PRO STOCK

Former class champion Chris Holbrook debuted the first Ford Escort in IHRA Pro Stock action at Milan and promptly put his new Varsity Ford-backed ride on the pole with a 6.609 pass at 211.99 mph. Holbrook lost in the second round, though, to eventual race winner Jason Collins.

Collins then caught the luckiest break of the day in the semis when he redlighted by .026 seconds against John Montecalvo, but Montecalvo's 2003 Cavalier got out of shape by half-track and knocked over a timing block, bringing drag racing's "worst-or-first" infraction rule into play. That set up the final with Collins' Virginia Technical College 2002 Cougar going up against the '02 Mustang driven by another former class champion, Floyd Cheek.

Jason Collins, from Rainbow City, AL, was all smiles at Milan, MI, after winning his second straight IHRA Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock event and taking over the points lead from Brian Gahm. (Photo courtesy of IHRA)

Cheek left first, but ran into trouble down track while Collins went 6.741 at 208.55 mph to post his second-consecutive win this year. "We had some rounds given to us today and then there was the one in the semi-finals where it was the first or worst deal," Collins said. "I kept thinking that if they were going to keep giving these wins to me that eventually I'd figure out how to get down the track. We figured it out in the finals and I'm as shocked as anyone."

FUNNY CAR

Tony Bogolo secured the number-one starting position in Funny Car with a 5.886 pass, with Lance Van Hauen nailing down the 16th spot with a 6.293. Eventual race winner John Vouros started number four on the ladder, while his final-round opponent, Ronnie Midyette, was right behind Bogolo with a 5.955 qualifying pass.

Both Rob Atchison, the points leader heading into the race, and Mark Thomas, second in points before Milan, bowed out in the first round. Atchison spoiled his event low 5.869 E.T. with a .006 redlight, while Thomas went the other way and lost on a holeshot to Scott Wildgust.

Funny Car finalists John Vouros (shown) and Ronnie Midyette were both going
after their career-first event win at Milan Dragway.

In the final, both Vouros and Midyette shook the tires on launching, and while Vouros recovered and went 6.276 at 232.79 mph, Midyette was forced to lift. Midyette still came out ahead, though, as he left the race with a three-point lead over Atchison, who is just 30 points up on Thomas, followed one point back by Bogolo.