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After a marathon of qualifying over the last two days here at MIR, it’s time to start whittling the fields down and crown some champions today. We were met by showers this morning that pushed back our start time in order to get the track dry and prepared for racing. We’ve got a small chance of showers and storms throughout the day, but the hope is the precipitation passes and we can get this weekends festivities completed on time. Stay tuned to StreetMuscleMag throughout the day as we bring you coverage from here in Maryland.
Special thanks to our event sponsor SCT Performance. Check out their great line of tuning products at www.sctflash.com.
Don Bowles indicatd that he had made a front suspension adjustment last night following an earlier wheelstand, and as could be seen by his acrobatics in the final session, things didn't go quite according to plan. Some minor damage was done to the oilpan, but the vacuum pump kept all the fluids in the motor and off the racing surface after a spark-showering crash to earth.
While all eyes were on the pair at the top of the Pro Street pack in their pursuit of the fives, they certainly aren't the only cars on the property capable of getting it done. The Demieri team went after it last night and said this morning they definitely have the power to go sub-6.00, but like Rini and Dunne, it's just a matter of putting it all together in the right conditions.
Round One Eliminations
Alex Viscardi carded a nice 6.17 to defeat Rick Blaisdell in the first round of Pro Street. In round two, he'll face Chris Rini, who ran a 6.07 on a break single when Jeff Miller's car broke on the burnout. Joe Dunne went 6.09 to easily handle Vinny Demieri and will have a bye into the final.
Tim Essick came out on the losing end of a great race with Tony Nesbitt, 6.75 to 6.87. Kevin Mitchell recieved a break single when Frank Mewshaw's weekend-long troubles kept him from making the call, and Mike Murillo blasted to a 6.68 to advance, where he'll earn the bye into the final.
Chuck Demory Jr. spun the tires instantly, headed for the guardrail, and wisely lifted off the throttle on his break single. Jim Jarret took down Pete Ricart in a good drag race, 7.35 to 7.42. Skip Baskin and Joe Bucaro both advanced, as did Jeff Colletta who got the opening round bye.
Michael Fratena advanced over Mike Schankweiler in Drag Radial with an 8.07 and will meet Jason Lee, who carded a 7.65, in the next round. Andy Manson lifted early on his first round single to an 8.17.
Enzo Pecchini recorded his best lap of the weekend at 7.97 and will meet top qualifer Bob Kurgan in round two. Bill Trovato and Dan Kroll both advanced and will also meet in the second round.
Charlie Booze Jr. let it all hang out on his first round break single as Greg Delaney was unable to make the call. In round two he'll face top qualifer Robbie Blankenship. Don Baskin meanwhile will have the bye run into the money round.
Jeremy Gillam went low for the round in Mean Street with a 9.94 to take down Teddy Weaver and w2ill face Don Baskin in round two. Alan Von Ahnen, (9.95) will square off with Chris Cloude.
Eliminations Round Two Notes
Alex Viscardi came into his semfinal bout with Chris Rini and that he did, as Rini shook and was forced to peddle near the 60 foot marker and couldn't run down Viscardi's best run of the weekend, a 6.09. In the final, he'll meet Joe Dunne, who threw the chutes early and coasted to a 6.33.
Michael Fratena had torubles just off the starting line while Jason Lee blasted to another 7.6-second lap to advance to the money round, where he'll face Andy Manson in what, on paper, should be an epic battle.
In Super Street, Kevin Mitchell did his job and then some with a perfect .000 reaction time while Tony Nesbitt threw away a crushing 6.79 to 7.17 difference with an -.035 redlight. In the Xtreme Street semis, Bob Kurgan and Dan Kroll will square off on one side of the ladder, while Jamie Stanton and Phil smith do likewise in the other half.
Chuck Demory Jr. took another crooked route off the starting line, allowing Skip Baskin to advance with a 7.38 in Nostalgia Pro Street. Jeff Colletta used a 7.26 to down Jim Jarrett and his 7.44, and Joe Bucaro nailed down a 7.30 at 183 to advance to the semis.
Semifinal Round Notes
Alan Von Ahnen used a nice 9.94 to down Chris Cloude to advance to the final in Mean Street, where he'll face Don Baskin, who bested Jeremy Gillam in a great 9.91 to 9.98 match.
Top qualifier Bob Kurgan defeated Dan Kroll with an 8.03 to advance to the final in Xtreme Street, where he'll meet Jamie Stanton, who has lane choice with a 7.93.
In the battle of heavyweights, Robbie Blankenship took down Charlie Booze Jr., who took a .01 advantage out of the gate, 8.44 to a trailing 8.49. In the final, he’ll meet Don Baskin, who staged his Chevy II and backed out to hope in his Mean Street car.
Final Round Notes
In the Pro Street finale, Alex Viscardi, who earned lane choice with his impressive 6.09 in the semis, left just a tick too soon, allowing Joe Dunne to collect a parts-eating 6.077 at 226.24 victory.
Mike Murillo took Super Street from wire-to-wire, qualifying #1 and taking a commanding 6.71 win over Kevin Mitchell and his 7.04 effort.
#1 qualifer Jeff Colletta did likewise in Nostalgia Pro Street downing a struggling Skip Baskin, who put his brand new Camaro in the final in its maiden outing, 7.286 at 189.66 to 7.592 at 184.40.
Jamie Stanton and Bob Kurgan, the two top qualifers this weekend in Xtreme Street, faced off for all the marbles. Kurgan lost something from his mount early on and could only watch Stanton cruise to an 8.125-second, 176.72 mph win.
The 275 Drag Radial final had the makings of an incredible matchup, and Jason Lee and new national record holder Andy Manson didn't dissapoint. Lee took a miniscule .062 ot .063 advantage at the tree, but couldn't find off Manson, who recorded a 7.593 to Lee's right-there 7.595. The margin at the stripe was a scant .014.
Don Baskin put a sizeable holeshot on Robbie Blankenship in the Pro Stock finale, and instant tirespin for Robbie sealed the deal, as Baskin laid down an 8.480 at 157.56 .
It was certainly Don Baskin's day here in Maryland. Not only did he capture the Pro Stock crown, but he defeated Alan Von Ahnen for the Mean Street crown, 9.88 to a 9.97.
