IHRA: Charlie Hunt Racing Extends Pro Stock Points Lead
10 May 1999
DARLINGTON, SC--- Charlie Hunt felt flattered in March to qualify both of his cars for final eliminations for the IHRA Prolong Super Lubricants Winter Nationals. A six week rain delay allowed the proud car owner to become more the envy of the Pro Stock division. He had one driver that was undefeated in competition and another that had two consecutive semi-final finishes going into the rescheduled Darlingon event. Points leader and Team Hunt driver Floyd Cheek reached his third consecutive final and dropped a tough decision to Chris Holbrook. Cheek topped his teammate Lee en-route to reaching the final.Cheek began competition as the third quickest qualifier with a 6.63/ 208, was scheduled to face Jeremy Bevins in round one. Tom Lee, on the other hand struggled to the eleventh position and was paired against Canadian Ford racer John Konigshofer in round one.
Lee entered the first round of competition as the underdog versus the Ford Probe of Konigshofer. Lee quickly bridged the performance defecit on the starting line and drove to an upset win with a 6.79/ 205 to Konigshofer's trailing 6.80/ 205. Unfortunatley when a team has two cars in competition, they sometimes meet in competition. Thus was the case as Cheek came out on top with a 6.74/ 205 win, continuing his remarkable undefeated season.
Entering the semi-finals, Floyd felt extremely confident about his chances of winning the race. He was facing Jon Yoak's Ford for the third time this season, and had defeated the Ellenboro, W.V. racer in both previous meetings, Floyd left first, and never looked back in running a 6.73/ 205 to Yoak's slowing 6.83/136.
The final pitted Cheek against Holbrook and their performance in the final round did not disappoint the fans. Cheek left in a dead heat with Holbrook's Michigan-based Ford, but unfortunately he was unable to continue the winning streak. Holbrook motored to a 6.72/ 206, to Floyd's quick but slower 6.74/ 204. The win marked the first of the season for the Stu Evans Ford Probe.
The Universal Brake Parts-sponsored team plans to continue their championship conquest at the IHRA Amalie Oil Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill during the weekend of June 18-20. The duo of Cheek and Lee, along with each Pro Stock contestant, will be afforded four qualifying runs during the course of the event and the quickest sixteen entries will compete in final eliminations on Sunday. This event will be televised on ESPN2 with the dates TBA in an upcoming issue of Drag Review.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.