STOTT HOT IN DARLINGTON TESTING

Words and photos by Ian Tocher

In just his fifth attempt with an all-new supercharged engine combination, Mitch Stott laid down the quickest Pro Mod pass in Darlington International Dragway's 30-year history on Feb. 16, going 6.155 seconds at 227.90 mph in his 1963 Corvette. Stott's previous career-best effort was a 6.26 at Rockingham last fall.

With Alcohol Funny Car standout Jimmy Rector turning the wrenches, Mitch Stott served notice at Darlington that his team will be a contender in 2002.

"I could not be any more happy with what we accomplished here this weekend. I am at a loss for words," the former nitrous racer said at the 4th Annual CompetitionPlus.com Groundhog Warm-Up presented by Ramada Inn of Florence and Sunoco Race Fuels. "We've started seasons before with high expectations, but we've never been this excited. I really think we can be in the hunt for the championship this year."

The Groundhog Warm-up is primarily a test session for the upcoming Pro Mod and Pro Stock season, but racers also compete in a "Chicago-style" elimination that pits the two fastest qualifiers in each class against each other. Stott easily made the final against Ed Hoover, driving Paul Trussell's nitrous-assisted '63 'Vette. Although Hoover won, it was Stott's performance in the right lane that had the place buzzing when it was all over -- and not just because he made an impressive save after his car got out of shape about the 1,000-foot mark and almost crossed into Hoover's path.

Stott left the line with a .965 second 60-foot time, and before breaking loose when he hit third gear, ran 3.989 secs to the 1/8-mile mark at 181.81 mph, prompting track owner Johnny Rocca -- no stranger to Pro Mod racing himself -- to call it "one of the most phenomenal runs we've ever seen!"

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Back in his pit after the race, Stott admitted his car was "about 50 pounds light," which engine builder Jimmy Rector confirmed, but Rector also was quick to stress the blown Hemi strapped between its frame rails was "100-percent legal." Rector said success came a little quicker than he expected, but he knew the car would run in the teens when he signed on with Stott late last year.

"A lot of people thought this was a beginning for me, but since 1997 I've been tuning an outlaw Pro Mod," Rector pointed out. "It's been in the 3s in the 1/8-mile with the same chassis builder (Tommy Mauney) and everything else the same, except an illegal blower. So I knew this car would go fast."

Still giddy from the immediate performance gain his switch to supercharged racing produced, Stott was not at all concerned about taking the loss to Hoover. "It's comfortable to know you just had too much power for the track," he said. "I'm not disappointed at all; I'm just ecstatic that I've still got a car with shiny paint on it! We're ready to go to Rockingham. Let's go racing!"

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