MONDAY NOTEBOOK

And the Winner Said – “We were running good all weekend, and it’s hard being bridesmaid here at Indy last year.  I’m so proud to be here to represent my guys this year and hold this trophy up for them.  They worked hard all weekend.  This is Indy it’s great.  It’s the big go and I’m glad we went!” – Josh Hernandez

Is it over? – The AMS Pro Mod series today posted an announcement on AMSProMods.com, that if a sponsor agreement is not made by the Las Vegas race, Dave Wood and AMS will back out.  This is not a red flag sent out by AMS or NHRA, just a communication with teams and fans, and the AMS series wanted everyone to know the whole story. 

According to Matthew Brammer, series administrator, “I think it’s important, and it’s been important all year, that we communicate and know what’s going on.  People have to plan, racers have to plan, and teams have to got to do all those things, and that’s critical.  I made a commitment at the beginning of the season to let people know what’s going on.  Dave and I talked, and we both agreed that we have to set a timeline with this; we have to draw a line in the sand.  We’re not going to let it happen like it did last year, not February, January, okay guys now we have a series.  So, what we said and what’s on the AMS Pro Mod site, is Dave has said if we don’t have the funding signed, sealed, and delivered by Las Vegas, which is our last race, he’s going to pull his support of the series. 

“Now, with that said, that is in no way a white flag, we’re not throwing in the towel, there’s nothing like that.  I think that we have some incredibly good things, especially after this weekend.  Things are looking better for next year then they have in a very long time.  We’re talking about a better program; better television, larger purses, and even expanding the races, so the outlook is really positive, and there is a line in the sand so people can plan their rides.  That’s really what the whole point is.”

Go Al Billes – No, Al was not racing at the US Nationals; however, he was tuning three of the four cars left in the semi-finals.  Working with the Canadian powerhouse teams of Raymond Commisso and Tony Pontieri, Billes also took on giving tuning help to Doug Palmer.  Not only did Billes get three cars to the semi’s he tuned Commisso to the No. 1 qualifying spot with a huge 6.01. 

“It’s nice to be racing again, regardless,” said Billes.  “Unfortunately, I’m not able to drive yet, but at least we’re back at the race track.  I enjoy the NHRA and IHRA; we’ve always run both and I enjoy them.  It’s really just great see all the guys doing well.  Taking what we’ve worked on for the last couple years.  If I can’t use it, might as well let some other guys have fun with it.”

It’s a Pro Mod party – Part of what makes AMS Pro Mod racing great is how each race team is like a family.  Drag racing legend Roy Hill also feels the same way.  Although, his team and driver Mike Bell did not go past round one of eliminations, Hill felt the need for a party.  Providing BBQ for everyone all day in his pit area, and hosting an impromptu party, Hill was just excited to be racing the US Nationals. 

Canada in US – The NHRA US Nationals bring out the best racers in the United States, and sometimes the best in other counties.  Toronto native Raymond Commisso went to the final round against Josh Hernandez and the US Nationals could have possibly been won by a Canadian.  Regardless of his hometown location, Commisso showed he just wanted to race the best he could. 

“This whole weekend was absolutely awesome and a dream come true,” said Commisso.  “We qualified No. 1, went a 6.01 and 6.02, we went to the finals, it would have been nice to win, but I’m just as good.  I just happy to be here.  To be in this final round was absolutely amazing to me and my team.  For Al Billes my crew chief, his horsepower, my sponsor Steelback Brewery, Torco Race Fuels, thanks, we’ll do it again next race.”

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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK

Show me the money – In an attempt to raise the purse money in the AMS / RPM Depot Pro Mod Challenge, Rick Stivers put up $10,000 of his own money to enhance the purse during the US Nationals. 

“We were hoping everybody else would chip in,” said Stivers.  “We wanted to just get the purse up for these guys who run every race, and maybe get some harder-hitters.  Nobody else would put up, so we tossed it around and decided to leave it up and leave the purse right here.  After all, this is Indy.”

Rick Stivers is one of the many drivers hoping to go rounds this weekend.  After the third round of qualifying, Stivers is sitting in the No. 6 spot.  He ran a quick 6.114, 233.76 MPH during the third qualifying session. 

What a bad day – Andy McCoy and team has endured a very bad day today at the Mac Tools US Nationals.  The St. Louis area native and local chassis builder first encountered problems earlier in the day during the second qualifying session.  McCoy was at the end of a good run when his parachutes did not deploy sending the driver and his 1957 Chevy Pro Mod into a jump and spin. 

“Everything went fine,” said crew chief Lance Hedrick.  “I don’t know why we hung the laundry out bad like that.  The chute did get wrapped around the wheelie bar.  It’s the first time that has happened [to Andy].”

Although the car spun hard, the team prepared for the third round of qualifying.  The third session is where McCoy had bigger troubles.  Near the end of the run, McCoy’s car burst into flames sending Andy to a local hospital.  Although McCoy did not receive serious injuries, the team reported he will spend the night in the hospital.  

According to Hedrick, “They have him on oxygen treatment.  [The car] broke the four bolts that holds the fuel inlet to the bottom of the fuel pump, which caused the engine to go lean and kick the rods out.  So, we had an oil fire and methanol fire.”

Still trying – Burton Auxier is still struggling to get into a very fast Pro Mod field.  As the lone Nitrous car in attendance, Auxier is hoping to get in on the last qualifying round tomorrow.  Although Auxier was able to improve on his time from yesterday, he still narrowly missed the field.  “It leaves me with Jack,” said Auxier.  “He’s going to tune it up.  We missed the clutch a little bit.  We changed the whole clutch combination, missed it a little bit that time.  I think there’s still a little bit in that.  We’re going to have to tune the motor up a little bit.”

Al Billes power – After an impressive 6.01 run yesterday by Raymond Commisso, he was able to back that up today during the second qualifying session with a 6.02.  Although, he was again the quickest car, his teammate Tony Pontieri in his '57 Bel Air wasn’t far behind him.  Pontieri was the quickest for the third session with a 6.04.  “It feels great,” said Pontieri.  “I cannot take all the credit though.  Al Billes is here tuning for us.  He called me on Monday night after [Norwalk] IHRA, after Raymond won that national event, and said Tony, do you want to go to Indy?  I got quiet for a second, and my wife asked what happened.  I said they invited us to Indy, and she said to go.  So we came into the park here on Thursday, and we were all excited.  The run sheet then came up and Raymond and I were at the front of the field to qualify, I thought this is going to be beautiful.  Let’s do it. 

" I don’t want to give us bad luck, but let’s try something.  We got up there together and both of us let the clutch out, we had the race of our lives.  Doors handle to door handle, all the way down.  He just squeezed me out on the top.  It was like we won the national event, but it was our own little party.  All these guys out here run pretty hard, but like I said, without Al Billes I don’t think we’d be running as hard as are.”

Although the team has been the quickest so far this weekend, they aren’t letting it go to their heads.  Pontieri went on to comment, “Today is the day I whipped everybody’s butt, but it’s going to turn around someday and it will be somebody else.  As much as I give it, I can take it too.  I’m okay with that.  Either way, I’m excited.”

With Raymond Commisso and Tony Pontieri running very well, the credit all seems to go back to Al Billes.  “They are good working race cars and good combination, good powerplant, the track is pretty good.  We’re just carrying on from where we were.  It was an unfortunate short sabbatical, but I’m back just with a different driver.”

Career best – Joey Martin and the T.A.R.E Mustang is typically one of the toughest competitor in AMS Pro Mod.  This weekend is no exception.  Running very consistent all weekend, Martin was able to race his career best with a 6.06, 234.00 MPH during the third qualifying session.  According to Martin, “What can I say, that speaks for itself. Chuck Ford and the boys (Skippy, Porkchop,and Buak) continue to deliver. That was a big round and we needed it.”

Martin will go into the final round of qualifying and the final round of eliminations from the Memphis race tomorrow.  He will face Shelly Payne.

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK

(9-1-2006) - Angels among us – Doug Palmer and his newly painted VooDoo car is back in NHRA Pro Mod competition.  Although Palmer has a beautiful new paint scheme courtesy of Illusions Paint in Bristol, Palmer is racing with mixed emotions.  On July 25th Palmer unexpectedly lost his younger brother Dane.  Dane who was only 27 years old played an integral part of Palmer’s crew.  Palmer feels he has an angel with him and has even put special decals on his car in honor of his brother.  Although Palmer is racing with a heavy heart, he is still a fierce competitor and feels his team can pull together.  Despite less then desired results in the first qualifying session, Palmer feels they will be fine. 

“It was not good today,” commented Palmer.  “I’ve waited forever for one hit and it wasn’t good.  Now, I have to wait until tomorrow to see what we can pull together.”

Oh what a run! – Racing in his first NHRA Pro Mod event, Raymond Commisso was looking for a good weekend and hoping for the best.  Just coming off last weekend’s IHRA win, Commisso wanted to show the NHRA what he has to offer. 

“That’s why were here,” said Commisso.  “Hopefully we can run away with it.  It hasn’t been an easy start for me.  We came out last year with a 1963 Corvette and I crashed it twice.  The last crash was pretty nasty and I was injured.” 

Running a very impressive 6.01 in the first qualifying session, Commissio feels tuner Al Billes has more to give the car,

“Al has something in store for everyone.  He backed it down a little and we ran a 6.01,” said Commisso.  The team is confidant there could be a 5.99 coming soon.  Commisso, who is new to NHRA all together also made comment about racing NHRA stating, “I had to get my NHRA license yesterday, NHRA chassis certification, and even physical.” 

Points chase – Josh Hernandez and the AMS Rage car is hoping to be able to close the gap on Jay Payne.  Running a 6.05 and taking the No. 2 spot during the first round of qualifying is a good start in having a good weekend. 

“It felt good,” said Hernandez.  “The car moved around a little, but we are very pleased.  We left a little on the table, but Howard and boys will fix it up.”  Not only is Hernandez running for points here in Indy, but the Pro Mods still have to make-up the rained-out Memphis race.  According to Hernandez, “We race Jay in the second qualifying session, which is also make-up from Memphis.  This is going to be very pinnacle in the points race.”

Nitrous vs. Supercharged – The nitrous and blower controversy has been a battle for the ages – at least in Pro Modified circles. However, there hasn’t been much of a battle lately as the supercharged cars have dominated the Pro Mod class across the country.  Only one nitrous is present and the lone entry of Burton Auxier fills the bill. 

Auxier is wishing to see more competitive nitrous cars in both NHRA and IHRA competition.  Although Auxier has one of the toughest nitrous cars in competition, he did struggle during the first qualifying session. 

“We’re still just trying things out to make it run faster,” said Auxier.  “We still cannot figure it out.  We were a little off on the clutch that last run, but hopefully tomorrow we’ll see what happens.  We’re trying out a different combination.  We just don’t have it figured out, but when we do it will run much faster.”

Picking things up - Chip King is showing the world he can do well even though he doesn’t have the classic Dodge Daytona.  The Avenger is showing it can do well too, and the car even ran its best elapsed time. 

“It’s the quickest run on the Avenger,” said King.  “It was a good straight run.  The blower was a little weak, so the guys are stripping the blower now.  Tomorrow we plan on stepping things up.”

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