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IHRA: Alesci Reaches Finals of Sunoco Pro Stock Showdown

20 October 1998

SHREVEPORT, LA.-- Sometimes it pays to try and lay down a number during the IHRA Nite Of Fire session. For Cleveland, Ohio's Angelo Alesci, it paid off huge dividends. However, it doesn't always turn out the best, when the decision to hold out for better track conditions comes at a time when inclement weather is imminent. Alesci waded through a stout field and was poised to do battle with Dan Seamon, Jr., when rain blanketed the facility.

The Sunoco Pro Stock Showdown is comprised of the eight best points earners based on points awarded during the final session of qualifying. This series was contested from the season-opening Winter Nationals in Bradenton, Fl., and was recently complete at the President's Cup Nationals in Budd's Creek, Md,. Alesci was the fourth seeded contestant in the program.

His first win came when Stu Evans got crossed up and violated the center line. The 7.08/158.91 that came up on his scoreboard was actually Evans completing the run that Alesci began.

The semi-finals produced an easy win for Alesci as he outreacted John Montecalvo's Citgo Racing Monte Carlo. His winning lap was a 6.730/206.01 and that was more than enough to cover a 7.96/129.37.

The finals matched a Chevy versus a Ford, the Probe of Seamon from Bellevue, Ohio.