ENCORE: DUANE NICHOLS AND THE MAGIC OF THE USSC
Originally published March 2010
When the Top Sportsman Cars Played on the Big Stage …
Duane Nichols understood the value of the Pro Modifieds before they bore the name or professional status. His understanding, along with the power of
promotion will forever seal his place in the history of the volatile doorslammer division.
In 1989, the fast Top Sportsman cars were splashed over every magazine devoted to hardcore drag racing and even a few that weren’t. However, unless you lived in the southeastern portion of the United States or followed the IHRA tour religiously, you’re chances of seeing these cars up close in person were slim to none.
“There was demand from both track operators and fans for that kind of thing at that time period of our history in drag racing,” said Nichols. “The Pro Mod thing was so hot for a time period there that everybody was screaming for it.”
Nichols’ USSC [United States Super Circuit] debuted in 1989, almost two decades before a similar Pro Stock series toured the country. The Pro Stockers were Nichols’ inspiration.
“It was the same thing,” Nichols confirmed. “In those days there was such a demand for those kinds of cars it was just a natural. I knew it worked back then with Pro Stocks and I was convinced the time was right for Pro Mod.”
Nichols chose to debut his first event in April at Maryland International Raceway on a Saturday, with a second event scheduled the next day in Englishtown, NJ.
Both events, Nichols proclaims, were rousing successes.
“The fan response was absolutely phenomenal,” Nichols said. “It was almost like a “Woodstock” of drag racing. The fans were so involved and so enthused. They were on their feet the entire night and whenever the Pro Mod circuit wasn't racing they were in the pits with them. They were superstars to these fans.”
Bill Kuhlmann, the first doorslammer driver to run 200 miles per hour, was a participant in those first two events. Working with Nichols on the UDRA tour, he believed immediately in the value of the USSC.
“When you are a kid and you watched the different trends in drag racing and how people flocked to watch them and paid to do so, we realized that we had made that grade,” said Kuhlmann of the USSC experience. “We were finally at the point, where the people are who were our idols when we were young.”
Nichols understood the USSC enabled these “professional” sportsmen to conduct themselves as true professionals.
“If you talk to some of those original guys I'm sure they'll tell you the same thing I am telling you – there was something magic about it,” Nichols said. “They got a taste of what professional racing is really all about.”
On those two nights, the finest of the finest in fast doorslammer racing battled it out before packed grandstands and race fans, many of whom couldn’t get enough of these on the edge of out of control cars.
The Budds Creek race was won by Rob Vandergriff who beat “Animal” Jim Feurer in the final round of the Chicago Style events. The next day, newcomer Mike Ashley not only beat Vandergriff in the final round, but also established the fastest doorslammer speed ever at 211.26 miles per hour; nearly five miles per hour faster than anyone had ever run in this style of racing.
Amazingly, Nichols had told Ashley earlier in the week he couldn’t run the series because he already had enough cars.
“Yeah, I told him that I would just enter the bracket portion of the events and embarrass all of his cars,” said Ashley, who admitted he didn’t have a reputation in the class yet.
Ashley was given a place in the show due to breakage among the regulars.
Nichols admits he witnessed a star being born and the new kid provided a tremendous promotional shot in the arm for his fledgling series. The brash,
confident and talented 23-year old from Long Island, had more of an entourage than a proven reputation.
“I will never forget the first time he showed up,” recalled Nichols. “He pulled in there with his whole family. They had this unbelievable truck and trailer. They set up tables and put the tablecloths down; brought out the beers and champagne. His parents and family arrived in fur coats dressed to the tilt. That put him on the map overnight, that event.”
Combining the magic of all the USSC players with the new kid’s outlandish performances did well for the reputation of the tour.
“I think this was part of the magic,” Nichols said. “The fans could really see that this deal was for real. These guys were on kill. They were there to win. You could see it. You didn't have to be involved. You could be a casual spectator and feel it in the air – that these guys were there to win.”
Nichols was quick to point out the USSC was so much more for the race fans than just a Pro Modified equivalent to the early Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Funny Cars in the 1970s.
“I don’t think the Coca Cola Cavalcade ever quite had that magic,” Nichols said. “The draw on the Cavalcade of Stars was placing as much as anything to the track operators. It was a way of getting Funny Cars in an organized manner. From a track operator's standpoint they were able to get the best cars in the business in an organized form with a guarantee they'd really be there.
“The difference is, the feeling that the fans had towards these cars, it was like a rock concert. These drivers were like rock stars to them.”
USSC participant Wall Bell felt like a rock star. The early Super Stock pioneer ran a 200 mile per hour 1966 Chevelle and admittedly brought 600 t-shirts to the first USSC weekend. He sold 200 the first night and by the time he made his first run the next day in Englishtown, he was sold out.
“By the time we pulled into Englishtown, it was like ‘Holy S**, here comes the circus,” Bell added, concurring the rock star aura was present. “It was really special. I sold a huge amount of t-shirts that weekend. Unbelievable … and if I can say so, it was a great show.”
The USSC ran until 1994 when Nichols believes the movement had run its course. The cars were going straight, and repeatable. They had gone so high tech they had taken on the resemblance of bracket cars instead of Wiley Coyotes straddling rockets.
“The technology of the cars started to change,” said Nichols. “They started to become real race cars. They lost the pizzazz they once had – with the wheels off the ground. The wild cars that they were in the beginning and the variety, they starting losing the variety.”
And for Nichols, the USSC was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I believe there was still a demand for it when we ended the series,” Nichols said. “I was still getting requests from track operators. But, I really felt down deep that it had run its course and that it was going to go out on a high.”
Nichols remains high on the memories to this day.
More USSC Memories Courtesy of Jon Asher ...
