In this edition of Dave Mathers’ Motion Motorsport Report, Dave looks at the PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton, Florida as he gets ready for the busy weekend of stock car racing in Daytona…
I had to smile, last Friday, when the newscasts were raving about the awesome weather and the fact that people were actually out playing golf. Why? Because 55 years ago, in 1969, I got a phone call from ‘Super Promoter’ Dean Johnson at Niagara Dragway.
“I’m putting on the Winternationals East and I need you to come and help my tech guys,” he said. The reason – NHRA had just changed EVERY Stock and Super Stock class break. At 9 a.m. on a clear, sunny Sunday morning in the middle of February, the gates opened to 500 entries!! At 5 p.m., the last pair went down the track. I told Dean he was the only guy in the world who could have pulled that off!
The Super Bowl was – for the first time in quite a while – SUPER. The game, especially with the overtime, was great but the jury is still out on the halftime show!
The PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton on the weekend was also a home run success! It took me back 50 years. Why, you ask? Because I had to make my own ladders.
Drag Race Central normally publishes the qualifying lists AND the ladders. And I’m still not sure how the ladders were set. Number One Top Fuel qualifier Clay Millican should have faced #8 Leah Pruett. Nope, he faced #6 Shawn Langdon. The results are below.
I have ranted about the NHRA Pro Stock class in the past and this event showed what I consider to be the problem. Of the 18 entries, seven came out of the KB Titan stables and eight were from the Elite gang. Hmmm.
PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton, Florida: The entry lists were interesting as there were 12 Top Fuelers and 13 Funny Cars (for eight-car fields), 18 Pro Stocks, 32 Super Stocks, 32 Stocks and 28 Top Sportsman (for 16-car fields).
Top Fuel: Crowd favourite Clay Millican qualified #1 one but lost to #2 qualifier Doug Kalitta, the $250,000 winner, in the final. Three ‘upsets’ (lower qualified car wins) and six ‘smokers’ (one or both cars lost traction) out of seven pairings.
Funny Car: Austin Prock, filling in for Robert Hight, qualified #1 and won the race and the $250,000 over Matt Hagan. Two upsets and three smokers.
Pro Stock: Erica Enders continued her class domination qualifying #1 and winning the race and the $125,000 over Dave Connolly. Three upsets and six smokers.
Super Stock: Matt Dadas (FSS/K ‘12 Mustang) won over Jeff Atkinson (FSS/F ‘15 Camaro).
Stock: Monty Bogan (‘67 Camaro D/SA) took out Michael Brand (F/SA ‘13 Mustang).
Top Sportsman: Darian Boesch (‘18 Camaro) beat Sandy Wilkins (‘69 Camaro) in the final.
Will they do it again? I guess we will wait and see. I sure hope so.
NASCAR Cup Series: Their next races are the Duels on Thursday at 7 P.M. on TSN 1. And the Daytona 500 goes Sunday at 2.30 on TSN 4 and Fox.
On February 14, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, (right in main image, at top) winner of the Daytona 500 pole award and Michael McDowell (left), driver of the #34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford, Front Row second fastest winner pose for a photo during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Their first race is Daytona, Saturday at 5 P.M. on TSN 3.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks: Their first race is Daytona, Friday at 7:30 P.M. on Fox Sports Racing.
Formula One: Their first race is Bahrain, Sunday, March 2.
IndyCar: Their first race is St. Petersburg, Sunday March 10.
IMSA: Their next race is St. Petersburg, March 10.
NHRA: Their first race is March 10 at Gainesville.
World Series of Pro Mod: In Bradenton, March 1 – 3.
Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo presented by eBay Motors: This show takes place March 8, 9 & 10 at Toronto’s International Centre. For tickets and info, visit MotoramaShow.com.
NASCAR Canada Series: Their first race is at Mosport (CTMP), Sunday May 19.
APC Series: Their first race is at Sunset Speedway, Saturday, May 18.
Ontario Sportsman Series: Their first race is at Delaware, Friday, May 17.
Delaware Speedway: Their first race is Friday, May 10.
Ohsweken Speedway: Schedule TBD.
Flamboro Speedway: Their first race is Saturday, May 4.
Southern Ontario Motor Speedway (Buxton): The status of the track is uncertain at this time.
Grand Bend Speedway: Their first race is Saturday, June 1.
Grand Bend Motorplex: Their first race is the weekend of May 19.
St. Thomas Dragway: Their first race is the weekend of May 19.
Toronto Motorsports Park: Their first race is TBD due to track improvements.
Dragstrip Memories: This show goes Sunday, April 14, 9 – 4, Hamilton Airport.
Shannonville Drags their first race is the weekend of May 5.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
