GLIDDEN WINS WORLD FORD CHALLENGE AT ST. LOUIS

By Kay Burk.
Photos by Rod Short.

Billy Glidden successfully defended his Pro Mod 5.0 Mustang title at the Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge at Gateway International Raceway. Glidden, son of 10-time NHRA Winston Pro Stock champion bob Glidden, became the first back-to-back winner and took home a record $35,000 for this year's win.

Glidden, of Whiteland, Ind., cut some great lights working his way through the field and added driving skill of his own in the final round. Just before the finals were to begin a rain shower struck, delaying the championship rounds until after 9:00 p.m. In the final Glidden's nitrous oxide-aided 2001 Mustang faced Chuck Samuel's turbocharged '89 Mustang LX. Glidden cut a .470 light but slid towards the wall. As he gained control of the car, he discovered another problem as he charged to the top end.

"When I went to shift out of fourth, I found out fifth gear was gone," Glidden explained. "I just jammed on the gas and hoped I could get there in time. I was very fortunate this weekend, and I know it."

"We put Mickey Thompson tires on the car and that really helped," Glidden said. "I made a four-link change, shock changes and a clutch change all before the first round. After the first round I made some more clutch changes and adjusted the chassis to try and make the car go straighter. Then I just concentrated on cutting decent lights and hoped that we did a better job than everybody else did."

Samuel, who came from the NMCA ranks to drive the Mustang owned by Kevin Marsh, gave credit to his crew for his performance up to the final. "Only problem was the guy they had behind the wheel in the finals," he said. "I blinked on the yellow, and started when I saw him leave."

Samuel ran a hard-charging 7.044 at 206.32 mph, but couldn't overcome Glidden's holeshot. Samuel had nothing to apologize for, though, as he became the first driver in World Ford Challenge history to crack the 200-mph barrier with a 203.74 in qualifying. Earlier in the year he became the fastest man in Pro 5.0 history with a run of 206 mph.

Samuel, from Kingston, Ill., turned in another outstanding run in the semi-finals when he upset John Gullet with a 7.063/206.23.

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