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Championship Came Down to the Very
Last Pass of the Year
Jim Broome/Mike Savage Pulls Big Upset.
Wins Race and the Championship.
Sept 16, 2000 (Southwestern Int'l Raceway): CIFCA's Championship Finals, held in
Tucson, AZ, wrapped up a banner season for the association.
Like many previous seasons, the championship came down to the last race. This year
it came down to the last run! There were 4 teams (Hilsabeck, Tryon, Lee and Broome) in
contention for the number 1 spot. This lack of dominance resulted in a great year of
competitive racing.
Jim Broome/Mike Savage won the race and
clinched the 2000 Championship Title.
Hilsabeck bowed out in round one with a 7.492 while Tryon just missed the
show qualifying #17 with a 7.94. This left the door open for Lee and Broome. If either of
these teams won the race, they would pull ahead of Hilsabeck by less than one round in
points, thus win the 2000 title.
Lee gave it his best shot posting one of CIFCA all time best runs (.406 initiated
7.515) in the first round. Lee then fell to Pete Ortiz's 7.503 in the quarter finals
ending his quest for a second championship.
Robert Lee put one CIFCA's best packages
on the scoreboard. A .406 initiated 7.515 got the 1999 champ past first round.
The rookie team of Jim Broome came into this event in 4th place and also had a
mathematical chance of winning the championship. With Mike Savage at the wheel, they
qualified well with a 7.57. The team then ripped off a string of incredible elapsed times
(7.509, 7.518, 7.507) and advanced into the final round.
Broome/Savage are now less than one round behind Hilsabeck in points and must
defeat Gary Kortz to win the jewels. It was decided at the start when Kortz went .394 red
and Savage ripped off another 7.509 to clinched the 2000 CIFCA Championship.
Mike Hilsabeck (near lane) and Steve
Tryon finished the season second and third, respectively.
This event was by far the finest showing in CIFCA's 16 year history. With 2 dozen
funny cars showing up, serious seven second racing during eliminations, and climaxing with
the championship coming down to the last run of the year. Incredible, what more can one
say. These racers have built a circuit they can be mighty proud of. -Jim
Maher
During the final round of the year, Gary
Kortz (near lane) went .394 red. Savage drove Broome's Olds to a 7.509 win and the
CIFCA 2000 Championship title. Jim Kelso photo
Qualifying Order:
- 1 Tim/Chill Scardino (Phoenix AZ)
7.513
- 2 Larry Leonard (Glendale AZ)
7.515
- 3 Bob Godfrey (Moreno Valley CA)
7.516
- 4 Jim Maher (Whittier CA)
7.531
- 5 Susan/Ross Stickler (Tucson AZ)
7.556
- 6 Jim Broome/Savage (Tucson AZ)
7.574
- 7 Gary/Sean Dale (Phoenix AZ)
7.585
- 8 Guy Gloudemans/Ortiz (Lancaster CA)
7.606
- 9 Mike Hilsabeck (Phoenix AZ)
7.639
- 10 Jim Scott (Fallbrook AZ)
7.679
- 11 Jim Carter (Glendale AZ)
7.758
- 12 Robert Lee (Whittier CA)
7.791
- 13 Gary Kortz (Ventura CA)
7.811
- 14 Randy Smith (Elko NV)
7.813
- 15 Jeff Seraphine (Fullerton CA)
7.852
- 16 Glenn Tucker (Moreno Valley CA)
7.928
- 17 Steve Tryon (Mesa AZ)
7.947
- 18 Pete/April Ortiz (Lancaster CA)
8.071
- 19 Mike Halstead (Fontana CA)
8.356
- 20 Bobby/Buzzz Miller (Perioa AZ)
8.654
- 21 Jim Maroney (Sierra Vista AZ)
8.866
- 22 Dave Smith/Sorokin (Diamond Bar CA)
9.422
- 23 Ron Smith (Oceanside CA)
11.160
- 24 Richard Stannard/Schwarz (W.Covina CA)
n/t
Ladder: 
Photo Highlights:
 
 
 
 
 
 
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