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Rockingham John Mancuso Nitro Harley Review
Mancuso Participates In The Quickest Side-by-side Nitro Harley Run During CARQUEST Autumn Nationals Finals ROCKINGHAM, NC -- John Mancuso had a feeling that he was about to be part of history before he met Bob Spina in the finals of the CARQUEST ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
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Mancuso Participates In The Quickest Side-by-side Nitro Harley Run During CARQUEST Autumn Nationals Finals
ROCKINGHAM, NC -- John Mancuso had a feeling that he was about to be part of history before he met Bob Spina in the finals of the CARQUEST Autumn Nationals in Rockingham, NC. His feeling's were well warranted as he dropped a tough decision against Spina, but left with some consolation of having the mile per hour record at 213.11. Today's performance unofficially brought him to within 9 points of leader Jay Turner in the points standings with two races left.
The defending World Champion didn't get off to a good start in qualifying. It all started with the burnout when the bike didn't perform a good burnout. The lack of tire heat didn't seem to affect Mancuso off of the start as he launched hard. However, as the bike drifted left to the center-line, he was forced to lift momentarily. He got back into the throttle and scored an off-pace 8.115, good enough for the first alternate spot.
Friday's disappointments were greatly overshadowed by a tremendous performance on Saturday's opening performance. Mancuso stormed to a 6.745/208.59, which stood as fourth quickest of the session. He was unable to improve during the evening session and as a result, claimed the seventh spot. He had to run Doug Vancil in the first round.
Mancuso took out Vancil in the first round by outmuscling him with a 6.533/210.37, which was more than enough to take out Vancil's 6.65.
He then continued his Rockingham mastery and made hometown favorite Ray Price his next victim. Mancuso was in conservative mode as he rode to a winning 6.711/202.
That matched him against a relentless Bob Spina, who had laid down some impressive laps during the course of the day. Both bikes seemed to have trouble heating their rear tire on the burnout, but neither seemed to be affected on the launch. Spina took the start away from Mancuso, and then the win. Mancuso posted a 6.533/213.11, but could not overcome Spina for the final round loss.
The race was decided on the starting line as Spina nabbed the quicker reaction time and was able to fend him off by a 6.536 to 6.533 margin.
Mancuso and his IHRA/Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley team will continue their quest for another World Championship at the IHRA EXPRESS Auto Parts.Com in Budds Creek, Md., Oct. 1-3. Mancuso, along with each Top Fuel Harley contestant will be afforded three qualifying runs during the course of the event. Final eliminations are slated for Sunday.
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