SUNDAY - Coughlin wins his first Eagle, keeps Gotham City Racing in the Winner’s Circle

(6-19-2005) - Jeg's Mail Order racer Troy Coughlin earned his first win of the 2005 TLR/AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge series Sunday by beating Zach Barklage at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. The former Pro Stock star who made the switch to Pro Mod this past off-season, needed just seven races behind the wheel of his Ford Shelby Mustang to claim his first Iron Eagle winner’s trophy.

Coughlin fell asleep on the line, following Barklage's .030-second start with a .104-second launch, but he had his opponent reeled in by the first timing cone at 60-feet, flexing his massive horsepower the rest of the run for a car-length victory. The scoreboards showed Coughlin crossing in 6.124 seconds at 231.04 mph to Barklage's 6.262 at 229.00 mph.

"Chuck [Ford, crew chief] and the guys did a great job all weekend," stated Troy. "It feels so good to win and the fact that it's father's day makes it so much sweeter. Meghan and TJ were giving me plenty of encouragement all day. What a great feeling to have on Father's Day. It's a dream come true to win a race for your dad on Father's Day."

Coughlin kept the Gotham city team in the winner’s circle for the fifth straight race. Coughlin’s teammate, Mike Ashley won the previous four races but was unable to attend this event due to family commitments.

In a surprising upset, Joshua Hernandez left the starting line early in his match up against Thomas Patterson. “It was really just the loose nut holding the steering wheel that caused the problem,” Hernandez joked. “ I lost focus while I was staging, saw yellow lights and let go. I was half way down the track when I realized that Patterson wasn’t beside me and looked over to see the win lights in his lane. I realized that the yellow lights I saw were the staging lights and not the starting lights.”

Al Billes failed to repeat his record-setting performances of earlier in the event, his car heading toward the centerline just after the launch, forcing him to lift and give the race to Zach Barklage. Barklage also was the recipient of a winning round gift from veteran Jay Payne in the semi finals. Payne shook the tires hard and wagged the tail of the car down the track, just missing the wall before he lifted, giving the win-lights to Barklage.

Summary of eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 36th annual K&N Filters SuperNationals presented by Advance Auto Parts:

Round 1:

Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '04 Cavalier, Right lane, (0.033) 6.211 229.24 def. Frankie Taylor, Dickinson TX, '58 Corvette, (0.034) 9.058 100.06

Zach Barklage, Lake Ozark MO, '37 Chevy, Left lane, (0.028) 6.213 230.10 def. Mike Bell, Asheboro NC, '66 Mustang, (0.036) 6.216 232.07

Thomas Patterson, Houston TX, '41 Willys, Right lane, (0.485) 9.649 89.65 def. Chip King, Semora NC, '02 Avenger, NT-Left Before Tree

Jay Payne, Ontario CA, '05 Stratus, Right lane, (0.054) 6.091 235.68 def. Glen Kerunsky, Calgary AB, '57 Bel Air, (0.074) 6.156 231.16

Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '67 Mustang, Left lane, (0.121) 6.133 230.21 def. Troy Critchley, Wylie TX, '41 Willys, (0.051) 6.253 226.85

Al Billes, Barrie ON, '53 Corvette, Left lane, (0.056) 6.081 236.63 def. Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda CA, '04 Viper, (0.051) 6.209 227.04

Joshua Hernandez, Conroe TX, '57 Bel Air, Right lane, (0.036) 6.102 230.29 def. Jim Halsey, Street MD, '63 Corvette, (0.050) 6.151 228.19

Joey Martin, Milton FL, '41 Willys, Right lane, (0.067) 6.378 220.19 def. Shelly Payne, Ontario CA, '05 Stratus, (0.075) 6.944 190.62

Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '04 Cavalier, Right lane, (0.033) 6.211 229.24 def. Frankie Taylor, Dickinson TX, '58 Corvette, (0.034) 9.058 100.06

Zach Barklage, Lake Ozark MO, '37 Chevy, Left lane, (0.028) 6.213 230.10 def. Mike Bell, Asheboro NC, '66 Mustang, (0.036) 6.216 232.07

Thomas Patterson, Houston TX, '41 Willys, Right lane, (0.485) 9.649 89.65 def. Chip King, Semora NC, '02 Avenger, NT-Left Before Tree

Jay Payne, Ontario CA, '05 Stratus, Right lane, (0.054) 6.091 235.68 def. Glen Kerunsky, Calgary AB, '57 Bel Air, (0.074) 6.156 231.16

Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '67 Mustang, Left lane, (0.121) 6.133 230.21 def. Troy Critchley, Wylie TX, '41 Willys, (0.051) 6.253 226.85

Al Billes, Barrie ON, '53 Corvette, Left lane, (0.056) 6.081 236.63 def. Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda CA, '04 Viper, (0.051) 6.209 227.04

Joshua Hernandez, Conroe TX, '57 Bel Air, Right lane, (0.036) 6.102 230.29 def. Jim Halsey, Street MD, '63 Corvette, (0.050) 6.151 228.19

Joey Martin, Milton FL, '41 Willys, Right lane, (0.067) 6.378 220.19 def. Shelly Payne, Ontario CA, '05 Stratus, (0.075) 6.944 190.62

Round 2:

T Coughlin, Left lane, (0.109) 6.131 231.32 def. J Martin, (0.053) 6.414 219.40

T Patterson, Left lane, (0.352) 6.126 222.11 def. J Hernandez, NT-Left Before Tree

Z Barklage, Right lane, (0.053) 6.211 231.08 def. A Billes, (0.106) 8.283 113.10

J Payne, Left lane, (0.078) 11.827 87.73 def. M Castellana, (-0.122 foul) 6.311 229.04

Round 3:

Z Barklage, Left lane, (0.020) 6.765 201.49 def. J Payne, (0.085) 11.138 92.93

T Coughlin, Right lane, (0.150) 6.132 231.60 def. T Patterson, (0.228) 6.156 227.69

Round 4:

T Coughlin, Left lane, (0.104) 6.124 231.04 def. Z Barklage, (0.030) 6.262 229.00

Low ET: Al Billes 6.030 seconds
Top Speed: Al Billes 236.92 MPH

SATURDAY - Ashley says, "It was the right thing to do."

(6-19-2005) - What might have been a gut-wrenching decision for even the most seasoned drag racing veteran didn't even rate a second-guess for the defending World Champion Mike Ashley.

Ashley, the current points leader, was faced with the decision of racing in the first round of eliminations to potentially keep a winning streak intact or attend the Bat Mitzvah celebration for his daughter Alexa. He had won four consecutive events to that point.

Ashley went through the scenarios of how he could make it work while tending to the family obligations. He even kept his fingers crossed for rain.

Then Ashley made a decision.

"Racing means nothing to me if my family suffers because of it," Ashley said. "I don't care if I would have stood on the door of the greatest racing record ever, it would have ended on that day. It was the right thing to do."

Ashley's record of consecutive wins ended at five when he failed to show for Saturday evening's first round. Instead he was dancing with Alexa. - Bobby Bennett

 

SATURDAY - Billes breaks through; the streak is broken; one Payne is gone and the Rage is marching on.

(6-18-2005) - As satisfying as it always is to win, Al Billes got more than just a first-round victory when he ran a 6.081 at 236.63 mph to beat Kirk Kuhns in the first round of AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR eliminations Saturday at the K&N Filters NHRA Super Nationals.

In addition to a spot in Sunday's AMS/TLR quarterfinals, Billes (Summit Racing Equipment '53 Corvette) also provided satisfactory back-up runs for his stunning 6.030/236.92 run earlier in the day, giving him both ends of the Pro Mod Challenge performance record and putting him in line for 200 bonus points in the AMS/TLR Cup points battle. Billes will square off with No. 8 qualifier Zach Barklage (Barklage Racing '37 Chevy) when Pro Mod Challenge eliminations resume Sunday.

Up until this weekend, the Pro Mod Challenge records of 6.100 and 236.03, set in Gainesville in March, were both held by Jay Payne. In Englishtown, Payne's wife Shelly put her own name in the record book, running a 6.097 and backing it up with a 6.154 during qualifying. Her record, and No. 1 qualifier status, were short lived, however, thanks to the Billes' monster effort. Provided no other driver can run quicker than 6.030 or faster than 236.92 - and also provide a backup run within 1 percent of any record run - Billes will earn 100 extra AMS/TLR Cup points for each record.

Saturday's second big Pro Mod development involved a racer who wasn't even at the track. Defending Pro Mod Challenge world champion Mike Ashley (Torco Race Fuels '67 Mustang) missed the first round of eliminations to attend his daughter's Bat Mitzvah ceremony on Long Island, putting an end to his unprecedented four-event winning streak. Ashley made one run on Friday, posting a 6.139 that held up for the No. 5 position.

