Maher Chills Tryon at RMR Funny Car Fever

Race Report

Submitted by: Jim Maher

July 7, 2001

July 7, 2001 (Rocky Mountains Raceways): The FC Fever at Rocky Mountain Raceways was a sizzling success. Nineteen CIFCA funny cars made the annual trek to Salt Lake City and were greeted by an overflowing crowd. This event was the third stop on the DragParts.com series and the most competitive.

Marty Hill qualified Spencers' Olds Desperado Tempo on the pole with a 7.52. Randy Smith of Elko, NV was second with a 7.53 and also won the Perma-Cool Burnout Challenge.

The final round of eliminations came down to two veterans: Jim Maher in his Good Vibrations Camaro and the Bad Company Corvette of Steve Tryon. Maher's march to the final round began with a first round win over Hill. He then held back Sean Dale (7.49- 7.56) during the quarter-finals. In the semi's, Maher snuck past the Enderle Quick Reaction Time winner Adam Sorokin (7.56-7.58).

8858 Painter Ave, Suite E * Whittier CA * 90602 * 562/945-9730

Tryon, your defending race champion, had some heavy hitters on his side of the ladder. He got past Robert Lee in the opening frame (7.49- 7.55) and then trailered Smith. Tryon's semi-final win over 4-time champion Mike Hilsabeck had the fans on their feet with a side-by-side, double breakout (7.48- 7.49).

The grandstands were still packed when Maher & Tryon pulled to the line. After a week of extreme triple digit temperature in Salt Lake, the fans were chilling to mild conditions. When the tree flashed yellow, it was Maher off first by a slight margin. By mid track the two were glued together with Tryon pulling ahead on the top end. Through the eyes it the was Bad Company first but with a 7.48 breakout making Maher's Good Vibrations your RMR Funny Car Fever winner. Maher now leads the CIFCA points standing followed closely by Steve Tryon and Sean Dale.

A great closure to an excellent event. Special thanks to Auto Glass Express, South valley Motorsports, and State Line/Silver Smith Casino Resorts for their support. Also a very big thanks to Ron Craft and his staff at RMR for their untiring effort.

8858 Painter Ave, Suite E * Whittier CA * 90602 * 562/945-9730