Peterson takes down Beckman

CIFCA Race Report

Submitted by: Jim Maher

June 19, 2004 (Fallon, NV): The California Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA) made their annual trip to Top Gun Raceway in Northern, Nevada. Race fans enjoyed funny cars, jets, fuel altereds and diesel trucks during this popular event at Top Gun Raceway. Thanks to a dedicated staff, this race facility continues to improve and grow.

Good things come to those that wait. Throw in some hard teamwork and tons of desire and you have the AMP Motorsports team. Co-owned by Tom Abbott and Mike Motter, and driven by Paul Peterson, they finally found their way into the CIFCA’s winner circle. Their trek began with a first round win over rookie Andre Pegues. In the next frame, the AMP Motorsports was only .023 seconds from a perfect pass (.380, 7.503) and fortunately for them Chill Scardino red lit first. During the semi-finals Jamie Leppanen slapped a .408 light on Peterson (good enough for the Enderle Quick Reaction Time bonus) but crossed the stripe .045 seconds behind advancing AMP into the money round.

Working their way down the other side of the ladder was the Jack Beckman driven Omni of Dennis Murphy. Beckman is undergoing chemo for Lymphoma but you wouldn’t know it by his driving. This team qualified #1 with a 7.51 and took out some heavy hitters en-route to the final. A near perfect 7.501 in the opening frame scored them a first round victory over a 7.453 breakout by the lethal Jim Broome/Mike Savage duo. During the quarters, Beckman was on the good end of a double breakout (7.44 –7.40) against Sean Dale. The Ground Zero team started to tempt faith during their semi-final match up against Team Scott. Their 7.503-7.72 victory was only .004 seconds away from being put into the trailer but earned them the Good Vibrations Best Package bucks (.033 seconds).

The final round was great a capper to a smooth running event. Beckman left only .009 seconds ahead of Peterson and the two were glued together the complete 1320. Beckman burped the throttle several times on the top end but it wasn’t enough as he went under with a 7.489. Peterson’s 7.510 elapsed time was good for his team’s first win and the celebration began.

Jim & Shane Westring debuted their wild 34’ Custom Ford Coupe and took the Perma-Cool Burnout Challenge dollars. Val Richards left $300 richer virtue of the Bar’s Leaks Revolving award. Murphy/ Beckman regained the DragParts.com points lead over Dennis La Charite by less than one round of competition.

Special thanks to the following for their generous support: Worthington KW, Silver State Int, Berry Hinckley and Cashman Equipment. –Jim Maher