IHRA: Points Leaders Looking to Pad Points Leads at IHRA Amalie Oil Summer Nationals
16 June 1999
CORDOVA, ILL-- As the IHRA/Snap-On Tools Championship Drag Racing Series reaches the halfway point, there are some suprise leaders and others in familiar territory going into the IHRA Amalie Oil Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill.. The fourth stop on the popular tour for the Norwalk, Ohio-based sanctioning body should be a tough battle for those at the top of their respective chases. Plus, a popular Pro Modified racer will climb behind the wheel since making a proverbial trip through torment and back.One of the largest and most welcomed suprises has been the ascension of Indianapolis, In., enclosed trailer dealer Bruce Litton to the peak of the Top Fuel ranks. Litton has reached the finals of all three races previous races, winning once in Rockingham, N.C. at the Holley Spring Nationals.
A not-so-suprising points leader is the driver pacing the Pro Alcohol Funny Car points chase. Oak Ridge, Tn.,-based, Von Smith has been another driver to reach the final round of every event contested in 1999 under the IHRA sanction. The Big Daddy's BBQ Sauces & Spices-sponsored, Pontiac posted runner-ups at the Prolong Winter Nationals and the Amalie Oil Nationals before scoring big at the Holley Spring Nationals.
Floyd Cheek has been the most dominant of the three aforementioned drivers. The former Pro Stock World Champion from Soddy Daisy, Tn., was undefeated until the recently completed Prolong Winter Nationals. He posted eleven consecutive victories in competition before dropping a tough decision to Chris Holbrook in the finals at Darlington.
Other Harley Communications clients will be jockeying for improvement on their current top ten points standings. The defending Screamin' Eagle Top Fuel Harley presented by Crane champion John Mancuso hopes to improve on his sixth place position. He has one win to his credit in 1999 at the Holley Spring Nationals.
Second generation driver and chassis builder Scott Weney hopes to climb several steps up the points ladder from his fifth spot in the Pro Alcohol points chase.
The Pro Modified contingent includes Holley Spring Nationals titlist Shannon Jenkins (#2), Troy Critchley in Johnny Rocca's Prolong Ironhorse Merc (#9) and the Trim Parts-sponsored Corvette of Stroupe (#10).
A serious contender for the Pro Stock throne has been John Montecalvo. The Center Moriches, NY.-based, driver is currently in the fourth spot ahead of Tom Lee, who has consistently finished in the late rounds in his Universal Brake Parts-sponsored, Ford Probe. Lee commandeers the fifth spot at present.
Indianapolis, Ind.-based, printer John Long has been in steady pursuit of the undefeated Larry Snyder. Long's Spectra-One Race Cards-sponsored dragster currently holds the sixth spot in the Super Eliminator points standings.
Pro Modified will see another emotional return from Wally Stroupe was forced to undergo an emergency appendectomy prior to the Holley Spring Nationals. In true tough man spirit, he made an appearance and raced at the Rockingham-based, event. Days after this race, he returned to hospital and rushed into surgery for gangrene. Cordova will be Stroupe's first race since then as a driver.
The IHRA Amalie Oil Summer Nationals will begin with qualifying sessions on Friday and continue into Saturday. Final eliminations are slated for Sunday and will begin at 12 Noon. For complete results of the event, visit the IHRA website at www.ihra.com.
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.