Tue, 22 Oct 2002, 04:17 PM We Could Have A Three-Three-Peat This Weekend!!

By Bob Frey Photo copyright 2002 Auto Imagery, Inc.

Larry Dixon

At the AC Delco Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, we could have as many as three Powerade champions crowned. Did you know that Larry Dixon, Jeg Coughlin and Angelle Savoie could all wrap up their national titles with strong performances this weekend. Actually, John Force could claim his 12^th crown this weekend, too, but you probably have a better chance of hitting a "horn high yo" than you do of having that happening, I believe. With Larry and Jeg both coming in with leads of 108 points, all they have to do (I make it sound so easy), is go two rounds further than the number two guys and they will be the 2002 Powerade champions. Both Kenny Bernstein and Jim Yates, the aforementioned number two guys, need to have just about perfect weekends in order to keep their slim title hopes alive. But, as we’ve come to expect in this great sport, strange things can happen, so let’s not etch anyone’s name on the trophy just yet.

The two titans of the midway, or at least the quarter-mile, Dixon and Bernstein, have both had pretty good success in Las Vegas (and I mean at the track). Kenny has never qualified lower than third (2 #1 spots, a #2 & a #3), and has been to the final round at three of the four races there with two wins and a runner-up. Larry swept to victory at the spring race this year, meaning that he won the race, was the #1 qualifier, set low elapsed time and top speed. Plus, he ran 4.509 in Vegas last year and that still stands as the track record. So, if history means anything, don’t look for the red car to give up the title without a fight, and look for Larry to give him one….There will be some interesting new faces in the Top Fuel class this weekend and that could make for a very unpredictable eliminator. David Baca, partners with Rick Henkelman in the car that Cory McClenathan drives, will have his own car at Vegas as he prepares for the 2003 season. Did you know that David’s father, Dennis Baca, won the U.S. Nationals in 1977? Plus, he went to the final rounds against some of NHRA’s finest at some other races. Dennis won the 1977 World Finals beating Graham Light, NHRA’s Sr. Vice President of Racing Operations, and he was runner-up at the ’72 Winternationals to Carl Olson,

Shirley' Lucy car.

who worked with NHRA for years. Oh yeah, he also lost to some guy name Don Garlits at the ’73 Winternationals. For his part, David is still the speed record holder in the Top Alcohol Dragster class with his mind-boggling run of 274.44 that he recorded at Pomona almost two years ago. I expect David to fit right into the TF class and to qualify this weekend. The other half of that two-car team, the Berryman Chemtooler car, will be driven by Cory this weekend giving that team an excellent chance at getting to the winner’s circle. Berryman, by the way, has extended their sponsorship with the team through Pomona, and let’s hope they stay on for 2003, because a Baca-Cory team would be very hard to beat next year…..Also, look for Craig Smith to return to action in Las Vegas this weekend. For those of you who may not know Craig, he has been racing for a while and he’ll team up with Canadian businessman, Ron Hodgson and their sponsor, AirCat, for the next two races and, possibly, beyond. With the way Kenny Bernstein’s career has gone, look for him to meet up with Mr. Smith somewhere along the way this weekend. KB beat Craig in the final round at Phoenix way back in 1991, but Craig had stopped some pretty good drivers before that, like Gary Ormsby, Cory McClenathan and Frank Hawley. Should be interesting…Shirley Muldowney will return to action this weekend, too. Driving a special one-race theme car (Lucy, from the Peanuts comic strip), Shirley will try to go one round further than she did in Columbus, which, of course, would put her in the final round. I ask you, do you think that either of the title contenders wants to meet Shirley on race day? And wouldn’t it be great to see Shirley win one more race in her great career?

Jeg Coughlin

The Pro Stock battle looks like it’s Jeg’s to win or lose right now. He has the same 108-point lead that Dixon has plus he has the hottest car in the class. But, as we all know, Pro Stock is the most unpredictable of the professional classes. Did you know that, of the 12 racers who have won national events this year in PS, three of them failed to qualify at the very next race after their win? And, of the drivers who represent the 21 wins this year, did you know that they also account for an amazing 62 DNQ’s this season? Now, does anyone want to anoint Jeggie as the champ just yet? Didn’t think so. With Kurt Johnson running better lately, with Gene Wilson looking good and with Darrell Alderman, George Marnell and Bruce Allen fighting for the tenth and last spot on stage at the award’s ceremony (they’re one point apart, with DA in the 10^th spot, George in 11^th and Bruce Allen just 3 points back in 12th), it should be an interesting week in the Pro Stock world. By the way, I mentioned last week that I like Gene’s chances to be Rookie of the Year this season, and some folks sent me e-mails asking about some other drivers. Well, while I certainly don’t have any inside info, I will tell you this, other drivers who would have gotten consideration, like Greg Stanfield and Mark Whisnant, are not eligible since they competed in the Pro Stock

