ST. LOUIS -- Pro Mod Pit Notes

Search for

DRC home :: Events :: Feedback :: Wallpaper :: Advanced Search


			Summit NHRA Events

<< Back To Search Result

Sun, 29 Jun 2003, 12:17 AM

McAmis Holds On to Top Qualifying Spot

Courtesy of Bobby Bennett, Jr., www.competitionplus.com
Photo copyright 2003 Auto Imagery, Inc.

Despite Second Day Charge from Patterson

MADISON, Ill. --

Tim McAmis

Tim McAmis needed a stroke of good luck to help him forget about his last outing on the NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge. The Moscow Mills, Mo.-based chassis builder wounded his only motor that he brought into the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago. During the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., that trip to the Windy City became a distant memory.

McAmis secured the top spot on the strength of his 6.231, 226.51.

“This is certainly a pick-me-up from Chicago,” commented McAmis. “We came down just hoping to qualify and we certainly never expected to come out and qualify number one. There were some cars out here that could have challenged for that top spot, but just ran into some problems. This is a good place to be headed into Sunday.”

Thomas Patterson found a good combination in the heat of the day as he pushed his radically painted 1941 Willys to a 6.253, 225.26. The Houston, Texas-based driver has qualified second twice this season.

The nitrous cars were very much in the ballgame at St. Louis. Four-time World Champion Shannon Jenkins paced the bottle rockets as he pushed Mike Castellana’s ’68 Camaro to a 6.278, 221.45.

Rickie Smith rounded out the top half of the show as he improved during the final session with a 6.286, 222.22.

Castellana, the only nitrous driver to win a round of competition this season, was the fifth quickest with a 6.295, 220.12.

Frankie Taylor carried the banner for the Texas Outlaw Pro Modifieds as he was one of those that made it in during the final session with a 6.311, 223.06.

Chip King, who had yet to qualify this season, broke his dry spell with a 6.330, 222.66 with his Hemi-powered, Dodge Avenger.

AMS sponsored Troy Critchley rounded out the show with a 6.349, 220.87 in his supercharged Corvette.

The first round pairings include McAmis versus Critchley and Smith versus Castellana on the “A” side of the ladder. The “B” side of the ladder features Patterson versus King and Jenkins versus Taylor.

Saturday Notes –

That’s impressive – In the heat of the day, Thomas Patterson ripped off the low elapsed time of the third session and ascended into the second position. His 6.256, 225.26 was nearly .06 quicker than the quickest nitrous car of Shannon Jenkins, who recorded a 6.31.

We gotta find it – Jim Oddy, owner and driver of the Summit Racing-sponsored Corvette driven by Fred Hahn had a tough weekend.

After Friday's two qualifying sessions, Hahn, from West Seneca, N.Y., was in 11th position on the qualifying grid. The DRO/NMM Cup point leader had two more qualifying session on Saturday in which to improve his current position and move into the top eight qualifiers that will compete for the pro Mod title on Sunday. In Friday's opening session the Oddy-Hahn combo had engine problems when an engine malfunction (rods) caused an early end to what appeared to be a good pass. After repairs Hahn did not improve in the second session of the day. The first attempt on Saturday offered another puff of smoke and a DNQ run. Finally, Oddy admitted, “We could fix it…but we might run the chance of breaking it again. We obviously have a problem that we need to find.”

Once upon a time, there were two – Entering St. Louis, Mike Ashley and Fred Hahn were the only two drivers on the tour that had qualified for all five events. When Hahn was forced to withdraw from competition, it left Ashley as the final remaining. However, Ashley failed to improve on his final shot and also became a DNQ casualty.

Not a Supercharged New Yawk Weekend – Of the three supercharged racers from New York, all three failed to make the cut. Ironically, the only New Yorker to make it in the show was the nitrous runner of Mike Castellana.

Cheering up the kids - Up until Friday, the Pro Modified pioneer Ashley had never visited a children’s hospital. With the schedule for the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International slated to begin later on in the day, the New York Mortgage Banker, who drives the InfiNet-sponsored 1941 Willys, decided to visit the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Admittedly, he will see some things in a different light.

“I ran the full spectrum of emotions today,” explained Ashley. “The commitment of the staff at the Shriners Hospital was very impressive. The thing that impresses me so much is that the hospital is funded through donations and everyone gets quality service. It doesn’t matter if you’ re wealthy, poor or in the middle…you get the same quality treatment.

“I was impressed with the commitment of the children to get better. They were motivated and willing to do whatever they had to do to get better. This puts things in perspective and makes me appreciate what I ever. It makes me think about no worrying about the small stuff so bad.”

Ashley was so impressed with the courage displayed by children, parents and the staff that he plans more visits to various facilities wherever the ten-race NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge is contested. He also would like to get more involved close to home.

“This will be a memory that will forever be etched in my mind, I will say that.”

M.I.A. – Roy Hill was noticeably absent from the St. Louis pits. Reportedly, the veteran drag racing school instructor was not feeling well and opted to sit the event out.

Sponsor for Rocca: Johnny Rocca, a Native American driver from Leesburg, Va., announced today the addition of Native American Industries, a company that specializes in airport paving and traffic signal installation, as the primary sponsor on his '49 Mercury.