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Darlington Winternationals, Darlington, SC.
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Same
day coverage from the highly anticipated pre-season showdown
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By Roger Richards |
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| Shannon Jenkins and Tommy Mauney in the winner's circle. |
(2-22-2004) - The final in Pro Stock netted Elijah Morton his 5th 6.40 pass of the weekend. Morton posted a 6.498 @ 213.12 to cover the 6.580 @ 212.36 of Robert Patrick who posted his best time of the day.
The semi final round in Pro Mod had the twin turbo of Steve Miller against Tommy Mauney. Miller stated that he was having a ball here this weekend trying all new combinations in an unlimited test session. Having run a series of 6.60 passes, Miller had nothing to lose in the match with Mauney, so he shifted some counter weights and tweaked a few other things and was planning on shooting for a 6.55. However, he tripped the lights too soon and gave Mauney the win at the start line. Miller coasted through the lights with a 7.90 while Mauney slowed also on the top end when he pushed out another head gasket. Mauney took the win and moved into the finals with a 6.401.
On the other side of the ladder, Ed Hoover was unable to make the semi final match when he damaged the transmission on the Trussell Motorsports Vette in the quarterfinal single pass. Shannon Jenkins made the best pass of his testing weekend with a strong 6.209 @ 224.21.
The finals of the Pro Mod class was rather anti-climatic when both finalists realized that engine damage to both cars would prevent them from making the 6pm curfew at the Darlington drag way.
In a coin flip, Shannon Jenkins won the monetary purse and Tommy Mauney won the Wally for the Prockish Motorsports team from Alaska.
Sunday update #2
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| Jim Halsey lost a tough battle to Tommy Mauney. . |
(2-22-2004) - The 2nd round of Pro Stock offered
some additional confusion when Brian Gahm and Robert Patrick faced
off.
After the burn out, Gahm had an air hose connection come loose and
was unable to stage, leaving Patrick with a single pass. But he
left before the tree was activated and received no times for his
effort.
Elijah Morton and Doug Kirk managed a side-by-side pass but Kirk’s 6.579 trailed Morton as they crossed the finish line. As he has done for the 4th straight pass, Morton posted a 6.40. The 6.482 time by Morton again thrilled the Sunday crowd and gave them their money’s worth.
The finals for Pro Stock will pit the Ford of Patrick against Morton’s Mustang.
Pro Mod completed the 2nd round with a stunner. Shannon Jenkins, in his nitrous Camaro, defeated Scotty Cannon’s Studebaker on a hole shot. Jenkins’ 6.281 bested the quicker 6.245 of Cannon. Jenkins stated: “Neither of us were ready for the light. We have been working on trying to figure out the track and chasing problems so hard that were just weren’t ready”. In reference to the hole shot, Cannon said: “We both had our problems, I just had a bigger problem”.
Ed Hoover had a single pass and launched hard with a 1.003 60-foot time and 4.04 at the 1/8 mile. Hoover slowed immediately as a result damage to the transmission. The damage will prevent Hoover from advancing to the semi finals, giving Jenkins a free ride to the finals.
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| Elijah Morton advanced to the finals of Pro Stock. |
On the other side of the ladder, Tommy Mauney and Jim Halsey had a pedal fest with Mauney sliding across the finish line first with a 6.761. Halsey who matched Mauney slide for slide during the run, slowed to a 9.675.
Steve Miller in a single pass, posted a consistent 6.65 @ 204 mph. Miller will advance to the semi finals to face Tommy Mauney.
So that sets up the semi final this way:
Steve Miller vs Tommy Mauney
Shannon Jenkins with a bye
When asked if he would just take the light and move on into the
finals, Jenkins replied: “We are still in a testing mode and
there is no better time to keep testing that with a bye run”.
Sunday Update #1
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| A crewmember for Elijah Morton leaps for joy with his 6.4-second run. |
(2-22-2004) - Sunday elimination runs weren’t allowed to
start until after noon due to local restrictions. Teams were very
anxious to get underway and take advantage of the wonderful conditions.
The adjusted air was 250 feet with a track temperature of 85 degrees
and ambient air of 54 degrees.
Several of the teams chose not to participate in the eliminations
due to breakage or were satisfied with the testing results from
the rest of the event.
Pro Mods came to the lanes first with a lot of singles due to bye runs as a result of missing qualifiers.
