Mon, 5 Sep 2011, 01:58 PM Indy Sportsman Notes

By Kelly Wade

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Everyone brings their A game to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, including the Lucas Oil Series Drag Racers. Class eliminations, the Hemi Challenge, and even just the anticipation of rising to the task of getting into the field at one of the most historical races on the schedule has drivers circling the block of designated days on the calendar and counting down as soon as the dates are announced. Now here we are, at the 57th annual running of the event, and sure enough we've seen some pretty cool sights.

The Emmons brothers, well, three of 'em - older brother Speedy (formally known as Harvey III), is back at home in Texas, but the triplets Gary, Jerry and Terry (in alphabetical order, not necessarily in order of importance of course) - came to Indy to race and they had some interesting wheels.

Terry has been driving the AA/SA Challenger Drag Pak in Stock Eliminator that belongs to Joey Tueton, who had obligations that prevented him from running it this weekend. A red light stopped Terry from getting out of the first round of eliminations; however, word from the Emmons camp (can't say who, but his name rhymes with "prairie," hint hint) is that the experience of having the AA/SA entry around was awful tempting, and no one should be surprised if you see a AA car of their own under the canopy sometime in the future.

More rounds of musical cars were going on: Jerry, a two time finalist here with one Stock Eliminator win, has been in the B/SA Camaro that the family recently purchased from Jeff Dona, and they've been working on bugging out all the new car bugs. No matter how you look at it, this deal of racing at Indy is hard work for many drivers, and even a well-oiled machine like that of Emmons Motorsports is taxed. After the first day of qualifying, the guys didn't shut the doors on the trailer until 3 am.

Troy Stone was the Norwalk national winner earlier this year in his Vintage Trailers Top Dragster, and he brought the sleek rail to the U.S. Nationals to run in . . . . wait for it . . . . Super Comp. Stone launched his six-second, 235 mph-capable dragster without a throttle stop and won a double-breakout match in the first round by shutting off at 300 feet. Incredibly, he coasted to an 8.897 at 98 mph for the win light. Now that is something to see.

Everyone is talking about Arnie Martel's new Super Stock Camaro. The SS/BS entry is a stunner, and was awarded Best Engineered honors.

"I love the Mustangs and the Chryslers and everything, but it just got to the point that nobody was investing in the Camaro," said Martel, who is pushing three decades of fun-lovin' drag racing. "They thought the wheelbase might be a little bit too long, so I decided, hey let me just go buy one. I couldn't get a body in white, so I just went and bought a brand new one, drove it out of the showroom. It's beautiful, the visibility out of it is awesome, handles nice, and it's a killer car."

Martel is driving it himself this weekend, but would he put anyone else in the car?

"Absolutely," he said.

Takers?

You might have read our story on Drag Race Central last week about Todd Hoven and the D/SA Firebird, a Truman Fields Hard Times II tribute car that looked just like the one Fields won the U.S. Nationals with in 1973. Hoven had certainly hoped for more in such a special car, but unfortunately, the engine detonated during early qualifying and he was unable to stay through the weekend.

Engine builder and sportsman racer Todd Patterson, of Patterson Racing, is driving the "Pistonator" E/A '63 Corvette of Steve Kent in the Competition Eliminator category this weekend. Patterson drove the car for the first time in Denver and appears to be having a pretty good time driving it here at the The Big Go, too.

"Steve is an engine customer of ours, and since he is driving his Hemi 'Cuda this weekend in Super Stock and also racing Pro Stock, he asked me if I would like to drive this one," said Patterson. "Since it's got a Patterson engine in it, that makes it more appealing. We like the chance to showcase our engine designs."

"It's a clutch-altered style car, so it's hard to be consistent compared to the others, but I really enjoy driving a 5-speed," he continued. "If I had a choice, I would all the time."

Patterson, the 1992 U.S. Nationals Competition Eliminator winner over Tom Martino, was also driving the SS/BS Cobalt, the car Patterson Racing calls the "house car." The Cobalt was 12th and went 1.002-under during qualifying.

Speaking of Comp Eliminator:

Veteran Comp racer Chris McGaha is pulling double-duty this weekend driving in his comfy old category as well as making his Pro Stock car debut in Richard Freeman's Elite Motorsports Pontiac GXP through Freeman's Ride and Drive Program. McGaha made a strong first impression and made the show in the pro category. He will head into the final day of racing at the U.S. Nationals still chasing the Comp title, too. He looked pretty happy right before Pro Stock driver introductions, that's for sure.

"[Driving the Pro Stock car] isn't much different, it's about like driving a C/A in Comp," said McGaha, a CNC machinist out of Odessa, Texas. "It's exactly like it except when you put it in high gear, it's a lot faster. The thing is pretty quick, but it took a while to get used to it, and get used to the pro tree and all that."

As the new guy, McGaha was first out for the first round of qualifying, but he knew what to expect.

"I didn't have any nerves because it wasn't the first time I did that; I ran Pro Stock Truck and I was first out at Indy 10 years ago, so I've had some experience," he said.

With some experience in the GXP accumulated, McGaha is considering racing Pro Stock at the Dallas national event at Texas Motorplex in a couple of weeks as well. He is already on the entry list for Comp, so why not?

Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Rick Cortino came to race here for the third time in as many years; his first U.S. Nationals appearance was at the 2009 event.

Cortino is one of those approachable guys who isn't much of an attention seeker but has no problem shooting the breeze with fans who wander to the ropes of the Cortino Racing pit located near the outer edge of where the Pro Stock cars are making their home. Cortino has stories to tell about a decade worth of Super Comp racing and time logged behind the wheel of a blown altered Top Dragster before stepping into his Alcohol Funny Car.

Cortino balances his racing hobby with a couple of day jobs - in addition to being a handy plumber, he also builds engines. He's a busy guy and usually only does a handful of national events a year, but Indy is always at the top of his list.

Though he missed the field and won't get a shot at the title this year, Cortino, who resides in Wheaton, Ill. has no regrets.

"I just look forward to this," he said. "Indy is where it's at."

Eliminations for the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil are underway at the time of this writing. Look for the Lucas Oil Series wrap up here on Drag Race Central once the event is in the books.