Gene Wilson

Truck class. The rules specifically say that if you competed in more than five races in a professional class in a previous year, you are not eligible for the Rookie of the Year award. With Brandon Bernstein entering the fray next year, I assume that’s why the Vance & Hines team sent Andrew out to race this year, because they figured that it would be tough to run for the rookie honors against Brandon in 2003. That said, I like Gene’s chances this season, after all, he’s done everything but win a race this year…Since I mentioned 2003, I just thought I’d mention this little tidbit. If my sources are correct, look for the Pro Mod class to expand to 16-car fields at the races next year. While it will still run as a "stand alone" class, that is, not part of the Powerade points, look for it to be substantially stronger than it was this season. That’s all I can say….And, still on ’03, don’t be surprised if Paul Jones, who drove the Western Stabilization car in the TAD ranks earlier this year (the Darien & Meadows entry), is in Top Fuel next year. Paul, who still works for and with Ashley Jeffrey and the Western folks, will attempt to get his TF license the Monday after the Las Vegas race when he gets behind the wheel of the John Smith Prestone car. That’s all I can say…Of course, Cara Schumacher, Tony’s wife, recently got her Super Comp license, so can a TF one be far behind? Just thought I’d ask.

The Pro Stock Bike title should be the one the definitely gets wrapped up this weekend. With Angelle Savoie holding a commanding 173 point lead, all she really needs to do is keep pace with Craig Treble this week (on a round by round basis) and she’ll have her third, consecutive title, or, she could go to the semi-finals and lock Craig out or, well, you get the idea. If she wins, Angelle will join Shirley Muldowney as a three-time NHRA champ. Speaking of getting to the semi-finals, did you know that the last time Angelle didn’t get that far was at Brainerd last year? So, if you like playing the odds, you’ve got to like her chances of clinching this weekend, don’t you? By the way, was that Craig Treble out racing at Las Vegas this past weekend on a Harley-Davidson? Just thought I’d ask.

Angelle Savoie

The Lucas Oil Sportsman series will resume this weekend with several titles still up for grabs. Tom Stalba will take his road show into Vegas to run both the national and the divisional events in an effort to close out any of the drivers who still have a shot at the Super Gas title. Among the drivers who still have a chance at the championship are Joe Harper, Frank Kohutek and even the Vegas spring winner, Jim Hughes… Kent Hanley, with two national and one divisional race left to claim, hopes to be able to track down Brain Folk in the Super Comp category, while Mike Saye and Don Stratton both have races left to claim in their battle for the Comp Eliminator crown. Now, before you write to my editor and tell him that I forgot to include some of the drivers who still have a mathematical shot, realize that I’m just touching on some of the drivers who have the best shot at winning the championships….Before I go, I’d like to congratulate the Division 2 Summit E/T Series Champion, Leon Robertson. Did you know that Leon went to the finals in the Super Pro class (where he lost to Paul Ferrar) and then he won the Sportsman class title to earn a trip to Pomona? And, did you know that Leon also ran in the finals of the "Race of Champions" the night before? Now that’s one, tough bracket racer. And, also at the D-2 race, congrats to Michael Wilson who won the motorcycle class. Did you know that Michael’s brother, Bruce, won the Pro class championship last year. And, did you know that Michael dedicated the win to his sister, Michelle, who won the High School crown in 1998, but then passed away after a bout with leukemia? Our congratulations and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wilson family. We look forward to seeing all of the Summit E/T winners in Pomona in a couple of weeks…..And, finally, a tip of the cap to one of my very old friends, Sonny Shipmon, who’s name I saw on the IHRA Top Stock list this past weekend at Rockingham. I watched Sonny race back when he used to compete with and against Roy Johnson, Gene Fulton, Rickie Smith and a bunch of other great racers. Nice to see Sonny doing so well.