|
Rocky Mountain Raceways
Still no
Repeat; Stickler outruns the CHP
Aug 21, 1999 (Rocky Mountain Raceways): One of the premier race tracks on the west
coast lies just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. This state of the art facility features a
very smooth race surface, superb lighting and timing system, and an excellent management
team assembled by owner Spencer Young. It is a pleasure and an honor for the CIFCA funny
cars to partake in their annual Funny Car Fever sponsored by Auto Glass Express.
The 1999 season has been ultra competitive. This was the sixth stop on the circuit and
CIFCA has yet to have a repeat winner. Or runner up. This pattern would continue as the
new blood sent the veterans packing.
Fourteen teams from 4 states showed to do battle for the 8 qualifying positions.
Leading the pack with a 7.533 elapsed time was Mike Hilsabeck of Phoenix, AZ. Holding down
the bump spot was Sean Dale with a 7.772. A scant .001 seconds slower was Tony Rishton who
would end up first alternate with a 7.773.
Ross Stickler of Tucson, AZ won his first round of CIFCA racing when the 20 years old
racer got past Hal Rishton in the opening frame. Stickler then advanced his Ford Crown
Victoria into the final round when his opponent, Jim Scott, redlit in the semi-finals.
Meeting the newcomer in the money round was CIFCA’s treasurer Dave McDannel in his
black & white CHP Camaro. McDannel first defeated the Perma-Cool Burnout Challenge
winner, Randy Smith, in the opening frame. McDannel then held back current points leader
Robert Lee with a near perfect 7.495 advancing the popular veteran.
The enthusiastic fans that filled the grandstands would witness
the closest and final race of the day as 2 racers fought for their first win.
Stickler got his Ford off the line by a very narrow margin (.548- .564) though would
see the CHP’s flashing red & blue lights next to him for the next 1320 feet.
McDannel pulled ahead slightly and stopped the timers with a breakout 7.485 while
Stickler’s "Tricky Vicky" recorded a near perfect 7.508 and a win light.
True margin of separation: a scant .007 seconds!
Lee left with the points lead, Scott with Enderle's Quick Reaction Time bucks and
Stickler his first win. McDannel moved into 3rd place and the top 10 is still
very undecided. 1999 will be remembered as the season of the spoilers. And the lack of
dominance keeps the racing exciting.
Qualifying Order
1. Mike Hilsabeck (Phoenix AZ) 7.533
2. Hal Rishton (San Dimas CA) 7.566
3. Dave McDannel (Agoura Hills CA) 7.570
4. Jim Scott (Fallbrook CA) 7.612
5. Robert Lee (Whittier CA) 7.650
6. Ross Stickler (Tucson AZ) 7.650
7. Randy Smith (Elko NV) 7.731
8. Gary/Sean Dale (Phoenix AZ) 7.772
9. Tony Rishton (Rialto CA) 7.773
10. Chill Scardino (Phoenix AZ) 7.459*
11. Gary Kortz (Ventura CA) 7.926
12. Dick Spencer (Garland UT) 7.956
13. Buzzz Miller (Phoenix AZ) 8.840
14. Richard Bogan (Magna UT) 9.264
What: Series Points Race #6
Where: Rocky Mountain Raceways (Salt Lake
City, UT)
When: Saturday, Aug 21, 1999
Gates Open: 10am
Qual: 1 & 3pm
Elim: 5pm
Lodging: click here
Weather. click here
|
_small.jpg)
