Sat, 31 May 2003, 10:23 AM Friday Pro Mod Notes

By Bobby Bennett Jr, www.competitionplus.com

JOLIET, Ill. -- Doctor Bill is the house – Watch for the AMS Staff Leasing and Budweiser entries of Troy Critchley and Bill Hill to make some positive strides in the near future. Reportedly, veteran Hemi tuner Bill Barrett has offered assistance to the two-car team and will lend a helping hand in the future.

Sweet Sixteen – Several new entries pulled in overnight to increase the car count to 16 for the event. This is the first of two NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge events that conflict the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series events. The IHRA is running in Grand Bend, Ont., this weekend. The second conflict will come later this month when St. Louis overlaps with the Edmonton event.

He’s gonna get torn down if he don’t stop that – For the second event in a row, Bill Hill’ s Budweiser car has played havoc on the timing system. Just one event after recording a bogus 5.87 elapsed time, Hill followed up his effort in Chicago with a 6.00. Both runs were disallowed. Officials speculate it was a header tripping the light, but the best guess came from announcer Bob Unkefer, who suggested that it was clutch dust.

There’s only one – That’s exactly how many nitrous cars are in attendance. Rickie Smith will provide the only representation with his nitrous-injected 1963 Corvette. Earlier in the week, Smith took delivery of a new 1968 Camaro from Jerry Bickel. He had no time to test the sleek ride, so it was left in the trailer for the weekend. He will reportedly make it to Richmond next week for an IHRA event to make the first runs. According to Smith, he won’t arrive until Saturday because of a Friday evening Quick Eight scheduling conflict.

That’s pretty close – Only .005 separated the top three spots after the first session. Overall, only .05 was the difference between the top five.

By gosh you tell ‘em I can still drive again – That’s what “Uncle” Roy Hill was saying after his 6.250, 227.00 made him the provisional leader in qualifying. It marked the first time since 1997 in his days of mountain motor Pro Stock that he’s been the leader of qualifying.

Just how comparable are they? – Some comparisons have been made as to how much today’s Pro Modifieds resemble the early Seventies Funny Cars. While the current Pro Modified entries run a suspended chassis, some of the early Logghe Stamping Co. Funny Cars actually utilized a suspension. The Pro Modifieds are currently running similar elapsed times and speeds and in 1972, the average flopper motor produced nearly 2,000 horsepower. The classic Funny Cars utilized a set of 36-inch slicks and the Pro Modifieds would likely be running the same size had rearend gear ratios not be enacted. The same could be said with the transmission. A little over three decades ago, they ran two-speed transmissions. With the advent of rules restrictions, the Pro Modified entries are sticking with a three-speed. If the weight minimums were dropped, the Pro Modifieds could conceivably campaign a two-speed. The one thing that has always remained a common denominator between the two classes is the combination of a colorful contingent of drivers and the fact that both have fan appeal.

His streak is broken and he’s not mad either – For the first time this season, Mike Ashley concluded the first day of qualifications as part of the provisional field. The streak began in Gainesville and in each outing; Ashley concluded consecutive events in Houston, Bristol and Englishtown unqualified. On his finest first day effort of 2003, Ashley concluded the first session as second quickest behind Roy Hill and leapt to the top spot in the final session.

The Carnage Hits early – After the first session, the 16-car field was reduced to 13 as Tim McAmis, Zach Barklage and Frankie Taylor all suffered parts attrition to the point that they had to withdraw from competition. McAmis pulled out shortly after the second session of Pro Modified concluded.