Billes' performance overshadowed a day that largely favored the underdogs. Five lower-qualified drivers won their first-round races, including No. 10 Troy Coughlin, No. 11 Thomas Patterson, No. 12 Mike Castellana (the lone driver of a nitrous-oxide-injected car still remaining in the field), No. 13 Payne, and Chicago runner-up Joey Martin, a non-qualifier who was inserted into the field in the No. 15 spot to replace Shannon Jenkins. Martin made the most of his second chance, upsetting tire shake victim Shelly Payne in their first-round race, 6.37 to 6.94.

Coughlin was all smiles Saturday night after winning the first round of eliminations in his Jeg's Mail Order Ford Mustang. After qualifying 10th with a 6.183, 229.08, Coughlin scored a mild upset against first-round foe Troy Critchley, running a great 6.133, 230.21 against Critchley's 6.253, 226.85.

"I'm really excited to get the first round under my belt," Troy said. “That's always the toughest round because you really want to get a round win to feel like the weekend was successful at some level. My dad is here and tomorrow's Father's Day, so it would be awesome to win. I'm so happy we're starting to run so well every race."

In other action, the Dr. Moon’s Rage team marched down the track and never looked back – supercharged Joshua Hernandez besting nitrous-boosted Jim Halsey. At the top end, Hernandez wasn’t sure if he had won his heat when he saw Halsey’s team celebrating around their ’68 Camaro. Hernandez was unaware that they had just run their quickest-ever run in a nitrous-boosted car – a 6.151, 228.19 loosing effort.

Hernandez said, “I thought I had red-lit or something because they were so happy – slappin’ each other on the back and high-five’n everyone. I had to ask the safety guys ‘I did win, right?’” Yes, Josh, you did.

Pairings For Sunday's Quarterfinals
(qualifying position in parentheses; driver on top has lane choice)

(1) Al Billes
(8) Zach Barklage

(13) Jay Payne
(12) Mike Castellana

(10) Troy Coughlin
(alt) Joey Martin

(3) Joshua Hernandez
(11) Thomas Patterson

 

Billes Saves the Best for Last; Runs Blazing 6.03 in Final Qualifier

(6-18-2005) - Canadian Al Billes launched his ’53 Corvette into the top qualifying position with the quickest-ever AMS Pro Modified elapsed time of 6.030 seconds.

The current record was just set last night by Shelly Payne at 6.097 and backed up by her 6.154 second run today. To back up his record and set it officially, Billes will have to run 6.09 – faster than the record Payne just set.

“This is the first time we’ve really run this car to these rules,” Billies said. “We ran in Houston, but we still had the car a bit heavy."

Billes' best previous run this weekend was the 6.20 he ran in the second round of qualifying last night.

“We are just making the changes the car wants, and it still was a little soft at the beginning of the run. During the run it felt like a 6.20 – like a dog. I’m impressed. All the work we did over the winter payed off. We worked our tails off testing,” he said.

As AMS Champion Mike Ashley says – “You get success when preparation meets opportunity,” and Billes proved him right.

While on the topic of Mr. Ashley, his ’67 Mustang was notably absent in the staging lanes for the final round. Ashley is celebrating his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and would not race in qualifying today. Chuck Ford and the entire Gotham City team were seen praying for rain so Mike could attempt to keep his winning streak alive.

In the event of rain, eliminations would begin tomorrow, letting Ashley keep his No. 5 position and pair him up with Mike Castellana in the first round. If the first round of eliminations run as scheduled and Ashley doesn’t show, No. 17 qualifier Frankie Taylor will be seeded into Ashley’s position.

In what they thought would be a battle for No. 1, Shelly Payne and Joshua Hernandez finished with exactly the same E.T.: 6.154 seconds – good enough for Payne to set the official AMS/TLR record.

When asked about the record setting runs, AMS/TLR series director, Kenny Nowling said, “We all knew these cars would run like this with the rules we made. I know that we will definitely see a five-second run soon – maybe even this weekend.”

Final qualifying order

1 Al Billes 6.030 236.92
2 Shelly Payne 6.097 234.17
3 Joshua Hernandez 6.098 231.48
4 Glen Kerunsky 6.135 231.12
5 Mike Ashley 6.139 232.31
6 Chip King 6.148 233.72
7 Troy Critchley 6.166 228.92
8 Zach Barklage 6.169 229.39
9 Mike Bell 6.171 231.36
10 Troy Coughlin 6.183 229.08
11 Thomas Patterson 6.193 228.31
12 Mike Castellana 6.203 229.74
13 Jay Payne 6.206 234.13
14 Jim Halsey 6.216 227.15
15 Shannon Jenkins 6.302 198.35
16 Kirk Kuhns 6.303 222.69

*17 Frankie Taylor 6.322 223.91 will be seeded into the No. 5 position should Ashley not show and eliminations run as scheduled.

