The 10th Annual Mayor's Cup Nationals October 27-28 recorded the fastest - ever Nitrous Pro Modified run in Montgomery Motorsports Park history, domination of the 6.0 heads-up class by one hometown hero, and a lot in between.
The event featured an open Outlaw Pro Mod Show split into Nitrous and Blower Classes (sponsored by promodifieds.us). Chancellor, Alabama veteran Johnny Pilcher dominated Nitrous Pro Modified qualifying Saturday with his record breaking 4.028 at 178.28 miles per hour. On race day, he backed that up with runs of 4.120 (176.64), 4.177 (173.64) and 4.103 (177.02) in the finals against Kenny "The Undertaker" Scott of Hueytown, AL.
Scott was the talk of the event when he uncorked a scorching 4.260 at 173.67 in his Corvette in the finals. Long-time friends of The Undertaker guessed that run was his fastest ever in a Nitrous Pro Mod. Scott gave Pilcher all he could handle in the finals but his 4.289 (158.25) didn't match up to Pilcher's winning 4.103.
In the Blower Pro Mod class, "Big Money" Bil Clanton of Rome, GA and Dewayne Watkins of Rosemark, TN uncorked three second runs in qualifying, Clanton's a 3.894 at 191.65 and Watkins' a 3.914 at 185.56 mph.
On race day, though, Big Money made it through round one with a 3.978 at 171.59 to defeat Hugh Scott but blew a connecting rod out of the bottom of the engine and the top end and had to retire. That left the field clear for Watkins, who defeated (in turn) Rodney Stokes and Jeff Byrd to make the finals against Pro Mod hitter Rodney Rosenstiel of Pace, FL. Coming to the line, Rosenstiel's hot rod wouldn't fire, so Watkins got a solo dance to the winner's check.
The $10,000 checks in the Pro Class (sponsored by dragcoverage.com) attracted a field of over 120 race cars. On Saturday, Fort Payne, AL racer Matt Noojin outlasted the field, defeating Georgia veteran Charlie Hardy in the finals. Noojin's .023 light, 4.731 on his 4.71 dial at 141.70 combined to best Hardy, who had a great .003 light but ran a 6.635 at 102.23 on his 5.59 dial. Josh Mackey of Opelika, AL was the semi-finalist.