Mopars and Mullets

Words and photos by Ian Tocher
5/23/03

don't know what it is about folks of the Pentastar persuasion, but the hairstyle that America loves to hate was out in full force May 16-18, at the 11th Annual Chrysler Classic. Several fans and racers alike sported the business-up-front, party-out-back look, which basically mirrored their approach to the racing and car show that drew well over 500 entries to National Trail Raceway.

Rain cut Friday's time trials short and washed out most of Saturday's qualifying, but a little wet weather wasn't enough to dampen the Mopar faithful's enthusiasm. They still managed to have a little fun Saturday afternoon with a burnout competition and golf cart racing in the rain, then a few hardy souls even ventured into nearby Columbus, OH, for the traditional nighttime cruise.

Although Sunday brought more overcast skies, Mother Nature cooperated long enough for eliminations to be completed in nine racing classes, with the quickest and fastest being a Super 32 field that combined the series' Big Dog and Quick 16 competitors. In the end, Rick Powell, from Mt. Pleasant, MI, bested a field of 45 entries to win the Quick 32 class in his 499 c.i. dragster. Powell faced off against Rick Allison's 572 c.i. '93 Daytona in the final and ran 7.79 at 171.08 mph on a 7.78 dial while Allison broke out.

Sean Dorman (above, far lane) won the Original Max Wedge Shootout with a holeshot in the final against Bart Anderson (near lane). It was a heads-up start after both drivers

ADVERTISEMENT

dialed in at 10 seconds flat, but Dorman, from Attica, OH, had a .008 light compared to Anderson's .078, allowing his 10.07 at 125.73 mph to beat a 10.01/125.68 combo in the left lane. In the Hemi Super Stock class, contested at Columbus only, the '65 Belvedere of Lancaster, OH's Hugh Jardon defeated the 1968 Barracuda driven by Ken Kreici, from LaGrange, OH.

Navarre, OH's Joel Marchand drove his 1965 Coronet to the Nostalgia Super Stock title, while Super Pro honors went to Dan Bennett in his black-primered '71 Demon. In the meet's largest class, Cincinnati's Steve Hasse (below) survived a field of 125 cars to win in Pro Eliminator with his 440-equipped 1970 Cuda. In a double breakout final, Hasse ran 11.21 on an 11.23 dial, while Darren Heigle, from Muncie, IN, went 10.95 on a 10.99 in his 340 c.i. '77 Plymouth Sapporo.

NEXT PAGE >>