/203.71) with a huge holeshot (.420/.488) -- very unusual for Smith who has an earned reputation for quick reaction times. Next, Yates (6.819/202.85) took out Allen Johnson (11.991/72.21), who got out of shape and clicked off early. Daniels (6.852/199.79) defeated Greg Anderson (10.490/82.54), but Daniels was found to be light at the scales and was disqualified. Anderson was then reinstated.

In a close match-up, Warren Johnson (6.796/203.40) took out Jamie Yates 6.808/201.85), advancing to the delight of the screaming crowd.

In the semi-final, Kurt Johnson (6.772/204.35) took out Yates (6.773/203.44) and Anderson (6.805/203.52) defeated ex-boss Warren Johnson (6.796/203.68). In the end, it was a red hot KJ taking out Anderson with a blistering 6.777/204.66 run to Anderson's close 6.792/203.98.

FRANTIC 7

MIR's wildly popular Frantic 7 drivers/cars were also on the bill with 20 entries. This class, consisting of blower and nitrous Pro Mods, is a big draw at this track with popular drivers like Ed Burnley, Kent Farrell, Larry Plummer, and Billy Farmer. These may not be nationally known racing personalities, but they're household names in the Maryland drag racing community.

In the eliminations, Ferrell and his '63 Vette got a single in the first round but took out Mark McHugh and his '68 Camaro in round 2 and faced off against Larry Plummer and his '63 Vette for an all out 1963 Corvette final round. Ferrell came out on top with a 6.493/215.58 run against Plummer's 6.688/210.67.

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