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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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Round number two in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Sportsman Drag Racing Series launched itself on a packed house in the warmth of the Chandler, Phoenix desert facility in late February. Qualifying included an overcast day that produced some good numbers and as late afternoon approached lots of header flames from the fuel cars - always a bonus to be witnessed. The opening ceremony included ceremonial song and prayers from the Gila River Indian Community owners of the Wild Horse Pass facility as well as the American national anthem and sky diving flag bearer. Jimmy Ålund represented Sweden in the Pro Stock ranks qualifying thirteenth with a 6.626/209 but going out to Allen Johnson in round one. Top Fuel had Tony Schumacher put down a 3.750/313 for pole in the opening qualifying bout then bettered it with a 3.722/325 in round four just ahead of Doug Kalitta on a 3.733/329 and Aussie Richie Crampton, 3.739/324 in the seventeen car field. Unlucky DNQ went to Steve Chrisman on a 4.410/193. Schumacher was on a roll all weekend and went through the eliminations by taking out Jenna Haddock in round one, 3.725/325 to a losing 4.041/295, then an up in smoke teammate Spencer Massey before seeing off another Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Antron Brown in the semi, 3.738/325 to a 3.753/319, Brown losing by a nose. Meeting Schumacher in the final would be Doug Kalitta who beat an up in smoke Clay Millican in round one then Brittany Force who failed to repeat the 3.6 second times she managed in testing shortly before the event. Shawn Langdon went into almost immediate tyre smoke finishing his run of recent luck in the semi as Kalitta carded a slowing 4.303/242 to the losing 4.752/278.
Funny Car saw reigning champ Matt Hagan open qualifying with a 4.025/316 only to be overtaken by Courtney Force with a 3.996/321 before retaking pole with a 3.978/320. Del Worsham managed third place with 3.997/319 pass. It was Winternationals winner Matt Hagan that faired the best as he ploughed his way to the final beating an up in smoke Jeff Diehl in round one then Cruz Pedregon in two before exiting a tyre-smoking Alexis DeJoria in the semi final, 4.027/318 to a losing 6.389/82. Del Worsham made his way past John Hale in round one then Chad Head in two before a 4.010/315 beat Robert Hight’s 4.050/316 in the semi.
Pro Stock was initially led by Rodger Brogdon with a 6.545/210 but along came champ Erica Enders-Stevens with a 5.545/211 to put him in second spot ahead of Winternationals runner-up Drew Skillman on a 6.548/211. It would end with the two top contenders facing each other for the money run. Erica Enders-Stevens managed to get the better of Joey Grose in round one, then a 6.570/210 beat Greg Anderson’s 6.603/210 before a 6.575/210 saw off the wildly out of shape Chris McGaha whose 6.935/162 reflected his difficulties. Roger Brogdon managed to get Deric Kramer to red light in round one then in round two he beat Shane Gray before defeating the giant killer class rookie, Drew Skillman, 6.554/211 to a problematic 16.529/50.
Competition Eliminator had Alan Ellis make it his second final of the year in his Rush III ’23 Ford but he could not secure another Winternationals type win, his 6.529/207 became runner-up as Justin Lamb took the Speciality Auto/ A-1 Performance ’10 Cobalt to the event win with a 7.982/172.
Super Stock win went to Phil Unruh as he pushed his Special Metals backed ’10 Cobalt to an 8.525/155 win over the 10.078/131 from Don Thomas’ ’04 Grand Prix.
Stock Eliminator saw Kyle Seipel take the trophy in his ’70 Camaro as Kyle Rizzoli came second with his ’69 Camaro.
Super Comp had Glenn Kern take his Mickey Thompson sponsored dragster to an 8.912/168 win over the 8.949/166 from Steve Williams K&N backed machine.
Super Gas winner was Bernie Polvadore in his 3 Amigos Tequila ’93 Grand Prix; a 9.912/163 beat the 9.902/139 from Brad Pierce’s ’58 Corvette.
Top Sportsman win went to Ed Olpin, his ’68 Camaro running a 7.272/189 win to a losing 6.995/190 from Jimmy Lewis in his ’12 GXP.
Top Dragster had Trevor Ritchie take the trophy with a 6.815/191 that saw off the efforts of John Taylor’s 6.944/191.
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