OH CANADA!

Words by Ian Tocher
Photos courtesy of IHRA/Brian Epps
6/9/03

t was cold and it was overcast, which may help explain why Canucks dominated the Alcohol Funny Car and Pro Modified classes north of the border May 30-June 1, at the 4th Annual IHRA Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol. [Ed. note: A conflicting NHRA event and the Toronto SARS scare may also help explain it.] Local hero Rob Atchison scored his career-first Funny Car win and Al Billes won the Pro Mod title at the Grand Bend (ON) Motorplex, while Clay Millican continued his mastery of IHRA Top Fuel action and Carl Baker prevailed in Pro Stock.

FUNNY CAR

Atchison qualified number two behind five-time series champ Mark Thomas, then set the track E.T. record at 5.727 seconds in a first-round win over Richard Krafft. He then trailered fellow Canadian Paul Noakes, who set top speed of the meet in qualifying at 244.23 mph, and eked out a win over John Vouros to set up the final against Thomas.

Atchison's team almost didn't make the call to stage after working hard to repair a broken dry sump system from their semifinal match. But once they got there, the London, ON-

ADVERTISEMENT

based driver laid down a picture-perfect 5.753-secs at 239.29 mph pass in his Chevy-powered flopper, compared to the 6.122 at just 209.15 in Thomas' lane.

"Words can't express how unbelievable it is to win my first national event in front of the home fans," Atchison said afterwards. "We had an incredible thrash right before we were called out, and only because I have the best crew in the business were we able to get the job done."

Atchison didn't travel to the season opener at San Antonio, TX, but qualified number one at the next race in Rockingham, NC, before it was rained out. The win in Canada boosted him up to fourth in points, while Thomas took over the top spot. "It was a long time coming, but it was worth the wait," Atchison said. "We're looking at the championship points chase very seriously now."

NEXT PAGE >>