NHRA FMDRS: Thacker takes home Mayor's Cup at Montgomery Motorsports Park
10 September 2000
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Marty Thacker won on consecutive hole-shots to
take the Federal-Mogul Dragster Championship at the Mayor's Cup tonight at
Montgomery Motorsports Park. Thacker took out Troy Buff in the semi-finals
with a pass of 5.829 seconds to Buff's quicker 5.796, then went on to
defeat the number one qualifier Lee Callaway in the finals.
Callaway had the quicker elapsed time with a 5.781 at 238.22 mph,
but it was Thacker's reaction time of .424 (.400 is perfect) that made the
difference as Thacker covered the quarter mile in 5.830 seconds at 235.91
mph.
"This is great," exclaimed Thacker as he climbed from his car.
"Everybody did there job this weekend. Hats off to my crew. The car was
consistent all day with 5.80's and I did my job with the driving. This is
great!"
Tate Branch made his own trip to the winner's circle with a win in
the Federal-Mogul Funny Car category when he left Chuck Cheeseman at the
startingline and clocked a 4.972 second run at 244.16 mph. Cheesman hurt
the car at the startingline and coasted to the finish. The win moves Branch
into the points lead ahead of former Funny Car National Champ Tony Bartone
in the South Central Division.
"The car was a little soft these last two rounds," said Branch
after the win. "We just wanted to run our race and that's what we did."
Eliminations continue for all other categories on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Gates open at 9 a.m.
The following are Saturday's results and final qualifying from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Montgomery Motorsports Park.
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.802 seconds, 238.22, miles per hour
def. BYE
2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.733, 246.44 def. 7. Cherissa Griffis,
Gainesville, Fla, broke
3. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.829, 237.21 def. 6. Bob Lavarich,
Marysville, Mich., 6.572, 217.65
5. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.352, 206.89 def. 4. Artie Allen,
Jacksonville, Fla., 6.261, 229.53 foul
Round 2
Callaway, 5.763, 240.06 def. Fiorelli, 12.858, 55.63
Thacker , 5.829, 238.53 def. Buff, 5.796, 244.29
Final
Thacker, 5.830, 235.91 def. Callaway, 5.781, 238.22
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '99 Firebird, 6.006 seconds, 215.05 miles
per hour
def. 6. Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 6.341, 218.02
2. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Avenger, 6.247, 180.39 def. 5. Mark
Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 6.330, 214.38
3. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 6.234, 220.85 def. 4. Richard
Sarver, San Antonio, Texas, '95 Avenger, 14.515, 55.44
Round 2
Cheeseman, BYE
Branch, 5.925, 244.49, def. Simpson, broke
Final
Branch, 5.972, 244.16 def. Cheeseman, broke
COMPETITION
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '99 Grand Am, D/SM, 8.083, seconds,
-0.647 under the index.
2. Jeff Taylor, Lumberton, N.C., '00 Camaro, D/A, 7.975, -0.585
3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.500, -0.580
4. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, 9.032, -0.513
5. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '23 Ford, A/EA, 7.595, -0.485
6. Van Puckett, Snellville, Ga., '97 Firebird, E/A, 8.5475, -0.415
7. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.681, -0.399
8. Charlie Watson, Humble, Texas, '96 Lumina, F/A, 8.806, -0.364
9. Jeff Wilkerson, Athens, Ala., '00 Trans Am, B/A, 7.539, -0.331
10. Larry Ericksmoen, St. Petersburg, Fla., '92 Cutlass, C/A, 7.994, -0.233
SUPER STOCK
1. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.569 seconds,
-1.081 seconds under the index.
2. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '84 Firehawk, GT/MA, 11.017, -1.033
3. Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., '66 Impala, SS/NA, 11.476, -0.974
4. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Trans Am, GT/MA, 11.120, -0.930
5. Johnny Fogle, Norway, S.C., '67 Camaro, SS/HA, 9.979, -0.921
6. Buggs Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '88 Cutlass, SS/OA, 11.683, -0.917
7. Wayne Hayes, Elgin, S.C., '56 Bel Air, SS/NA, 11.539, -0.911
8. Jeff Taylor, Lunberton, N.C., '98 Grand Am, SS/CM, 8.997, -0.903
9. Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., '00 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.213, -0.887
10. Herbie Null, Elgin, S.C., '87 Camaro, GT/BA, 9.685, -0.865
STOCK
1. Olin Welborn, Aiken, S.C., '83 Riviera, DF/SA, 14.482 seconds, -1.118
under the index.
2. F.J. Acosta, Belle Rose, La., '96 Camaro, E/SA, 10.910, -1.090
3. Greg Moravec, St Elmo, Ala., '78 Volare, K/SA, 11.922, -1.028
4. Harold Culpepper, Pine Mountain, Valley, Ga., '91 Camaro, K/SA, 11.960,
-0.990
5. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Firebird, D/SA, 10.860, -0.990
6. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., '85 Camaro, M/SA, 12.211, -0.939
7. Hugh Meeks III, Montgomery, Ala., '73 Nova, I/SA, 11.662, -0.938
8. Garry Galazener, Jackson, S.C., '72 Mustang, G/SA, 11.378, -0.922
9. Bobby Warren, Clinton, N.C., '94 Camaro, D/SA, 10.997, -0.853
10. Jimmy Hidalgo Sr., Dondalsonville, La., '97 Camaro, E/SA, 11.155,
-0.845