Steve Miller had 6.6098 @ 207.61 in the Twin turbo S10 Chevy (single
pass)
Jim Halsey posted the best time in the first session. 6.258 @ 221.40
Dan Parker in the lane beside Halsey shook and coasted to an 11.74
Tommy Mauney, repaired from the fire on Saturday, launched but shook
and lifted. 10.922 (single pass)
Ed Hoover blew the tires away immediately. 14.70 (single pass)
Scotty Cannon had severe shake and shut off before 330. 10.126 (single
pass)
Shannon Jenkins staged but had a problem with his nitrous system.
Having taken the light on a single pass, Jenkins advances.
2nd round pairings:
Miller with a single
Halsey vs Mauney
Hoover with a single
Cannon vs Jenkins
Pro Stock had 6 contestants remaining for eliminations. Elijah Morton with the best qualifying time drew the bye. Robert Patrick had a bye by default when Bryon Durham failed to return.
Doug Kirk and Bert Jackson paired and created a little confusion for the fans. Jackson left very early and left Kirk sitting on the start line until he cleared the finish line, then Kirk launched and posted his best time of the weekend. 6.59 @212.51
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Robert Patrick was fortunate for the bye run when he smoked the tires immediately coasting to the turn off. 22.11
Frank Gugliotta faced Brian Gahm in the next pair. Gahm, who had not been able make a full pass all week during testing and qualifying, final got the car to hook up and posted a 6.57 to a tire shaking Gugliotta and his slowing 7.96
Elijah Morton’s Gary Henry-tuned Mustang continued to astound the Pro Stock world when he ran the last single pass. Morton launched with a little shake, shifted early and still posted the third quickest lap in the history of the class with a 6.470 @ 213.77.
The pairings for the 2nd round:
Morton vs Kirk
Patrick vs Gahm
Kaboom!
(2-21-2004) - Tommy Mauney running the Prockish Motorsports '63 Vette exploded at 1100 feet into the 2nd qualifying run at Darlington Winternationals. Mauney suffered no injuries as a result of the fire. (David Anderson photos)
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Saturday - Final qualifying report
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(2-21-2004) - Several breakages during the bracket program delayed the 3rd Pro qualifier and the air temp dropped to around 55 degrees with a track temp in the 60’s. The two cars of Enoch Love were satisfied with their previous numbers and chose to sit out the final session of Pro Stock.
Elijah Morton wanted to prove to the others in attendance that
he could duplicate his previous 6.40 pass. Running a 6.497 almost
equaled his first round numbers. No change in qualifying occurred
after the final session.
3rd qualifying numbers:
Morton – 6.497
Kirk – 13.004
Gugliotta – 6.57
Gahm – lifted
Patrick – broke
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Seven cars will be in the Pro Stock eliminations
The number of fans in the stands seemed to triple as the Pro Mod cars were called to the lanes, but the start was not what Steve Miller wanted. The twin turbo truck had a tremendous launch and shifted gear and sent drive train parts all over the track. That was the 4th drive shaft sacrificed thus far in the pro classes. Many of the Pro Mod cars decided to sit out the last session. Tommy Mauney will be able to make the eliminations tomorrow. Apparently the serious looking explosion was nothing more than a burned piston and a head gasket pushed out. While impressive to see, the damage was minimal.
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| Tommy Mauney will be back in action on Sunday. This is the damage incurred in his second day explosion. |
Mitch Stott wrestled the #1 spot back from Ed Hoover who set out the session. Stott running a single pass in the left lane left with a 1.01 60-foot time, 4.01 1/8 mile, and 6.136 ¼ mile.
Jim Halsey had a deuces will run, posting 6.222 @ 222.22. This
is Halsey’s career best time.
Mike Castellana ran 6.38
Dan Parker shook and coasted to 11.44
Shannon Jenkins’ 6.283 was his best effort of the weekend
Tim O’Hare experienced quite a lot of engine smoke at the
top end and lifted for a 8.099
Scotty Cannon had his Stude dialed in for a kill. Rotating the earth
with a .955 60-foot time, Cannon showed the crowd both sides of
the car two times before he lifted at 400 feet and put 7.457 on
the scoreboard.
Fifteen cars will be on the ladder for tomorrow’s eliminations.
