Norwalk Tommy Mauney Notes

NORWALK, OH-- In drag racing, it's all about reactions. Tommy Mauney was reminded of this as the 2-time IHRA World Champion was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Mopar Parts World Nationals in Norwalk, OH.

Mauney was relentless in his pursuit of the top qualifying spot. He stormed to the quickest run of the rain-delayed session with a 6.374.220.98 to claim the pole position after one session. He was hard pressed to improve on his first attempt, but he remained consistently at the top of the pack with a 6.408/220.51 in the next session's effort.

Saturday qualifying offered no improvement, but he remained consistent during the third session with a 6.47 at 217 mph. The final session offered no improvement with a 6.57 and he had to settle for the 3rd spot. He had to meet Wally Stroupe in the first round of eliminations.

The first round was a tight race with Mauney and Stroupe leaving the line together. Mauney widened the gap and crossed the finish line with a 6.436/219.36 compared to Stroupe's 6.487/215.72 .

The quarter-finals proved to be a very close race as well, with Mauney putting forth a 6.456/219.54 and Ed Hoover, driving a car that Mauney built, posting a 6.452/218.87. Reaction times told the story with Mauney's reaction time a 0.486 compared to Hoover's 0.472.

Tommy Mauney, winner of the IHRA Amalie Oil Nationals in Bradenton, Fla., plans to continue his championship conquest at the IHRA PARTS PRO North American Nationals in Epping, NH., during the weekend of September 10-12. Mauney, along with each Pro Modified contestant, will be afforded four qualifying runs during the course of the event and the quickest sixteen entries will compete in final eliminations on Sunday. This event will be televised on ESPN2 with the dates TBA in an upcoming issue of Drag Review.