PRO-Edelbrock Event Results: Glidden, Musi Rock Bowling Green

PRO Edelbrock Fastest Street Car Drag Racing Series debuts to
packed-house at Beech Bend Raceway

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- After more than a year of anticipation,
the PRO-Edelbrock Fastest Street Car Drag Racing Series
debuted its brand of street legal drag racing June 7-9 at
Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Ky. The inaugural event
featured more than 250 cars competing in 11 action-packed
eliminators. 12,000 fans witnessed the weekend action that
included side-by-side heads-up and bracket racing, a car
show, swap meet and huge manufacturers midway.

In Pro Street, Catreret, New Jersey¹s Pat Musi drove his 1969
"Popeye" Camaro to the number one qualifying spot with a pass
of 6.76/214. Musi set the pace early and was able to hold off
the challenges of Mark Barns, and James Clark as he cruised
to the finals. Meanwhile, Chicago¹s Joe Cleary, who qualified
ninth, used a little luck to guide his Trans Am around Bryant
Goldstone, Milt Decker, and Steve Hall to enter the final.
Despite a four-hundredths advantage on the tree, Cleary
couldn¹t hold off the hard-charging Musi at the stripe as
Musi muscled by with an impressive 6.77 /212 mph lap to
Cleary¹s losing 7.16/182 pass.

Nitto Tires Super Street action featured the return of Bill
Glidden who had dominated Super Street in the late nineties
before his move to NMRA Pro 5.0 racing. It didn¹t take long
for the Whiteland, Ind., driver to set the pace after
blasting a 7.67 in the second round of qualifying. He was
followed on the ladder by a 7.74 posted by Brookville, Ind.,
driver Doug Smith who was behind the wheel of Jim Huber¹s
2000 Chevy S-10. In eliminations, Glidden continued his
dominance by besting Jamie Gelting and James Phipps. Smith
reached his final round showdown with Glidden by beating Todd
Moyer and Joel Greathouse. Despite a holeshot advantage,
Smith didn¹t stay out front for long as Glidden zipped by at
the 330-foot mark and cruised to the win posting a
7.68/183-mph lap to Smith¹s losing 7.84/188-mph effort.

Dave Rudisell of Lawrenceburg, Ind., took top honors in
Vortech Xtreme Street after defeating Oswego, Ill., driver
Tony Orts. Rudisell, driving a 1984 Mustang took out Brian
Waszak in the first round setting up a second round showdown
with fellow Bischoff Engine Service customer and number one
qualifier Gary Rohe. Rohe¹s Mustang went into a huge
wheelstand right at the launch and was on the bumper quickly.
When the car slammed back to the ground it suffered enough
damage to allow Rudisell to squeak by for the win. In the
semi-finals, Rudisell inched past Tyrees Smith. Orts advanced
to the finals after beating Joe Newsham and Cameran Cable.

Flowmaster Nostalgia Pro Street was anyone¹s to win after
number one qualifier Gary Elliott couldn¹t make it to
eliminations and Tony Nesbit, who qualified second, fouled in
his first round race. The action came down to a classic
battle between Ford and Chevy. The combatants were Bryan
Lafollette from nearby Hodgenville, Ky., driving a 1965
big-block powered Chevy II and Brian Hable from Ray Township,
Mich., driving an immaculate 1960 Falcon. Lafollette, who
qualified third, had the advantage from the start and kept
Hable behind him for the entire 1320-foot ride, posting an
8.37/163 mph pass on the board to Hable¹s losing 8.56/160 mph
lap.

Diamond Pistons Pro Stock action featured some of the
tightest racing of the weekend. Neal Owens of Wilmington,
Del., put his ¹92 Firebird on the pole with an impressive
9.48/144 mph qualifying effort. But Owens wasn¹t around for
the final after a very poor light against Nick Bacalis in the
semis cost him the race. Bacalis, from Atlanta, faced South
Lyon, Mich., driver Chris Uratchko in the finals. Uratchko
made it to the money round by besting Andrew Dart and Shane
Long, then getting a bye to the final. In the tight battle of
vintage Detroit iron, Uratchko¹s ¹69 Camaro outran Bacalis¹
¹66 Mustang 9.56/143 to 9.59/142 mph.

Mr. Gasket Cheap Street is street legal drag racing¹s hottest
new entry level class. Designed with affordability in mind,
the class features a $3,000 engine-claim rule. In its debut,
the class drew racers from as far away as New York and
Missouri. Brandon Kerr of Cordova, Tenn., set the pace of the
field after running a 10.17/126 qualifying lap, earning him
the number one spot on the ladder, but he fell victim in the
semis to eventual winner Jeremy Taylor and his
small-block-powered ¹66 Chevy II. Taylor advanced after a
first round win over Derrol Rhodes. In the final, Taylor met
Paul Smith of Bowling Green and his ¹91 Camaro. After taking
the green light, Smith¹s car violently swerved towards the
centerline. Smith did a masterful job of keeping the car out
of Taylor¹s lane and off the wall, but conceded to the Holts
Summit, Mo., driver. Taylor posted a 10.55/126 mph pass to
Smith¹s 35.79.

MSD True Street is designed to capture the true spirit of
street legal drag racing. In order to compete in
eliminations, all cars first must complete a 30-mile street
cruise. Upon completion of the cruise, contestants must then
run their cars in three consecutive "round­robin" laps down
the quarter mile. The three laps are then averaged to
determine the overall winner. The "King of Kentucky" crown
was awarded to James Foldenauer who drove his ¹77 Monza with
a 522 cubic-inch, nitrous-assisited, big-block to a three lap
e.t. average of 8.45. Runner-up honors went to Lee Howie.

Hamburger Nostalgia Super Stock featured 20 of the nation¹s
finest classic factory hot rods, racing on a class index.
Gene Egbert of Cincinnati, Ohio drove his 1964 Ford to the
final round win over Newland, NC., driver Jeff Tuckett and
his ¹67 Tempest. Egbert advanced to the finals after beating
Brandon Moss, Butch Pritchett, Mark Artis and Jim Netherland.
Tuckett made the charge by besting Randy Bennett, David
Coleman and Donnie Wilson.

Nostalgia Muscle Car, which also runs on a class index, was
won by Tim Clark of Rockingham, NC. and his 1967 Chevelle. He
defeated Memphis Tenn., driver Ed Becker who drove a 1970
Plymouth to the finals.

John Chaille of Plainfield, Ind., came away from Bowling
Green with the winner¹s share in Superchips Open Comp after
defeating Greg Hunt of Bowling Green. Cahille drove his ¹81
Malibu to an 11.53 pass on a 11.52 dial-in to Hunt¹s losing
12.12 on a 12.16 dial.

In Toyo Tires bracket racing action, Pierre Duvernois made
the best of an early round exit in Open Comp as he captured
the Super Pro title over Christy Steele. Jim McClung bested
Bobby Wimpee in Pro and K.J. Kitchens won the Sportsman final
over Mark Cagle.

Bill Glidden faced-off against Pat Musi in the ATI ProCharger
Top Dog Shootout. The race is a handicapped runoff between
the number one qualifiers in Pro and Super Street. Glidden
won this round after Musi left too early and fouled.
Johnny Knuckles burnt the most rubber in his Olds Cutlass to
claim the Performance Wheel Outlet burnout contest.

The next PRO Edelbrock Drag Racing Series event will be held
July 27-29 at Cordova Dragway Park, Cordova Ill. For more
information contact ProMedia Publishing 714/444-2426.