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Saturday - Update #2
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(2-21-2004) - As the sun began to set behind the twin towers of the Darlington Dragway, the second session of Pro qualifying began. The adjusted air was now 1200-feet with the track cooling a little to 78 degrees and ambient air at 68 degrees. At the completion of the Pro Stock passes, Elijah’s 1st round pass of 6.49 still claimed the number one spot. Bert Jackson improved with a 6.511 and moved into the provisional 2nd place. Frank Gugliotta did not improve in this session and his first pass was bumped to the 3rd slot.
Times for the 2nd qualifier:
Brian Gahm had severe shake and clicked it by 100 feet
Elijah Morton moved around a lot in the middle of the pass and slowed
to 6.52, which would have been a world record at this time last
year.
Doug Kirk also had shake slowing to 7.28
Robert Patrick – 6.912
Bert Jackson – 6.511
Frank Gugliotta – 6.578
Byron Durham – 9.492
While most eyes were watching the developing war between Cannon and Stott, Gilbert, South Carolina’s Ed Hoover proved to the crowd that he is willing to make the war a threesome. Mitch Stott had planned to sit out the second session and was on the sidelines as Cannon came to the line in the first pair. Cannon moved around a lot and was near the centerline at the top but kept his foot on the floor to post a 6.184 @ 228.60. The next pair had Jim Halsey and Ed Hoover matched. Hoover left the crowd with their mouths hanging open when a perfect pass lit up the board with 6.167 @ 228.13.
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Times for the 2nd qualifier:
Kelly Martin – 7.00
Scotty Cannon – 6.184
Ed Hoover – 6.167
Jim Halsey – 9.44
Dan Parker – Broke
Mike Castellana – 8.921
Tim O’Hare – 653.5
Eddie Ware – 12.478
Steve Miller – 6.652
Shannon Jenkins – 9.753
Tommy Mauney – 6.230
Dan Parker in a re-run – 9.764
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Saturday Update #1
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(2-21-2004) - There was a noticeably different atmosphere at Darlington as the crisp morning air drifted through the pits early Saturday morning. The drivers and crewmembers knew this was the first time this year that the numbers would actually count toward competition. After a couple of hours of ET bracket time trials, the first Pro Qualifying session began when the seven attending Pro Stock cars pulled into the staging lanes.
The first pair of Elijah Morton and Bert Jackson provided the biggest thrill of the entire weekend to this point. Jackson slowed early and coasted through the beams while in the left lane, Morton sailed through the lights with his career best time of 6.491 @ 212.51. Morton and crew chief Gary Henry were both ecstatic with the performance but knew the number could have been better. According to Morton, the number was affected a little when the car went over the bump near the end of the left lane.
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Track conditions for the first run: 1400 feet adjusted air, 85 degrees track temp., Air temp 70 degrees.
The numbers from the first Pro session are:
1 – Elijah Morton – 6.491
2 – Frank Gugliotta – 6.532
3 – Bert Jackson – 7.169 – lifting early after
some shake
4 – Bryon Durham – 7.26 – Nice pass for the 700
cubic inch Mini Mountain motor
5 - Doug Kirk – 8.78 – very loose early
6 – Robert Patrick – 9.23 – very loose beside
Kirk and they almost kissed in the center at 660 feet.
7 – Brian Gahm – 12.54 – shook immediately and
coasted through.
In Pro Mod, the anticipated year-long battle between Mitch Stott and Scotty Cannon is shaping up to be better than anyone’s expectations. Yesterday, after Cannon posted a .988 60-time to be the best at that time, Stott made the first full pass of the test session with a 6.23. Today’s 6.173 @ 228.71 pass by Stott put him in first place at the end of the 1st qualifying round. Cannon countered with a 6.218 @227.50
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Cannon’s pass was somewhat interesting because it bogged at the launch and suffered severe shake, taking both tires of the ground at 660 feet, but still landed him in 2nd place.
