[ponyakr]

Looks like at least 5 Pontiac powered Stockers made Q-1.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...4&postcount=51

Good luck to all Pontiac racers !

[Richie Hoffman]

Congrats Todd good luck at Indy knock em dead

[ponyakr]

Looks like they got a little rain at Beech Bend. As of just after 2pm central time, they're still drying the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLVCA-BJl_g

It'll take 7 round wins to win this one.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...er=30#indextop

[ponyakr]

Here's a link the Sunday action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqWr...ature=youtu.be

Adam Davis & Bryan Phillips won their 1st round of Stock elims.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

Tim Gillespie & Matt Tankersley won their 1st round in S/G. So, we got at least 4 Pontiac powered cars in the Sunday action.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

[ponyakr]

Just watched round 2 of Stock. Adam Davis won his race.

But Bryan Philips appeared to have mechanical problems, and slowed downtrack.

[ponyakr]

Adam Davis made it to round 4, in Stock. There, he cut the 2nd best light of the round. Only problem was, he ran the guy who cut the best light of the round--a .001. So, Adam lost to the eventual race winner.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...er=30#indextop

Matt Tankersley also made it to round 4, in S/G, where he cut a better light, but lost, in a double breakout.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...er=30#indextop

[ponyakr]

That's right. It's time for the biggest drag race of the year--the US Nationals.

When I think of Pontiacs connected to this race, the Mickey Thompson cars are always the 1st that come to mind. An M/T powered dragster beat Big Daddy, to claim the top prize, at the '62 race.

http://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/a...ine-dragsters/

The M/T 421 powered Tempest won the A/FX class, in '62.

http://www.dragzine.com/news/drag-ra...ac-lemans-afx/

https://www.nationaldragster.net/dai...erimental.html

Then, I always think of Truman Fields. He won Stock in '73, with his '68 Bird.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=14902

Then, in '75, one of my all time favorite Pontiac racers won Super Stock. It was Jack Mullins, in his big Pontiac wagon. He beat the factory sponsored car, driven by "Miss Mighty Mopar", Judy Lilly.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0212hpp-pontiac-history/

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/....258189/page-2

I'm sure there have been other Pontiac powered eliminator winners, and LOTS of class winners. I tried every way I could think of to Google up some more old US Nationals results. But, I could find very little info about the Stock & SS classes. So, if ya'll know of any Pontiac powered US National eliminator winners, please post that info. Thanks !

[ponyakr]

I ran across this interesting fact. Mick Leiferman got Stock RU, 3 years in a row--'75, '76, & '77. That had to be VERY disappointing.

http://www.nhra.com/blog/indy-2009/2...-trivia-redux/

I seem to remember that he was driving an early '70's A-body. Don't remember the exact combo. Probably 455HO powered.

In the "Wagon Masters" article, it says that Gary & Charlene Wood picked up the class win at the '76 US Nationals, with their "Tons a Fun" Lemans wagon.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0212hpp-pontiac-history/

Just ran across this. In 1977, Mike McKinney won Stock. He and his dad had bought Truman Fields '68 Bird, in '75. Don't know if this was the car that won in '77 or not. Anybody know ? If it was a Pontiac, that means that it was an all-Pontiac Stock final, at the '77 US Nationals.

http://www.competitionplus.com/compe...-amateur-video

[ponyakr]

Don Gay won the A/S class, in '63 & '64, with a '62 421 Cat.

http://www.nhra.com/blog/dragster-in...-teen-terrors/

http://www.pontiacsonline.com/Don%20Gay.htm

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp-...na-super-duty/

Also noticed that Bill Abraham won the AA/SA class, in '63, with a '62 Pontiac.

http://www.raresportsfilms.com/1963nationals.html

Also, before the big race was moved to Indy, Jim Wangers won Stock, with a 1960 Cat.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/12q3-...-royal-bobcat/

http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/car-of-...catalina-racer

https://www.facebook.com/Muscle-Car-...10929852349024

[ponyakr]

Qualifying starts Wed, with class elims for Stockers, on Thurs, & for SS, on Fri. Final Stock elims start Sat, & SS elims start Sun.

http://www.nhra.net/2016/images/NHRA...uleII12016.pdf

Looks like there are 6 Pontiac powered cars pre-entered, in both Stock & SS.

