|
Hilsabeck Crowned Sacramento
Governor Cup Champion
September 18, 1999 (Sacramento Raceway): The 1999 season for the California Independent
Funny Car Association has been anything but status quo. There has yet to be a repeat
winner and the lack of dominance is resulting in very close racing.
The CIFCA funny car teams headed to northern California for the annual prestigious
Governor Cup at Sacramento Raceway. Current point's leader Robert Lee qualified #1 with a
very rare perfect 7.500 elapsed time. Mike Hilsabeck was second with a 7.52. These two
would end up in the final round.
In the opening round of eliminations Lee paired off with CHP Dave McDannel. This race
was the closest in CIFCA's 15-year history. Both drivers left with identical reaction
times. Lee's Rebel Racing Firebird stopped the timers first (and McDannel hopes for the
championship) with 7.605 to a 7.608. Margin of victory: .003 seconds! During the
semi-finals, Lee held back the Perma-Cool Burnout Challenge winner Tony Rishton.
4-time and current CIFCA champion Hilsabeck was racking up points on the other side of
the ladder. This Phoenix, AZ resident came into the race in 3rd place and
winless for 1999. He got past the Godfrey & Close's Cavalier in the first frame.
Hilsabeck then claimed the Enderle Quick Reaction Time bucks when he cut a .416 light
coupled with a victorious 7.64 elapsed time against fellow Arizonan Sean Dale's 7.495.
These two drivers were dialed for the final. Both got caught off guard at the start
with Hilsabeck's Arizona Thunder getting a sizable jump. On the top end it was a double
breakout with Hilsabeck 7.46 taking the win light to Lee's 7.44.
The circuit now heads to Tucson, AZ for CIFCA's Championship finals. Lee still has the
points with Hilsabeck moving up into a close second. Will we have a repeat 1999 winner?
Will Hilsabeck be dethroned? Stay tune. –Jim Maher
Qualifying
| |
Qualifying Order |
|
|
Qual. Points |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
Robert Lee |
|
7.500 |
16 |
|
| 2 |
Mike Hilsabeck |
|
7.526 |
14 |
|
| 3 |
Tony Rishton |
|
7.549 |
12 |
|
| 4 |
Sean Dale |
|
7.881 |
10 |
|
| 5 |
Pete Mauriello |
|
7.31* |
8 |
|
| 6 |
Dave McDannel |
|
7.29* |
6 |
|
| 7 |
Bob Godfrey |
|
8.017 |
4 |
|
| 8 |
Duke Fennell |
|
8.170 |
2 |
|
| 9 |
Steve Tryon |
|
8.813 |
0 |
|
| 10 |
Gary Kortz |
|
11.059 |
0 |
|
| 11 |
Hal Rishton |
|
12.371 |
0 |
|
| 12 |
Denny Bolf |
|
17.103 |
0 |
|
* Breakouts
Eliminations
Winner is highlighted in BOLD
|
|
Round
1 |
|
|
| Driver |
Car# |
R/T |
E/T |
Qual # |
| Robert Lee |
785 |
0.625 |
7.605 |
1 |
| Dave McDannel |
7108 |
0.625 |
7.608 |
6 |
| Mike Hilsabeck |
1 |
0.504 |
7.551 |
2 |
| Bob Godfrey |
746 |
0.607 |
9.296 |
7 |
| Tony Rishton |
7820 |
0.696 |
7.600 |
3 |
| Duke Fennell |
7234 |
N/T |
N/T |
8 |
| Sean Dale |
722 |
0.619 |
8.953 |
4 |
| Gary Kortz |
797 |
N/T |
N/T |
10 |
|
|
Round
2 |
|
|
|
|
R/T |
E/T |
|
| Robert Lee |
785 |
0.591 |
7.726 |
|
| Tony Rishton |
7820 |
0.491 |
8.016 |
|
| Mike Hilsabeck |
1 |
0.416 |
7.645 |
|
| Sean Dale |
722 |
0.622 |
7.496 |
|
|
|
Finals |
|
|
|
|
R/T |
E/T |
|
| Robert Lee |
785 |
1.030 |
7.441 |
|
| Mike Hilsabeck |
1 |
0.710 |
7.467 |
|
|
|
Winner |
|
|
|
|
Mike Hilsabeck |
|
|
| Mike Hilsabeck |
Best R/T |
0.416 |
|
|
| Tony Rishton |
|
Burnout Winner |
|
|
| Robert Lee |
Best E/T |
7.441 |
|
|
What: Series Points Race #8
Where: Sacramento Raceway (Sacramento CA)
When: Saturday, September 18, 1999
Gates Open: 9am
Qual: 2pm
Elims: 6pm
Lodging: click here
Weather: click here
|
_small.jpg)