The numbers for the first Pro Mod session:
1 – Mitch Stott – 6.173
2 – Scotty Cannon – 6.218
3 – Tommy Mauney – 6.262
4 – Ed Hoover – 6.287
5 – Shannon Jenkins – 6.404
6 – Mike Castellana – 6.579
7 – Steve Miller – 6.639
8- Steve Cossis – 7.02
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The remaining cars that made passes:
Eddie Ware
Michael Martin
Greg Jenkins
Jim Halsey
Tim O’Hare
Dan Parker
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FRIDAY - Friday Update #2
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| Robert Patrick rolled into Darlington after testing in Bradenton earlier in the week. |
(2-20-2004) - Robert Patrick and Elijah Morton proved to be tops in Mountain Motor Pro Stock in the final session of testing on Friday. Finally making full passes after collecting data most of the day, both drivers piloted their Fords to 6.52 passes.
The top Pro Mod pass continued to be the 6.23 of Mitch Stott posted earlier in the day. The later session did not yield any better times or full passes.
Cannon was in the pits looking at some minor crack damage to the carbon fiber body above the wheels apparently caused by tire shake.
Enoch Love, owner of the Bert Jackson driven Cavalier, also had a second car driven by Bryon Durham. Love ended up with the second car in an odd way. In order to purchase a back up motor to the one that ran a 6.48 in Bradenton recently, Love had to also take the car that housed the motor. Love gave the back up a new name since he called it a pain in the butt until he can get the new Chevrolet-style Hemi Heads. The new moniker is Hemi-roid.
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| Brian Gahm was on hand in Darlington preparing for his title defense.. |
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| Elijah Morton's Quote of the Weekend - Referring to tireshake, "“I have a diaper on the motor and one on the tranny. The way this thing has been leaving, I think I need a diaper on me.” |
FRIDAY -Friday Update #1
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| Mitch Stott ran the only full ¼ mail pass. 6.23 @ 227mph |
(2-20-2004) - Sunny skies and a long line of cars
streaming into the track opened the second day of testing in preparation
for Saturday’s qualifying and eliminations.
All of the cars seemed to be satisfied to run the 1/8-mile and collect
data.
Following is a list of drivers and times in the mid day session:
Ronnie Humphrey – 500” ProStock – 1.03 60-foot,
7.08 @ 194 mph.
Mike Castellana – ProMod – 1.04 60-foot, 4.15 1/8 mile
Chris Wooten – S/Pro – 6.007 ¼ mile
Matt Smith –Out Law Pro Street bike – 7.19 @ 199mp
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| Brian Gahm was witnessed filling his radiator with a coffee pot. Caffeine is apparently the secret ingredient that tech hasn’t been able to find. |
Mitch Stott – ProMod – 1.03 60-foot
Eddie Ware - ProMod – 1.03 60-foot
Shannon Jenkins – ProMod – 1.03 60-foot
Elijah Morton – Pro Stock – 1.01 60-foot
Sean Gann – PSB – 7.20 @ 181 mph
Scott Ray – Pro Mod - 1.02 60-foot breaking the drive shaft
after the launch lifted the wheels 3 feet into the air.
Mike Castellana – Pro Mod – 1.05 60-foot
Steve Cossis – Pro Mod – 1.05 60-foot, 4.21 1/8 mile
Phillip Keller - Pro Mod – 1.05 60-foot
Jim Halsey – Pro Mod - .998 60-foot, 4.04 @ 181mph 1/8 mile
Brian Gahm – Pro Stock – 1.02 60-foot - launched right
and shut it down
Doug Kirk – Pro Stock – 1.01 60-foot – carbon
copy of Gahm’s pass
Shannon Jenkins – Pro Mod - 1.02 60-foot, 4.20 @ 170.74 1/8
mile - the best pass so far by Jenkins
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| Scotty Cannon had the best 60-foot time in Pro Mod with .988. |
Scotty Cannon – Pro Mod-1.05 60-foot.
Eddie Ware - Pro Mod - .991 60-foot, 4.04 @ 174 mph
Ed Hoover – Pro Mod - .988 60-foot. Hoover with the best 60-foot
time of the week so far. But at 330-foot Hoover was drifting to
the centerline and lifted. Only 4.80 at the 1/8
Mitch Stott – Pro Mod – 1.01 60-foot, 4.08 1/8 mile,
6.23 @ 227mph for the first full pass for the day.
