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The name of veteran drag racing photo-journalist Roger Gorringe will be known to most readers. Roger makes frequent trips to the USA taking in as many of the major meetings as he can. It is filthy work standing trackside with endless Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars thundering past you but someone has to do it. Fortunately Roger has very kindly offered to share his experiences with us in his illustrated meeting reports.
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The 45th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals was the third race in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and had the added bonus of having the Pro Stock Motorcycles and the fabulous Pro Mods running for the first time this season. It was again a truly international event with Europeans, Canadians, South Americans and Australian racers in attendance as well as a large contingent of British and European fans helping to pack the huge spectator grandstands. The weather was typically early year Florida, chill (even frosty) mornings, warming up to low eighties with eliminations day having to endure strong, almost gale force cross track winds that made it a little tricky for some racers. Sunday went by without any oil downs or problems unlike the last two qualifiers the day before when several fuel cars suffered huge kabooms including a luckless Terry McMillen representing the title sponsor who did not qualify. Doug Kalitta clocked a 3.819/321 for fourth place in the Top Fuel qualifying ladder then went on to take his first win of the season in the Mac Tools car. Brittany Force was the first to go, a 3.795/324 beat the chasing 3.825/321, then a 3.829/321 took out teammate, Aussie Dave Grubnic’s 3.800/316 before a 3.856/319 saw off the in-smoke at 300 feet try from Steve Torrence. The final saw Antron Brown suffer the tyre smoke devil at two-fifty feet out handing the 3.830/323 win to team Kalitta for another celebratory team pile up on the start line.
Antron Brown became second in Top Fuel qualifying, a 3.804/320 showed the usual power from the Don Schumacher Racing Matco Tools car. Brown deep-staged and went by Brazilian Sidnei Frigo in round one, teammate Tony Schumacher was Brown’s next victim as The Sarge went into tyre smoke 300 feet out, a 3.810/321 beating the 5.798/124. The semi pitted Brown against a returning part-time Morgan Lucas in the Lucas Oil car but he hit smoke not long after the tree as Brown won with a 3.847/315 to a 5.410/132. In the final Brown left first but his run hit the dreaded tyre smoke leaving the win to Kalitta.
Shawn Langdon in the Al-Anabi Top Fueller managed to get the top numbers during qualifying, a 3.776/325 boded well for the champion but it all went away in round one as he was beaten by J.R. Todd making a return to fuel racing.
Robert Hight secured his first win of the season in Funny Car, the Automobile Club of Southern California Mustang made it from tenth in qualifying all the way to the final. Hight put paid to Tony Pedregon’s hopes in a 4.061/314 win to a 4.199/271 try in round one. An up-in-smoke 6.262/111 put Bob Tasca III back in the trailer as Hight clocked a 4.140/306 for the second round win, then a 4.168/301 took the nod as Ron Capps blew the tyres off just after the start. John Force Racing made the final pairing as Hight faced his boss John Force, a 4.074/314 got Robert Hight the win as Force went into smoke early slowing to a 6.435/118 for second place.
John Force struggled during Funny Car qualifying ending up in the final standings as number sixteen with a 4.380/246 but in the eliminations he came alive. First to go by the Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang was number one qualifier and arch-rival Cruz Pedregon, a 4.075/317 beating the 4.103/305 in fine style. Round two saw the 4.599/232 from Del Worsham get beaten by the 4.134/303 from Force and in round three it was a family battle as Force took on his daughter Courtney but she went into tyre smoke at 300 feet, slowing to a 6.090/112 as Dad took the win with a 4.240/266. The final was against teammate Robert Hight with Force going up in smoke.
Cruz Pedregon often turns in some great numbers and captures Funny Car top qualifier but his Snap On ’13 Toyota Camry came up against nemesis John Force in round one and despite a good race lost with a 4.102/305 to Force’s slightly better leave and win.
Allen Johnson debuted his brand new ’14 Dodge Dart Pro Stocker at the Gatornationals, “we’ve all worked our tails off to get this car out” he said, and it proved well with a 6.487/213 clocking putting the Mopar/J&J Racing machine into fourth qualifier. Johnson powered his way through to the finals by way of defeats over rookie, Jonathan Gray, then brother Shane Gray went the same way in round two. The semis pitted Johnson against top qualifier Dave Connolly and it was a 6.569/211 that got the light against the close 6.583/211. The final was against record setting Erica Enders-Stevens, Johnson was out of the gate first and kept ahead to take the win on a 6.566/211 pass as Enders-Stevens followed with a losing 6.551/211.
Erica Enders-Stevens gave a great account of herself as an off the trailer 6.476 at a track and national speed record of 214.69mph locked her into second qualifying position. Enders-Stevens driving the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock ’14 Camaro got by Robert Patrick in round one, V Gaines in round two and a 6.569/212 got the better of Vincent Nobile’s 6.582/211 in the semis. The final saw her face Allen Johnson who took the win to her runner up place.
Dave Connolly in the Gray Motorsport/Charter ’14 Chevy Pro Stock car managed to gain the prestigious top qualifier with a 6.476/213 time slip. Connolly went on to defeat Matt Hartford in round one, Jason Line in two before going out to Allen Johnson in the semis.
Jimmy Ålund Sweden’s stand-in for a surgery recovering Greg Anderson, Ålund qualified the Summit Racing Equipment mid pack with a 6.525/212 clocking, he then lost to teammate Jason Line in round one with a red light.
Mike Castellana took the Al-Anabi Racing ’12 Camaro from third in qualifying on a 5.863/244 to beat all comers and take the first win of the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. During round one he dispatched a troubled Todd Tutterow, then went on the see off Steven Whiteley and Raymond Commisso in the semi final. A 0.004 light coupled with a 5.865/244 just stayed ahead of champion Rickie Smith.
