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Groundhog Warm-up presented by Majesty Homes Score Impressive
Runs.
Rickie Smith Leads Pro Modifieds With
6.321/220.64!
DARLINGTON, SC - When it is assumed that
the majority of drag racers are anxious to end the off-season,
one would be wise to accept this assessment as the gospel truth.
Thus was the case as seven Pro Modified teams and one Pro Stocker
showed up a day early for what promises to be the largest full-bodied,
professional test session in drag racing, the CompetitionPlus.Com
Groundhog Warm-up presented by Majesty Homes in Darlington, SC.
It took a few runs for the racers to get the feel of the track,
but once they did, the big numbers followed.
Of the seven Pro Modifieds on hand, it
was seven-time IHRA World Champion Rickie Smith that led the fray.
The veteran drag racer from King, NC., pushed his nitrous-oxide
injected 1963 Corvette to the quickest lap of the day, a 6.321
/ 220.64. The late afternoon run stood as quickest and fastest
of the group.
His tremendous lap overtook the previous
leader, which was Mitch Stott. The Radiac Abrasives-sponsored
driver hammered out a 6.338 / 219.99. Chris Holbrook pushed the
Stu Evans owned, BASF-sponsored entry to a best lap of 6.645/208.42.
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Photo by Roger Richards
/ CompetitionPlus.Com
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There was some serious
carnage within the Pro Modified ranks as Troy Critchley, piloting
the Johnny Rocca-owned Ironhorse suffered serious engine damage
on both of their runs. The current Pro Modified record holding
team is expected to dip into the 6-teens. Another serious incident
was a nitrous explosion encountered by the LeeBoy-sponsored
entry of Quain Stott.
The official start for the event is tomorrow
with five professional divisions contested at the CompetitionPlus.Com
Groundhog Warm-Up presented by Majesty Homes. The classes contested
will be Pro Modified, Pro Stock, 500-inch Pro Stock and Nitro
Harley. The defending champions are Ronnie Hood (Pro Modified),
Chris Holbrook (Pro Stock), Jim Yates (500-inch Pro Stock) and
Steve Moore (Nitro Harley). The Pro Stock Trucks are welcome to
test as well. The aforementioned categories are the only ones
allowed participation.
The format is simple for this event. Darlington
Dragway will provide free testing for any racer that competes
in the aforementioned divisions on February 18 - 20, provided
that they adhere to the following conditions. The racer must participate
in a "Chicago Style" format on Saturday in which there will be
three set sessions for runs. The first two attempts will determine
the final round contestants, as the two quickest runs will qualify
for the final round to determine the winner. The final round will
be run during the third session. To qualify for the free testing,
the racer must participate in all three days of the event.
SMITH WILL TUNE YATES’ PRO STOCK AND
DRIVE IHRA PRO MOD
Agent N2O has learned that multi time IHRA World Champion
Rickie Smith will be doing double duty this year with involvement
in both the NHRA and the IHRA. Smith won't be driving at NHRA
events this year, at least at the start of the season, but will
be tuning Jim Yates’ Pontiac Pro Stocker. Agent N2O has
heard through the grapevine that Smith’s ’63 split window Vette
Pro Mod sponsored by Yates’ Splitfire Spark Plug sponsor and that
"Rapid Rickie" will be running the entire IHRA schedule,
even the races that conflict with NHRA dates.
GLIDDEN CHANGING FROM NITROUS TO SUPERCHARGER?
NMCA Super Street World Champion Billy
Glidden is rumored to have taken the NOS nitrous off of his engine
combination and replaced it with an axial-flow style supercharger.
This really should not come as a surprise as dad Bob Glidden told
Agent N2O last season that he had urged Billy to drop the
nitrous/five-speed combination and replace it with a blown/powerglide
combination. Agent N2O doesn’t know if Bill is running
a ’glide.
Sources have told the Agent that Glidden
has definitely decided to not defend his NMCA Championship and
instead will concentrate on Ford only events. However, if he did
change his engine/trans combination, he could easily run at NMCA
meets and dominate again.
NEW CAR FOR HAROLD MARTIN
Electronic Fuel Injection guru and engine
builder Harold Martin will have a new car and combination for
the 2000 IHRA season. After doing a slow roll with his Firebird
at the last race of the IHRA season, Harold evidently decided
it was time for a new car. Tommy Mauney is supposed to be delivering
a car to Martin in time for him to test and be ready for the season
opener at Darlington. Martin has been dyno testing a new engine
for the 2000 season that he says makes more power than the engine
that ran a 6.37 at the last IHRA race of ’99. Martin is also working
on some new fuel injection for next year, including a version
using the new annular flow NOS plate system.
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