DRO AA/FC Challenge at World Series of Drag Racing 

Sanders takes first World Series win

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Scott Bessee

The annual World Series of Drag Racing is a national event like no other in the sport. For 61 years the event at Cordova Dragway Park has delivered to drag racing fans and racers a unique blend of hard core drag racing and the circus atmosphere that comes when a promoter books in the best jet, wheelstander, Pro Stock, and nitro exhibition acts in the sport for a two-night extravaganza.

As in recent years, the serious non-match racing at this year’s World Series was furnished by the Hedman Husler Hedders DRO AA/FC Challenge and the Victory Nostalgia Super Stock series.

There were a record 44 entries in the Nostalgia Super Stock class with a lot of new faces but in the end series regular Russ Berens from Wisconsin drove his ‘67 Plymouth to the win when opponent Clay Kossuth, Catawissa, MO, took a .006 red light giving Berens the automatic victory. Berens ran a 9.971/132+ on his winning lap. (We will have complete stand-alone coverage of that series at a later date.)

The Cordova fans get a close look at Bazz Young’s “Down-Under Thunder” Camaro.

AA/FC Qualifying and Eliminations

Nine AA/FC teams from seven states were on hand trying to qualify for the eight-car DRO AA/FC Challenge field. After two rounds of qualifying defending series champ Shawn Bowen had his Hemi-powered ‘77 Pontiac Firebird in the top qualifying spot with a very respectable 5.793/247.88 that had the field covered by almost a tenth of a second.

Rain, heat and extreme humidity challenged not only the racers but the Cordova track crew too. The crew worked hard to give the racers a dry but tricky track for Friday’s qualifying sessions.

The atmospheric conditions kept first qualifying performances down and just two cars made 5-second qualifying passes. Dad Mike Bowen’s tune-up got the “Violator” team a 5.889 ET and Hoosier Paul Romine drove his Mike Cavalieri-tuned “Man O’ War” Mustang to a 5.890/241.11.  

Traction was at a premium for most racers during qualifying, resulting in some damaged timing cones and disqualifications. By the time the Fuel Coupes were called for the second round the track started to come around.