May 2 2010
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, IL
The day started off with dark clouds and a chance of rain. This may have scared off some racers, but we had a good field of 22 cars. After qualifying Jeff Fleming found himself #1 qualifier with a ET 6.80 @ 203.89 mph down to Joe Cleary Jr at #22 (Joe was having some mechanical gremlins). By 1st round of eliminations the weather had picked up and it was around 70 and partly cloudy, track temp was 90 degrees. Throughout eliminations these cars where sticking and running some personal best. There was some excitement when Jim Tacchia at the 900 ft marker lost traction, put his car sideways but still got control to straighten her out. I guess years of driving pays off, great job to Jim. By the Semi-Finals it was Brian Brown vs Tony Grzelinski (last years champ) and Tom Begler vs bye (because of car breakage). In the Finals was Brian Brown and Tom Begler, both of these racers had been deadly consistent all day. At the end it was Brian Brown winning with a RT=.021 ET=7.15 @ 192mph and Tom Begler as runner-up with a RT=.146 ET=7.87 @ 176 mph. Great job to both drivers and teams!
Brian Brown wanted to dedicate this win to Funny Car Driver, Justin Schriefer and the daughter he lost Ericka Schriefer, He has been a great supporter, racer and sponsor of our Top Sportsman Program.
Qualifying Field:
1 - Jeff Fleming 6.80 @ 203mph 97 Chevy Camaro
2 - Dave Green 6.93 @ 199mph 99 Chevy Camaro
3 - Larry Dumke 6.99 @ 198mph 02 Dodge Neon
4 - Brian Brown 7.03 @ 196mph 02 Chevy Camaro
5 - Lee Ebersole 7.26 @ 189mph 95 Olds Cutlass
6 - Andre Harris 7.37 @ 186mph 04 Chevy Corvette
7 - Dave Granger 7.38 @ 186mph 51 Henry J
8 - Jim Tacchia 7.40 @ 185mph 02 Pontiac Firebird
9 - Sean Brady 7.44 @ 182mph 68 Dodge Charger
10 - Dan Howorth 7.49 @ 182mph 97 Chevy Camaro
11- Steve Howard 7.62 @ 181mph 02 Chevy Camaro
12 - John Scali Jr 7.66 @ 178mph 67 Chevy Camaro
13 - Joe Palmen 7.68 @ 178mph 06 Pontiac GTO
14 - Alex Bosak 7.77 @ 177mph 02 Dodge Neon
15 - Mike Murray 7.82 @ 175mph 80 Chevy Monza
16 - Mike Olenick 7.83 @ 179mph 95 Chevy Beretta
17 - Tony Grzelinski 7.84 @ 175mph 00 Chevy Camaro
18 - Tom Begler 7.87 @ 175mph 92 Pontiac Firebird
19 - Erik Carlson 7.89 @ 164mph 62 Chevy Belair
20 - Brian David 7.95 @ 170mph 63 Chevy Corvette
21 - Tony Marek 8.05 @ 168mph 69 Chevy Camaro
22 - Joe Cleary Jr 13.57 @ 72mph 57 Chevy