http://www.nhraeventreg.com/ListEven...II1&cc=8&rn=18

http://www.nhraeventreg.com/ListEven...II1&cc=7&rn=18

Only the quickest 128 cars, against their class index, can run in final elims. Some think it may take nearly .900 under the index, to make the Stock field. So, there'll be some quick Stockers at this race.

http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=63364

Last year it took an .870 under, to make the Stock field. 3 Pontiac Stockers ran more than a sec under. Scott Burton ran a 10.20. I assume his '70 RA4 Formula is still the quickest Pontiac powered Stocker.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...r2015#indextop

[ponyakr]

Well, the Stock Q-1 list is posted. But I think there may be some mistakes on it. Maybe they'll get it all sorted out by Q-2.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...er=30#indextop

[ponyakr]

The 2nd round qualifying lists are posted. But I don't know how accurate they are. A guy from CA, with the '73 Bird Stocker, is shown on the pre-entry list with a 427 powered A/SA '69 Camaro.

Also, Tommy Pettigrew is still listed as Ryan Pettigrew. But, at least I think they have his class right now. Looks like all the Pontiac Stockers are in, as of now, except Bob Michael & Tommy Pettigrew. I think they get 1 more shot at qualifying, tomorrow.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

http://www.nhra.net/2016/images/NHRA...uleII12016.pdf

Looks like all the Pontiac Super Stockers are in, except Casey McCarty. Robert Cruzen is #6, with a 1.062 under, 9.038. I assume he is still running a 428 Pontiac engine, in his GT/AA Chevy. ?

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

[ponyakr]

OK, the 3rd round of Stock qualifying is done. All the Pontiacs made the field, except Bob Michael's '62 GP. It took an .882 under, to make the 128 car field. Bob ran a .797 under, 11.853.

Randi Lyn finished higher on the list than any other Pontiac, with a .990 under, 10.56. She is running in D/SA this week.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...er=30#indextop

I still don't know about the '73 Firebird, shown as being driven by Kyle Rizzoli, from CA. The only other '73 Bird I am aware of that will run that quick, belongs to Adam Davis--or DID. Adam qualified it @ over a sec under it's index, at last year's race. Don't know if this is the same car, with a different driver, or not. Anybody know ?

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...r2015#indextop

[ponyakr]

Don Turk ran a much quicker car, in the N/SA class final. But, the quicker car tripped the red light, giving the class win to the Pontiac.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

So, Don Turk is the N/SA class winner at the 2016 US Nationals !

Also, Michael Brand won his class semi-final, and will race the quickest F/SA, in the final. Unless he's been sand baggin, looks like he'll need some help from the other car, in this one.

Well ALL RIGHT ! Michael cut a better light and pulled off a holeshot upset, for the class win ! I think that's a repeat class win for him.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

So, congrats to Michael for being the 2016 US Nationals F/SA class winner !

[johnta1]

Congrats to Don!

He's a good guy, raced with him many times.

[ponyakr]

Well, if Robert Cruzen still has Pontiac power, in his GT/AA Cobalt, there is an 8 sec Pontiac powered Super Stocker at the US Nationals.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...er=30#indextop

[ponyakr]

Robert Cruzen ran 8.90 for his GT/AA class win.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

Mike Morgan beat Bill Rink, in the SS/MA class semi-final, in a battle between a couple of 10 sec Pontiac 350 powered cars.

[ponyakr]

Mike Morgan cut a much better light, and won his class, with a holeshot.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop


Doug Kroft won his 1st round, in Super Gas.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

[ponyakr]

At least 2 Pontiac powered Stockers made it thru round 1 of elims. One was driven by Randi Lyn Shipp. The other was driven by Don Turk.

And if Kyle Rizzoli is actually driving a '73 Bird, as shown on the qualifying list, that means 3 Pontiacs move on to round 2. Anybody know anything about that '73 Bird ?

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...UMMIT#indextop

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...r=100#indextop

Michael Brand cut a perfect .000 light, but ran just a hair too quick.

[ponyakr]

OK, here's a positive ID on the '73 Bird, driven by Kyle Rizzoli. It is indeed the same yellow Bird which has been driven by Adam Davis, for the past couple of years.

Stock E-2 has been moved to Sunday.