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TACH Racing Roundup

2 September 1997

TACH RACING ROUNDUP, Head Wins Top Fuel in NHRA Nationals, Crompton Takes Super Touring, daMatta First In Indy Lights, Gidley Rules in Toyota Atlantic.

Jim Head, Columbus, O, won Top Fuel at the U.S. National NHRA meet at Indianapolis Raceway Park heading four-time-straight winner Cory McClenathan with a pass of 300 mph to Cory_s 258.91 mph. Taking Funny Car honors was Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Ind over Tim Wilkerson who blew at the lights. Bazemore ran a 4.996 et, 306 mph to Wilkersons 73.58 mph. Pro Stock went to Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga over Vince Gaines...195.82 to 194.88 mph.

At Vancouver, B.C. the Super Touring double heats were both won by Neil Crompton, Honda, over Dodge Stratus driver David Donohue. Former Indy driver Dominic Dobson drove a BMW to third place. Also at Vancouver Christiano daMatta, Brazil, moved into third spot in the Indy Lights points chase by winning the 44 lap event going wire to wire averaging 79.355 mph. Second was points leader Tony Kanaan, Brazil followed by Hideki Noda, Japan. Twenty eight cars took the green flag and 13 were around for the checker. The Mears brothers, Clint and Casey ended up 14th and 16th.

Another companion race to the CART/Indy car event which was won by Mo Gugelmin was the Toyota Atlantic fracas win the 38 lapper and the $2000 first place prize. Gidley, San Raphael, Ca edged out Steve Knapp, Salem, Wi by 1.7 seconds. A healthy 28 car field contested the event with 18 cars finishing. Down the road at Mosport, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada Ron Fellows and Ron Morgan drove a Ferrari 333SP to victory in the ProSports car WSC 86 lap race and were followed home by Riley/Scott Ford of Butch Leitzinger and James Weaver.The next two positions went to R&S Olds, Ferrari, Ferrari. The race saw six lead changes and an average speed of 105.69 mph for the 211 miles.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel