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Sunday, August 31
Showers, Muldowney make noise
By Bill Stephens
ESPN
It was one day later than expected, but the first opportunity for professional teams to begin the qualifying process for the 49th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park avoided the inclement weather on Saturday which washed out all of Friday's pro schedule -- and returned Sunday to ultimately postpone the event until next weekend.
But Saturday's action was well worth the wait.
The most prized national event on the NHRA POWERade schedule delivered a torrent of gripping storylines throughout the day on Saturday which will add an even greater layer of history and lore to the race everyone wants to win.
Here's a recap of some of the most significant.
Reggie Showers emotional victory in the $15,000 K & N Pro Bike Klash -- his first ever NHRA title -- is just the latest in a soaring series of career firsts which the double-amputee has scored in 2003. At the most recent national event in Brainerd, Minn., Showers rang up his first No. 1 qualifying performance after advancing to his first career final round in Joliet, Ill., this past spring. Now, with a U.S. Nationals win at IRP, he would add another $10,000 to his bank account with the NHRA's "double-up" bonus.
Shirley Muldowney once again proved how truly outstanding a driver she is when in Saturday's second session, she launched her Top Fuel dragster without difficulty, only to have the car make a hard move to the right and veer dangerously close to the loss of control. The former Indy winner and three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion quickly backed out of the throttle, snapped the car back straight, and came to a safe stop. "I didn't like what the car was doing," said Muldowney after climbing form her ride. "I did the only right thing you can do and that was shut it off."
"Big Daddy" Don Garlits, an eight-time U.S. Nationals champ, continued to struggle at Indy after his fantastic outing in 2001 when he made his first career 300 MPH run at IRP. Last year, he missed the field after briefly bumping his way into the show in the final qualifying session. On Saturday, Big Daddy failed to get to the finish line under power in both of his attempts and will have to try again to better the 4.741 bump spot.
David Baca, whose Top Fuel dragster is wearing the colors of "Hunter's Hope" this weekend, signifying the children's charity championed by former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly whose son, Hunter, suffers from Krabbe disease, was the star of Saturday qualifying when in the evening session he ran a career-best 4.504/326.32, setting a new track e.t. record and taking the No. 1 qualifying spot into Sunday. Baca's father, Dennis, was the 1977 U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner.
Gary Scelzi, who has suddenly become a major player in Funny Car, continued his recent string of thunderous performances by running a F/C career-best elapsed time of 4.765/316.01 on Saturday night to take the low qualifier honors with two sessions remaining on the schedule. Scelzi has qualified No. 1 at two out of the last three races.
In May at Englishtown, N.J., Greg Anderson became the first Pro Stock driver in history to make a pass in the 6.60s, setting a new national record with his 6.67 in qualifying. Saturday, he became the first driver in class history to make a 6.70s pass at the U.S. Nationals with his 6.799/202.61 shot. Anderson has won nine P/S poles so far this year which total 72 points as he continues to hold down the top spot in the POWERade championship standings.
Two weeks after suffering his 11th oildown of 2003 in Brainerd aboard the Top Fuel dragster owned by John Mitchell, Paul Romine ran a career-best 4.57/313.95 on Saturday in the car owned by Mark and Andy Carrier to qualify No. 5. Mitchell has been barred from running at this weekend's U.S. Nationals and will have to make several competitive passes at an agreed upon facility without oiling the track before being allowed to compete at another NHRA national event.
Bill Stephens covers the NHRA for ESPN and ESPN.com.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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