FUNNY CAR

After suffering a first-round redlight at the previous race in Milan, MI, Atchison was right back on track in front of the partisan crowd at TMP. The Canadian Funny Car ace announced a two-year extension of his primary sponsorship from Erickson Manufacturing, qualified number one with a track record 5.775 at 242.02 mph, won the event in convincing fashion, and regained the series' points lead.

A little additional off-track drama came after Saturday night's qualifying session for the London, ON-based Atchison Machine team, when IHRA tech officials performed a complete teardown of their car. It was given a clean bill of health, though, reportedly much to the dismay of some racers, as Atchison had the field covered by almost a tenth and a half.

On raceday, Atchison set low ET in each elimination round with a 5.86 against Neal Parker, a 5.86 bye run when John Vouros couldn't answer the call for round two, and a 5.85 against fellow Canuck Larry Dobbs. That left only Mark Poyser, who beat Terry McMillen, Mark Thomas, and Tony Bogolo to reach his career-first final. Poyser hurt his engine against Bogolo, however, and despite Atchison and Mike Etter lending him some parts and crew to make the final, Poyser's car broke before the burnout, giving Atchison another bye, where he enjoyed a 5.898 event-winning run.

"This is unbelievable and to win in front of our family, friends and sponsors. Winning at home is great," said Atchison, who lives less than two hours away from the track. "This is great."

PRO MOD

Calgary, Alberta's Rick Distefano proved his final-round performance at the recently completed IHRA national in Edmonton was no fluke as he qualified his blown '53 Corvette

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number one in Pro Mod with a 6.210 at 223.47 mph pass. Roy Wasko's 6.355 at 219.94 rounded out the 16 car field.

Eventual race winner Castellana qualified 10th with his Western Beef nitrous-injected '68 Camaro, then defeated Carl "Big Dog" Spiering, points leader Mitch Stott, and Pat Moore on his way to a final-round meeting against the supercharged Summit Racing 'Vette driven by Fred Hahn. Just that Hahn made it that far was testament to the effort he and car owner Jim Oddy put in by driving back to Oddy's shop in Elma, NY to rebuild a blown engine after the final qualifying session on Saturday. On his side of the ladder, Hahn took out Mike Stawicki, Quain Stott, and Distefano before reaching Castellana.