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IHRA Hooters Funny Car

Richmond - Final

Rob Atchison wins AC Delco Nationals

“Back to Back” IHRA Funny Car Champion Rob Atchison won the recently completed IHRA AC Delco Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in recording setting fashion. Qualifying number one in each of the 3 qualifying sessions Atchison equaled his track ET record during the third qualifier and set a new MPH record at 5.762 seconds at 243.11 mph which ended up as for low ET and Top Speed of the meet. Atchison was low ET each and every round throughout the event beginning with a 5.859 at 239.40 mph against Belinda Green-King in round one. Round two Atchison lead the Erickson Manufacturing Pontiac past Texan Thomas Carter with a 5.813 at 239.95 mph before defeating Indiana’s Terry McMillen and the Instigator in the final with a 5.881 at 238.34 to McMillen’s 6.06- 235.35 pass. The victory coupled with Mark Thomas’s first round loss enabled Atchison to take over the points lead by 48 points heading into the Mopar Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend June 10-12. The eleventh career “Ironman” breaks the tie with Bob Newberry and moves Rob into sole possession of fourth place in career IHRA Funny Car victories. "The car has a lot of performance," Atchison said. "It goes out and runs a number consistently. That is just a reflection of the work my father has put in over the winter and how hard the crew works. It is nice to get back on top of the points. This Memorial Day weekend was great for my hometown of London and London sports fans with the London Knights JR ‘A’ Hockey Team winning the National Championship and the Memorial Cup coupled up with our victory at the AC Delco Nationals. Atchison Racing receives valuable support from sponsor Erickson Manufacturing and Associate Sponsors Atchison Machine Service Inc., MacMaster Chevrolet, Pennzoil Lubricants, Performance Racing News, TEAM Truck Centres, Tool & Cutter Supply, Ultimate Touch Collision and Custom and West Coast Transportation. Ironman.

Richmond - Pre-race

Mike Comella Makes Comeback In Virginia

Funny Car pilot Mike Comella will make his return to the
Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series at the upcoming AC Delco Nationals in
Richmond, Va.

After sitting on the sidelines for the 2004 season, the 42-year-old, out of
Mentor, Ohio will debut Mickey Thompson as the main sponsor of his Chevy
Corvette ride.

After losing the body during the Epping race in 2003, Comella made a
triumphant comeback two races later in a borrowed car. Electing to forgo the
2004 season, he is back with the hopes of picking up where he left off, as
one of the top 10 cars in the field.

“Our first year out in 2002 was far too easy,” Comella said. “We couldn’t do
anything wrong, and we were fortunate enough to finish in the 7th position
for the season. The next year was the total opposite. We couldn’t do
anything right. We struggled all year, and when the body blew off the car in
Epping, we knew we had to take some time to get back on the right track.”

During the 2004 season, Comella spent his time tediously put together what
he hopes will be a winning combination. Opting away from the Dodge Avenger body he had run in the past, Comella instead, switched camps and went with the Corvette. Other changes were made in the engine combination that are expected to provide him with the horsepower needed to land a spot in the new 8-car field.

“Frank Papp, Mike and all the guys at Mickey Thompson have been a great
support in getting us back on the track,” Comella said. “I cannot thank them
enough, and we are proud to be sporting the Mickey Thompson look for this
season. Steve Sanchez from Total Flow has also been a crucial part of our
effort. Both of these companies have great products and we are thrilled to
have them on-board.”

Behind the wheel of the Mickey Thompson / Total Flow – backed Chevy, Comella made his maiden voyage at a recent WAR race in Martin, Mich.

“We had no idea what to expect and just wanted to get a few test laps on the
car,” Comella explained. “It was great to get back in the car, and well
worth the wait. We didn’t rotate the earth, but we got an idea of what we
needed to do from a tune-up perspective.”

Comella and crew will have three more opportunities to break into the tight
Funny Car field when professional qualifying for the AC Delco Nationals
begins on May 27th.

Eliminations are slated to kick-off on Saturday May 28th.

Martin (WAR) - Pre-Race

McMillen Returns To Defend Thunder Nationals Title

Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car powered by TORCO Race Fuels returns to the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan to defend his Thunder National title. The May 14 event is sanctioned by World Alcohol Racers (WAR) and sponsored by TORCO Racing Fuels, the official racing fuel of the IHRA and WAR.

"We are expecting an all-out assault, a war and we're not taking prisoners! We expect to leave Martin victorious," explained McMillen. The Thunder National WAR will be re-televised on ESPN2 and Inside Drag Racing. "The U.S. 131 Motorsports Park is an outstanding racing facility and this event brings out some of the toughest competition in Alcohol Funny Car. We're excited to defend our title, not only for the competition and the fans, but also to support our sponsors and their strong relationship with this facility. We consider this facility to be our home track." The 2004 Thunder National win propelled McMillen to a semi-final appearance later that season at the IHRAs 23rd Annual TORCO Racing Fuels Northern Nationals and a career best 3rd place points finish on the IHRA circuit.

The U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, one of the nations premiere drag racing facilities, announced earlier this year it would become official distributors of TORCO Racing Fuels and Amalie Oil. "I've always said that the Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team has some of the best partners in the business, this just solidifies that," said McMillen. "This means all year long racers in Martin can get the same quality TORCO Racing Fuel and Amalie Oil that we use in the InstiGator."

The Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team races with top tiered, high performance companies like Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets, NGK Spark Plugs, MSD, Performance Graphics, Powershield Coatings and Crane Cams.

Tickets for the Thunder Nationals are available from World Alcohol Racers (http://www.worldalcoholracers.com) or the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park (http://us131motorsportspark.com).

Rockingham - Post-Race

Mark Thomas takes the points lead at the ROCK!

ROCKINGHAM, NC - The Ethanol Dodge Avenger of the Mark Thomas Racing Team headed to The 35th Annual IHRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol with renewed confidence and a determination to “have fun drag racing!” Thomas was the #2 qualifier with an ET of 5.825 seconds at 240.68 mph, set the event top speed at 241.37 mph, and took another Iron man home by repeating his win from last year as he defeated Melinda Green-King in this events final round of eliminations.

Thomas was strapped tightly into the Ethanol Avenger right behind Rob Atchison and could see the violent tire shake that Atchison experienced in the first round of eliminations. “My heart just started pounding!” said Thomas “as I thought about the huge window of opportunity that had just opened for us to gain points on Rob.” Thomas has a lot of respect for Atchison, but admits that if Rob gives him an opportunity to take points…he’s going to do it, and he knows that Rob will take any points Thomas gives away.

Thomas defeated Terry Monroe with a 5.801 at 241.37 mph in the first round of eliminations. Advancing to round two and eliminating Chris Foster with a 5.817 at 240.98 mph. Thomas then claimed the winner’s title after his victory over Green-King with a 5.859 at 240.38 mph. in the final round. The Ethanol Dodge Avenger ran flawlessly pass after pass. “We never had the heads off the car all weekend” said Mark, “How cool is that!” Thomas and his crew had a great time in Rockingham. Having taken over the points lead for the 2005 IHRA Pro Funny Car World Championship, Thomas and the entire crew are looking forward to the next race in Virginia to do their best to try and keep that lead.

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