Last-minute invitee Mike Bowman was crowned champion at the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod on Saturday night at Bandimere Speedway. The Californian driver was awarded a $100,000 check and a custom WSOPM championship belt in the invitational, clocks-off Main Event of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by One Cure and J&A Service.

 

During the test session, Bowman’s turbocharged ’69 Chevelle turned in the first 5-second door car pass at the Denver-area track, although no one outside of the timing tower knew because of the no-scoreboards format of the event.

 

Instead of using qualifying to set the ladders, Drag Illustrated editor Wes Buck drew names for the first-round pairings. Bowman got the first-round win over a tire-spinning Derek Menholt then ran 5.997 to defeat Michael Biehle and 6.024 to get around Shane Molinari.

 

In the final round, Bowman would face Grand Junction, Colorado’s Steven Whiteley and his J&A Service supercharged ’14 Cadillac CTS-V. Whiteley ripped off a sub-six-second run in the first round against Tommy Johanns, who was inserted into the field to replace Mike Knowles after his “Blown Money” ’67 Mustang was damaged in a top-end accident on Friday night. Whiteley improved over Eric Latino in the second round, then used a holeshot advantage to defeat Steve Matusek in the semifinals.

 

As the tree dropped for the final round, Bowman’s .024 light was a tick quicker than Whiteley’s .029 reaction time. Both drivers lost traction down track, but Bowman was able to recover and recorded a 6.274 to defeat Whiteley. (Joe McHugh photo)  [08/07/17]

In the Victory Nostalgia Super Stock competition, Tom Hoffman’s incredible .001 Reaction Time edged out a valiant Kevin Miller with a very nice .018 light. Thirty-nine Super Stocks made the call for this race and their next stop is at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova at the end of August, where 45 of the classic race cars are expected.

 

Despite adjusting the schedule to start earlier in hope of avoiding storms coming at the St. Louis region from the west, Saturday night's Street Car Super Nationals event was called complete at 10 p.m. CDT when persistent showers halted the show.

 

Final rounds in six of the 14 classes were not completed, including Precision Turbo Pro Mod, Morrow Bros. Radial vs. The World, VP Racing Fuels LDR, Mickey Thompson Tires X275, Vortech Outlaw 8.5/MX235 and Pro Mod Slammer.

 

Precision Turbo Pro Mod: Ron Muenks (Strafford, MO) and Jonas Aleshire (Manito, IL) were third-round winners and set to face each other in the finale. Muenks defeated Kegan Hagedorn in the first round, Tony Williams in the second and Jay Cox in the third. Aleshire defeated Rick Feeney in the first round, Jim Sackuvich in the second and Jon Stouffer in the third.

 

Final-round results for completed classes:

 

Victory Nostalgia Super Stock: Tom Hoffman (Lake Elmo, MN) defeated Kevin Miller (Newton, IL), 10.800 sec./110.15 mph to 11.804 sec./112.41 mph.

 

Pro 7.0: Dana Glick (Lima, OH) defeated Billy Smith (Pickerington, OH) 6.907 sec./196.30 mph to 6.993 sec./191.57 mph.

 

Pro 7.5: Bo Boles (Slaughters, KY) defeated Justin Shaffer (Lincoln, IL), 7.551 sec./177.42 mph to 7.468 sec./175.37 mph.

 

Pro Comp: Gary Leever (Kellering, OH) defeated Shane Rasler (Walcottville, IN), 8.541 sec./151.41 mph to 8.575 sec./153.00 mph.

 

Pro Gas: Nick Dishon (Lafayette, IN) defeated Kenny Robinson (Greentown, IN), 8.520 sec./158.20 mph to 10.037 sec./128.19 mph.

 

6.0 Index: Matt Gibbons (Columbia, MO) defeated Jim Mallicout (Caseyville, IL), 6.039 sec./6.085 sec./112.78 mph.

 

7.0 Index: Dennis Pearson (St. Peters, MO) defeated Daniel Bledsoe (Millington, TN), 7.107 sec./94.96 mph to 7.022 sec./98.29 mph.

 

Jr. Dragster 6-12: Sam Stewart (Washington, MO) defeated Sarah Stewart (Washington, MO).

 

Jr. Dragsters 13+: Bailey Whitaker (Dexter, MO) defeated Trenton Bryan (Jackson, MO).  [08/07/17]