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HAHN SAVES BEST FOR LAST
The hot, humid weather appeared likely to favor the nitrous-assisted
Pro Mods in eliminations, but when the final call came, it was a pair
of blown cars doing battle.
Number-one qualifier Fred Hahn made it courtesy of a bye
run in the opening round when alternate Mitch Stott couldn't stage after
a fuel line came loose on his supercharged '63 Corvette, followed by
wins over nitrous stars Steve Vick and Shannon Jenkins in their '68
Camaros. On the other side of the ladder, points leader Al Billes reached
his third final this year by beating the three blown cars of Chip King,
Thomas Patterson, and defending series champ Mike Janis.
|
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| Although it was their first IHRA win this
year, team owner Jim Oddy (behind car in white shirt) and driver
Fred Hahn enjoyed their second straight victory of 2002 after winning
the NHRA event at Englishtown, NJ, two weeks earlier. |
Hahn, from Elma, NY, strapped a slight holeshot on Billes
in the final, then stormed to a 6.286 at 223.14 in his Summit Racing
2001 Corvette, while the Canadian's '53 Studebaker went 6.380 at 221.16
mph. The next closest to Hahn's time all day was a 6.371 by Jenkins
in the quarter finals.
"The track was actually pretty good all day," Hahn said.
"They (nitrous racers) had their chance to get us out in quarter and
semi rounds, but they didn't get it done and when everything cooled
down, it was just what we needed."
Making Hahn's accomplishment that much more impressive,
his Summit Racing team didn't arrive at the track until nearly noon
on raceday after their tow vehicle broke down about two-and-a-half hours
into the 10-hour trip from Buffalo, NY. Team owner Jim Oddy explained
the air compressor for the motorhome's brakes failed, so they had to
wait for parts to be delivered, then cobbled together an AC compressor
on the side of the road just to get going again.
"We had extension cords hanging out the windows," he said.
"It probably looked ridiculous, but at least it got us here."
CANADIAN CONTENT
Three Canucks made the trip to VMP to compete in the pro
ranks, but only one was even close to satisfied with the results.
|
|
| Rob Atchison broke an engine on this time
trial pass and was unable to make repairs in time for his first-round
appointment with Bunny Burkett. |
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