ERIK CARLSON

There is something about the name "Vulgar Display of Power" on a car that makes you want a closer look. The 30-year old Geneseo, Ill., native's vile-looking '62 Impala is just that kind of ride, and in a pit area full of sleek, pretty Firebirds, Camaros, vintage Mopars, and perfect paint econo dragsters, his produces the looks engendered when an unruly guest falls face first in the punch bowl at a wedding reception.

The "Vulgar Display of Power" Impala's as potent as it is mean-looking. It features a 468-cid Chevy with Crower injectors, Brodix aluminum heads, a Lenco 4-speed, Don Speer weed sweeper headers, his and Speer's chassis and a best elapsed time of 9.63. Carlson, a member of the Ozark Mountain Super Shifters circuit said he named his 3,800-lb. black beauty after a song by his favorite band Pantera called ... you guessed it.

KEN LOPATKA

A chopped top '57 Chevy panel truck usually merits a second look and it was no different for Ken Lopatka's Bolingbrook, Ill.-based entry. Lopatka drives this one on the street as well as strip and has an overall 11.82/114 best for the blue and white critter. The car has a 468-cid Chevy big block with a Holley 8.50 four barrel atop and the whole prize costs 3,500 pounds with driver. Lopatka, who races just for the fun of it and not trophies, picked up the car 16 years ago after its previous owner abandoned a restoration. He slowly but surely pieced it together, backhalving it and getting the right stuff to get competitive at the track and impressive on the street.

Lopatka summed his racing attitude with his remarks on being at the World Series,"It's cool here, but if I wasn't here, I'd be cruising. I'm really just in this for the fun."

PIX FOR KICKS

Bob Beedy in 1967 Rockford 500 Top Fuel runner-up Jim Lutz's injected dragster lost an 8.20 to 8.25 to Dom Paris' father Rico's real (as in genuine) twin fuel-motivated blown Chrysler Top Fuel dragster Saturday night.

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