FRIDAY - Payne obliterates E-town records with a 6.097; leads first day qualifying

(6-17-2005) – What happens when you combine incredible atmospheric conditions and a sleek body style? If you’re Shelly Payne, that combination will yield a top qualifying position at the NHRA SuperNationals and do it in style. In Friday’s second qualifying session, the former Top Fuel dragster driver blasted out a 6.097, 234.17 behind the wheel of her Valvoline-sponsored Dodge Stratus, improving from her earlier pass of 6.415.

In less than the blink of an eye, Josh Hernandez drove Tommy Lipar’s 1957 Chevy to the second spot with a mark of 6.098, 231.41. One session earlier, Hernandez recorded a 6.164.

The top three runs of the day were all recorded during Friday’s second session, with Canadian Glen Kerunsky being the third with a pass of 6.135, 231.12. His previous attempt was an aborted effort.

Probably the most interesting run scenario of the day belonged to points leader Mike Ashley. The defending series champion chartered a private plane from his home in Long Island, NY, and flew into the adjoining private airport at Old Bridge Raceway. One hour later he drove his Shelby Mustang to the top spot for the opening session with a 6.139, 232.31.

The thing that makes Ashley’s actions interesting is the fact that shortly after the run, he had to fly home again to prepare for his daughter Alexa’s Bat Mitzvah on Saturday. Ashley is expected to fly back to the track later Saturday for the first round of eliminations.

Chip King rounded out the top half of the field with a 6.148, 233.72.

With 19 cars making the first round call, three are nitrous entries and all are firmly qualified. The bump spot belongs to Troy Critchley with a 6.381, 184.07.

Mike Castellana is the quickest nitrous entry with a 6.203, 229.74.

Pro Mod Challenge’s First Half Wraps Up at SuperNationals

(6-17-2005) - For followers of Pro Mod racing, “four” and “16” are the only numbers that matter as the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR series closes the first half of its 2005 season at the K&N Filters NHRA Supernationals.

The numbers in question represent Mike Ashley’s current winning streaks of four events and 16 rounds, both of which are unprecedented figures in the five seasons that Pro Mod Challenge racing has been featured at NHRA national events. Ashley has not lost an eliminations race since April 10, when he was ousted in the quarterfinals in Houston. Since then, he’s won in Las Vegas, Belle Rose, La., Bristol,
and Chicago, opened up a massive lead in the AMS/TLR Cup points standings, and put together an unheard-of string of 11 straight runs in the 6-teens during eliminations.

“Four in a row is a big deal, and I’m very happy that we were the team to do it first,” Ashley said. “But every race is different and everyone starts from the same place. When we get to Englishtown, the score will be zero to zero: it doesn’t matter how well we’ve been doing or how far behind anyone else is. Every event is a new ballgame.”

Unlike most events, Ashley’s focus will not be entirely upon the track this weekend. His oldest daughter has a bat mitzvah ceremony scheduled for Saturday on Long Island, the same day that the first round of AMS/TLR eliminations will be run at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Although the distance from the ceremony to the track isn’t great — at least by typical drag racing travel standards —

Ashley says his family will come out on top of any scheduling conflicts.

“I’ll for sure run two qualifying laps on Friday and I’ll for sure
skip Saturday’s [third and final] qualifying session,” said Ashley. “I’ll try to make it back for Saturday night’s [eliminations] session, but it all comes down to a matter of timing. If the timing is right, you’ll see me there; if not, I just won’t be there. My family obligations are very important to me; not under any conditions will I miss one second of my daughter’s ceremony.”

The Pro Mod Challenge kicks off with two qualifying sessions on Friday (3:30 and 6 p.m.) and continues with a final session on Saturday (2 p.m.). Eliminations begin Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

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FRIDAY, June 17, 2005

Pro Mod Qualifying Session 3:30 PM
Pro Mod Qualifying Session 6:00 PM
Secure Track 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, June 18, 2005

Pro Mod Qualifying Session 2:00 PM
Pro Mod - Round 1 4:30 PM
Secure Track 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, June 19, 2005
Pit and Spectator Gates Open 9:00 AM
Start Engines - Pre-Race Ceremonies 10:00 AM
Final Eliminations 11:00 AM
Secure Event 4:30 PM

Schedule subject to change
NOTE: Local ordinances require that no race car engines be operated prior to 10:00 AM any day of the event