Sat, 28 Jun 2003, 01:49 PM McAmis Lands on Top after Day One Qualifying, Ashley sits on Bubble

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

MADISON, Ill. -- Pro Modified's original World Champion Tim McAmis was the quickest runner after the first day qualifying at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, Mo. His 6.231, 226.51 was a much better first day effort than he encountered earlier in the month at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill.

After the first day in Joliet, McAmis was headed home when he wounded his only motor. This time he established a new track record.

"This is a good effort and we are happy to be on top," explained McAmis. "I hope that we'll be able to hold on to the spot through tomorrow's qualifying."

The last time McAmis was on top of qualifying was in Englishtown in May, the same weekend he set the world record with a 6.09.

Thomas Patterson was solidly in second with a 6.252, 225.26 in his Vanishing Point Race Cars-prepared 1941 Willys.

A triumvirate of nitrous cars rounded out the next three spots as Shannon Jenkins (6.287), Mike Castellana (6.295) and Rickie Smith (6.307).

Recent Joliet runner-up Troy Critchley was sixth with a 6.349, 220.87 and that put him ahead of first time AMS runner Rick Stivers, who recorded a 6.354, 223.58.

Mike Ashley sat on the bubble with a 6.363, 221.96.

Points leader Fred Hahn and former World Champion Mike Janis both are unqualified entering Saturday.

Friday Notes -

Bill Kuhlman

Kuhlmann crashes - Bill Kuhlmann, the first doorslammer pilot over 200-miles per hour, was involved in a nasty qualifying crash during the first session. He encountered tireshake and the car bolted across the track into the left lane concrete retaining wall and bounced off and returned to his the right lane barrier.

Needless to say, the Wentzville, Mo., veteran was sore after the crash, but walked away.

"I'm really stiff and it's hurting some," explained Kuhlmann. "I took a hard hit and I'm still feeling it. I was sliding down the track and I was thinking to myself."boy I sure hope I don't hit anything else.' I don't think my body can take it. I took one and I doubt I could take another."

According to Kuhlmann, the car launched hard and had a "shimmee," but it wasn't anything that he hasn't encountered before. Therefore, he decided to keep in the throttle. Kuhlmann debated as to whether the shake hurt the run and made the decision that it would be fine considering that a mid-6.30 was pacing the show. Kuhlmann recalled that the front-end was in the air and the car was reasonably straight and that abruptly changed.

"All of a sudden there was no control and it made an immediate left turn," Kuhlmann added. "I knew I was headed straight for the wall and the front-end was in the air.

"I thought for a moment.this is what killed Earnhart, so I braced my head. I took a pounding to my head when I hit the bars. Then the middle of my back took a pounding too."

Kuhlmann pointed out that the car actually broke the center out of the wheel. Sources indicate that was attributed to tireshake just past the 60-foot mark.

"The center-section was still bolted to the car," Kuhlmann continued. "I just knew there had to be some liquid to get under the tires to turn like that. I was the most amazed person when I got out of the car and there was no wheel attached."

Kuhlmann wouldn't confirm if he'd be back this season, although he mentioned the possibility of preparing a spare car for Indy.

Question answered - Mike Ashley traveled to last year's St. Louis AMS Pro Modified Challenge at Gateway International with a 1941 Willys tucked away in the front-half of his transporter. The newly-built Tommy Mauney machine had none of the New York Mortgage Banker's flashy graphics package that usually adorns each one of his racecars. Instead, it was painted a plain refrigerator white with a question mark emblazoned on the door.

The car never turned a wheel under power at the event, but that didn't mean that it wasn't setting the stage for a powerful second half of the season. The question mark turned out to be an exclamation point as the InfiNet-sponsored Ashley was the highest points earner of the second-half of the season.

"This Willys has turned out to be a great car," explained Ashley, who has driven the Gotham City-themed machine to three finals rounds since September. "I am looking forward to making our St. Louis debut with it. We found some things that hampered us in the last few races, but we seem to have those problems fixed.

"That's just a testimony to my crew," added Ashley. "Those guys and my crewchief Chuck Ford work hard to make our car run hard. I couldn't be any happier than I am right now."

Widowmaker Revealed - In the worst-kept secret in drag racing, former World Champion Mike Janis debuted his new themed '63 Corvette bearing the "Widowmaker" moniker. Reportedly, Janis' longtime PR man Rob Kozak developed the program that greatly resembles the old Seventies Funny Cars. Janis added, "I was just trying to spruce things up a bit in the class. Things had become stagnant lately and I wanted to stir up the pot. I think we can use it to increase our t-shirt sales and make Pro Modified as exciting as the days when we had the Blue Max and the War Eagle."

If it ain't broke. - Don't look for Rickie Smith to have his new 1967 Camaro out this weekend. Reportedly, Smith is running the classic Chevrolet in local competition and using the Corvette in the Nationals. However, that may change as Smith warns. He added, "You never know.I'm liable to have it out in Indy."

Patience - If there's one lesson that Lexington, Ky.-based Pro Modified racer Rick Stivers has had to learn the hard way, it's that good things come to those who wait. And, basically.waiting is something that Stivers has had to do a lot of this season.

Example One - When a freak ice and snow storm hit his home state, he was confined to his home for nearly a month with no electrical power. As a result, he missed the IHRA season opener in San Antonio, Texas.

Example Two - He finally gets to make it out to the racetrack and attends another IHRA event in Rockingham, NC; however, a combination of extreme pollen and persistent rain cut his qualifying efforts short and he went home a DNQ.

Many other drivers would have decided to just call it quits, but not Stivers. He took a few weeks to regroup and made it out to the ACDelco U.S. Open of Drag Racing in Cordova, Ill., and reached the quarter-finals.

Two weeks later, Stivers found himself a quarter-finalist at the IHRA Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ont. But, for him, the prize was in knocking off the defending World Champion Shannon Jenkins in the first round of eliminations.

Stivers' experience on the NHRA AMS Pro Modified Series has been non-existent in 2003. After many lobbying efforts, the Heating & Air Conditioning company owner has finally got his wish. The Sears Craftsman Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., will mark his maiden voyage on the tour.

"I've waited a long time for this opportunity," explained Stivers, brimming with excitement. "I feel confident of our chances and we will certainly make the most of it."

Did you know? - With the exception of Tommy Mauney, every Pro Modified World Champion that has been crowned in NHRA or IHRA was present and accounted for in St. Louis.

M.I.A. - Ed Hoover, who was in the finals of every NHRA Pro Modified event in St. Louis, was one of the multitude that was denied an application for the event.