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.