Sun, 18 May 2003, 11:39 PM Stott Earns 2nd consecutive NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge Victory

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

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- For a man that used to be jinxed when it came to the final round of NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge events, Mitch Stott seems to be testing the opposite end of the spectrum. He wasn’t the quickest and fastest Pro Modified entry during the K&N Filter SuperNationals. But he didn’t have to be either. Stott merely had to be consistent and because he adhered to that requirement, the Radiac-sponsored driver was able to capture his second national event victory of 2003.

Mitch Stott (near lane) and Quain Stott

Out of four events this year, Stott has reached the final round every time. If he could write the script for the remainder of his season, he’d just as soon make it to the finals of every one.

“Were going to try and make it to where if we’re not in the final, there won’t be one,” Stott said, with a laugh. “I’m just kidding and it feels good to be able to joke about things. We’ve come a long way with this deal since last year. Last year, we just couldn’t seem to put a win together and managed to lose every way a man could lose. We are drag racers, we don’t give up and my crew has given me an unbeatable combination. I don’t see anything changing, either.”

In the final round, he defeated local favorite Mike Ashley, the New York Mortgage Banker from Long Island. Ashley, who qualified for the field in the final remaining position for the eight-car program, was brutal on the starting line all day recording consecutive holeshot wins of at least .06. In the final round, Ashley was .057 quicker in reacting than Stott. Ironically, the two have met during the elimination rounds of every event this year and Stott has won all.

“He got me pretty bad and I was expecting it,” confided Stott. “I didn’t intend to give him anything. I had my worst light of the weekend against him and the one I had in the final was unacceptable. Fortunately, we had enough power to drive around him. We have really been working hard on addressing our lights since Bristol and had performed well until the final.” Ashley wanted to win badly, but in the end, he was more than satisfied with just reaching the final round. He attributed his lightning quick reaction times to prevent any good-natured ribbing from his employees that might come his way if he lost on a holeshot.

Mike Ashley

“I can’t say enough about my team for being able to put together a car capable of reaching the final round today,” explained Ashley. “The car ran strong and we are excited that the car produced a three-second eighth mile run. We fell short against Mitch again and we just need to figure out a way to get around him.

“I had a lot of my friends and family here and I had to do my best to keep my end of the bargain, which was to get off of the line and drive well,” added Ashley. “I have to admit, I had one of my best days on the tree. Plus, New Yorkers are notoriously bad when it comes to picking on people. There was no way I could go into the office tomorrow if I lost on a holeshot.”

Atmospheric conditions were at a premium as the temperature was 60-degrees, 41 percent relative humidity, an absolute barometer of 30.01 inches and a track temperature of 75 degrees.

Thomas Patterson opened eliminations with an easy victory over Roy Hill, who left way too early with a -.212 foul. Patterson secured the victory and lifted early with a 6.309, 203.43. Hill went through the motions with a 6.336, 232.19.

In a rematch of the recent final round in Bristol, Mitch Stott avenged his loss as he was able to drive around former record holder Fred Hahn in Jim Oddy’s Summit-sponsored entry. Hahn was .005 quicker out of the gate, but his 6.169, 227.69 just didn’t have enough gusto to fend off the 6.100, 231.83 of the points leader.

Quain Stott continued his barrage of high mile per hour blasts as he beat Al Billes despite posting a slower elapsed time opposite. The LeeBoy-sponsored driver had .036 in his pocket leaving the line and never relented en route to winning with a 6.170, 233.88. Billes absorbed the loss despite a quicker 6.161, 228.34. Stott needed only a high-231 mile per hour run to back up a 233.72 record established on Saturday. He not only backed up the mark, but bettered it with the 233.88.

The most astonishing match was the final pair in which Mike Ashley, who made the field on the bubble, sent newly christened record holder Tim McAmis packing. What makes it unbelievable is that McAmis bettered the national record of a 6.097, with a 6.084 at 231.95. While Ashley recorded a personal best of 6.125, 227.42, it was a .069 holeshot that secured the victory.

The semi-finals opened with a replay of the first round in Bristol where Ashley got the best of Patterson. Just like he did in the opening win over McAmis, Ashley grabbed a large holeshot. This time he had .063 in his favor and despite falling off of his earlier pace with a 6.204, 227.73, had enough to defeat an engine-wounding 6.230, 222.47 from Patterson.

A battle of the Stott brothers closed out the round with Mitch continuing his dominance over his older sibling Quain. Quain was slightly quicker off of the line, but his .009 advantage was short-lived as Mitch thundered by and never looked back en route to a 6.095, 232.47. Quain fought tireshake throughout the rain and slowed to a 6.182, 232.95.

In the final round, Ashley continued to exert his tremendous reflexes with a .041 to .071 starting line decision. He was in the lead until a bout of tireshake set in at the 100-foot mark. That was the break that Stott needed to make up the lost ground and he managed to slip by for a 6.132, 230.69 victory. Ashley went through with a 6.280, 226.51 to claim his second career NHRA Pro Modified runner-up finish.