Rickie Smith made number five in Pro Mod qualifying in the IDG ’13 Camaro then took out local guy Kevin Fiscus in round one, Troy Coughlin in two and top qualifier Danny Rowe in the semis. A 5.890/245 was not quite enough to get him the event win, settling for runner-up place behind Castellana.
Danny Rowe managed to secure the pole in Pro Mod with a 5.858/249 from the Agave Underground Tequila backed ’68 Camaro, he lost to Rickie Smith in the semi final.
Steve Johnson made it all the way from seventh qualifier at 6.849/196 to secure the event Pro Stock Motorcycle win on his ’02 Suzuki TL1000 machine. Johnson managed to see off the likes of a red-lighting Katie Sullivan in round one, another red going to champion Matt Smith in two and a 6.874/195 beat Hector Arana Jr.’s 6.906/195 in the semi. A 6.912/191 caught and passed the 7.093/190 try from Scotty Pollacheck on the money run.
Scotty Pollacheck made it in at number eight during the Pro Stock Motorcycle final qualifying session, a 6.858/195 clocking from his Quality Tire backed ’10 Buell XB12R, he then dispatched Hector Arana in round one, top qualifier Michael Ray in two before a semi final saw off John Hall. The final had Pollacheck take a great lead only to be chased down and beaten.
Michael Ray took pole position with a stunning 6.793/197 clocking on his ’12 Buell XB9R Gottspeed/Star Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle. Ray fell to event runner-up Scotty Pollacheck in round two, a 6.916/192 beaten by a 6.911/193.
Fredrik Fredlund brought his ’98 Suzuki motor over from Finland to Florida to place in a former Karen Stoffer Pro Stock Motorcycle chassis; he qualified on the bump in the final frame with a 6.979/193. A round one tie-up with top qualifier Michael Ray did not go in Fredlund’s favour despite a holeshot a troubled 7.274/184 were the losing numbers.
Elvira Karlsson the young Swedish lady did not quite have enough power this time in this tough Pro Stock Motorcycle class, a 7.028/188 put her in twentieth qualifying spot amidst some others big names that did not make the cut.
Duane Shields ended up as fourth qualifier then went all the way in his Peak Motor Oil backed Top Alcohol Dragster to take the event win. Dan Page was his first victim then Matthew Cummings before seeing off top qualifier Bill Reichert in the semis. A 5.335/266 caught and passed the losing 5.473/261 from Rich McPhillips.
Rich McPhillips got Top Alcohol Dragster number three during qualifying then took out Michael Manners in round one, Don Nolan in two and Mike Strasburg in the third round before the Audubon Service machine succumbed to the 5.335/266 from winner Shields.
Bill Reichert in his Bar’s Leaks/Rislone Engine Treatment Top Alcohol Dragster pulled a massive wheelie during early qualifying but managed to hold on the top spot before being dealt out by event winner Duane Shields in the semi final, 5.308/273 to a losing 5.437/262.
Dan Pomponio the New Jersey resident gained the eighth Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying spot in his Boninfante Friction backed ’10 Monte Carlo then went on to dominate the race with wins over Andy Bohl in round one, Ulf Leanders in two, Steve Harker in three before going to the winners circle with a 5.662/258 to a red light time of 5.592/260 from Dale Brand.
Dale Brand managed to secure seventh place in Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying then went through the rounds taking out Cassie Simonton, Kris Hool and Jay Payne to meet Pomponio in the final, a red light put out his hopes, settling for a runner- up place.
Ulf Leanders the visiting Swede in the Leanders Bros ’10 Monte Carlo Top Alcohol Funny Car stunned the whole packed raceway as he entered a 5.498 top qualifier off the trailer and achieved top speed as well with a 266.27mph clocking. The team managed to deal out Mickey Ferro in round one before being beaten by event winner Dan Pomponio in round two, 5.628/258 to a troubled 10.990/76.
Jonnie Lindberg the other Swede in the Top Alcohol Funny Car pack managed number eleven in qualifying and made it through round one beating Todd Veney in one before going out in round two to Jay Payne, 5.595/259 to a losing 5.939/258.
Steve Ambrose took his ’23 Ford T to the Competition Eliminator win; a 7.718/166 clinched the trophy beating Patrick Ross Sr.
Patrick Ross Sr. managed to get the Comp Elim. runner-up place with his ’05 Grand Am, a 7.720/175 failed to pass Ambrose.
Brad Zaskowski clinched the Super Stock win with a 10.135/124 in his ’87 Camaro beating Joe Tysinger’s better leaving 10.559/123.
Joe Tysinger managed the Super Stock runner-up place with a 10.559/123 clocking in his ’87 Firebird.
Gene Jordan drove his ’69 Camaro to the Stock Eliminator win driving past Mickey Whaley in a 10.198/129 win to a 10.691/120 lose.
Mickey Whaley managed to secure the runner-up place in Stock with a 10.691/120 losing to Gene Jordan on the money run.
Gary Williams a double breakout win in the Super Comp category was taken when Williams 8.898/154 bettered the worse 8.880/161 from Raymond Miller.
Raymond Miller ran a little too quick, his 8.880/161 placing him as runner-up to Gary Williams Super Comp win.
John Taylor took his ’99 Dakota truck to the Super Gas win with a 9.910/161 clocking beating John Labbous Jr.
John Labbous Jr. ended up as Super Gas runner-up in his ’63 Corvette his 9.922/156 just beaten by John Taylor’s ticket.
Steve Cohen came up against fellow Floridian, Larry Strickland in the Top Dragster final with the nod going to Cohen, a better leave coupled with a 6.723/192 beat the 6.973/191.
Larry Strickland became runner-up in Top Dragster category, his 6.973/191 not quite enough to beat Cohen.
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