Sean Gann – Outlaw Pro Street - 7.62 @ 178 mph
Mike Castellana – Pro mod – launched hard to left and
lifted after a 1.01 60-foot
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| Scott Ray launched hard but shattered the drive shaft leaving shards for 300 feet |
Tim Ohare – Pro Outlaw – 6.577 @ 212mph
Ronnie Humphrey – Pro Stock – 7.12 mph
Matt Smith – PSB – 7.35 @ 179.5
Brian Gahm – Pro Stock – 1.01 60-foot
Doug Kirk – Pro Stock – 1.00 60-foot
Elijah Morton – Pro Stock – 1.02 60-foot, 4.31 @ 165
1/8 mile
Shannon Jenkins – Pro Mod – 1.01 60-foot, 4.11 1/8 mile
Scotty Cannon – Pro Mod - .988 6-foot then sideways at 330
before lifting
Eddie Ware – Pro Mod – 1.01 60-foot, 4.08 1/8, 6.35
@ 192mph
Ed Hoover – Pro Mod - .995 60-foot, 4.03 @180 mph 1/8
Steve Cossis – Pro Mod – 1.05 60-foot, 4.21 1/8
Highlight times for the session:
ProMod
Scotty Cannon and Ed Hoover had .988 60-foot times.
Ed Hoover the best 1/8-mile time of 4.03
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| Mike Castellana made more laps than any car at the track. 7 and counting as the sun settled in the west.. |
Pro Stock:
500” Ronnie Humphrey – 7.08 @ 194mph
800” Doug Kirk 1.00 60-foot
Pro Outlaw:
Tim Ohare – 6.577 @ 212mph
Outlaw Pro Street bike
Matt Smith – 7.19 @ 199mph
Pro Stock Bike
Sean Gann -7.21 @ 181mph
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| Steve Cossis in his narrowed 41 Willys. Approx. 9” were removed from the width.. |
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| Sean Gann and Matt Smith were hot lapping their PSB and Out Law Pro Street bikes. . |
THURSDAY - New Cars and New Paint Highlight Opening Day of Darlington Winter Nationals
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| Causing the most talk of the day was Eddie Ware in a beautifully colored new 41 Willys. |
(2-19-2004) - Heavy rains for several days prior to the Winter Nationals in Darlington left the track very green and teams waiting for others to be the first to try the untested surface. Brilliantly sunny skies greeted the teams, most of whom were sporting new paint and/or new cars.
Taking the lead in laying down the first rubber on the lanes was Scott Ray sporting Ohio Crankshaft on the side of the pearl white 63 Vette. Unfortunately, Ray experienced what would be the theme of the cars until mid afternoon. Immediately Ray launched into severe tire shake. The next several cars also suffered the same fate and left chatter marks on the track.
Dan Parker, in his new Haas 1963 Vette managed to break the drive shaft and shear one of the bolts for the wing supports. Two additional shafts are being built by Gene Fulton and will arrive in time for Parker to continue in the weekend activities. Suffering the same problem was Mike Moran in his Twin Turbo Pro Outlaw entry. Launching hard and immediately heading left, the car slowed quickly and left several pieces of the driveshaft scattered across the lane.
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| Scott Ray became reacquianted with tireshake on Thursday. |
Arnold Greene in the sole Stocker testing on Thursday, made the first full pass as the track surface started to improve. Lifting the tires, Greene made the pass in 10.26 seconds. Subsequent passes by Greene showed improvements with a 10.21 and 10.20.
Blake Wilder, testing a new combination, in his very clean black 1966 Rambler made several 60-foot launches as he worked out the winters bugs.
Causing the most talk of the day was Eddie Ware in a beautifully colored new 41 Willys. While the crowd expressed their appreciation for the paint with a lot of oohs and aaahs, Ware managed to wow the assembled members of other teams with a straight launch and a 4.04 1/8 mile time. Since that was the first pass in the car with the new blown Hemi, Ware clicked it early. Jimmy Rector was assisted the Ware team for the weekend and was standing proudly on the start line as the Willys coasted to the turn off.
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| Dan Parker, in his new Haas 1963 Vette, managed to break the drive shaft. |
Elijah Morton was the only Pro Stock car to attempt any passes on Thursday. In his new silver Cobra Mustang, Morton launched hard and drifted to the left before clicking it and backing up to make a second attempt. The second pass in the totally new vehicle netted a .995 60-foot time before lifting at 330.
Mitch Stott, Jimmy Rector’s primary tuning concern, did not arrive until too late to make any passes in the rapidly cooling air. Other rigs were beginning to line the entrance lanes, promising a much more active day of testing on Friday.
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