IHRA Grand Bend AFC wrap up

Thomas scores win in Grand Bend

Mark Thomas continued his hot start to the 2006 season, defeating Terry Munroe to win his second Alcohol Funny Car Ironman in three events. Thomas (Louisville, Ohio) has been down this road before. As a five-time IHRA World Champion he is accustomed to hot starts, but realizes it isn’t how you start the season that counts. What counts is who is in front of the end of the year.

“Yes, we’re doing pretty well so far,” Thomas said. “But we have to keep working. To be able to win two events in a new car has been great for us, but it’s a long season and everyone is stepping up their program.”

Thomas increased his points lead while three-time defending Alcohol Funny Car World Champion, Rob Atchison (London, Ont.) continues to look for his first event win of the season. Atchison fell to Fred Tigges in the first round of eliminations.

“You feel bad for Rob because this is his home track,” Thomas said. “But we’ve been down that road in Norwalk at our home track. You like to come here and do well. Rob and his group knows how to go real fast, you know they will be back and I know we have to take advantage of every chance we have to take advantage of them.”

The MOPAR Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol airs on SPEED Channel Saturday, June 24 at 5 pm and Saturday, July 1 at 12 noon.

The next event on the eMax Drag Racing Series is the CARS RV, Marine and Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Race Fuels, June 23 – 25 at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.846, 239.23 def. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.989, 240.12; Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.853, 244.96 def. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.972, 237.65; Frederick Tigges, Avenger, 5.818, 244.10 def. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 7.827, 111.95; Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 6.070, 223.76 def. Trevor Lebsack, Mustang, 6.153, 230.47; SEMIFINALS -- Munroe, 5.936, 237.15 def. Tigges, 6.178, 239.48; Thomas, 5.903, 242.84 def. Dobbs, 6.107, 218.87; FINAL -- Thomas, 5.898, 243.37 def. Munroe, 5.979, 235.17.

POINTS:

Alcohol Funny Car

1. Mark Thomas, 310; 2. Rob Atchison, 236; 3. Larry Dobbs, 179; 4. Thomas Carter, 178; 5. (tie) Terry Munroe, 169; Frederick Tigges, 169; 7. Trevor Lebsack, 167; 8. Terry McMillen, 140; 9. (tie) Chris Foster, 57; Neal Parker, 57.