MOBIL 1 WORLD FORD CHALLENGE RETURNS TO GATEWAY
FOR SCREAMING WEEKEND OF EXCITEMENT FRIDAY-SUNDAY
MADISON, Ill. (May 12) -- The speeds have popped over the 200 mph mark. The number of competitors keeps rising, and the interest is overflowing as the Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge returns to Gateway for the fourth straight season this Thursday through Sunday.
Led by the Pro Mod 5.0 class, WFC 6 – the “Super Bowl of Ford Drag Racing” -- will bring around 1,000 race, and show cars, to the Gateway grounds. More than 50,000 fans are expected over the course of the weekend to watch competitors race for $150,000 in prize money.
The lion’s share will go to the Pro Mod 5.0 crowd, which will look to divvy up a purse of $60,000 –_with a huge payday of $35,000 to the winner.
Last year, it was Randy Eakins of Sikeston, Mo., who took advantage of a starting line fireball that stopped two-time champ Billy Glidden in his tracks. Eakins roared home with the biggest win of his career, topping 192 mph in the finals.
“We had a lot of troubles all weekend we didn’t talk about – and we were thinking just get to the finals and collect the $15,000 (runnerup check),” Eakins said. “We didn’t know Billy would have bigger troubles and leave us the $35,000. This is a big thing for this team.”
He is coming off a victory in a National Mustang Racing Association event two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio, reaching a speed of 190.38 mph in the finals.
These nitrous and turbocharged Mustangs have cracked the 200 mph barrier already this season. In March at Bradenton, Fla. Chuck Samuel of Morton Grove, Ill., topped 203 mph in qualifying while Don Walsh Jr. of Wixom, Mich., clinched the NMRA speed mark of 202.8 mph and the elapsed time record of 6.896 seconds on his way to a victory in that event.
“These cars just get more amazing each year. At a track like Gateway, with good spring conditions, it could be truly awesome racing,” said event promoter George Gonzalez of World Racing Events in Miami, Fla.
Other champions crowned Sunday included Dan Millen of Dearborn, Mich. (Pro Street) Lee Howie of Groveport, Ohio (Wild Street), Bob Kurgan of Elgin, Ill., (Renegade), Scott Budisalich of Decatur, Ala. (Hot Street), Steve Torkelson of Wauwakee, Wis. (Real Street), Gene Hindman of Knoxville, Tenn. (Pure Street), Troy Carter of Lansing, Ill. (Factory Stock), John Brady of McMinnville, Tenn. (Open Comp), Alan Braasch of Chicago (Modifided Street), Vernon Jones of Columbia, Mo. (Street Lightning), Willie Figueray of Miami, Fla. (Diesel) and bracket class winners Jon Pickering of Troy, Ohio, Patrick Richauson of Memphis, Tenn. And John Wellen of Cincinnati, Ohio.
There will be 17 different categories of heads-up, and E.T. Bracket Racing during the weekend. In addition, there will also be the Auto-Show Spectacular Car Show with more than 70 classes. In addition, there will be a Manufacturer’s Midway and Swap event for Ford lovers to get the parts they need for their machines.
Gates open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, and 8 a.m. on Friday through Sunday. Tickets for the event are $25 per day for adults ($15 on Thursday), with a $50 multiday ticket also available. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult.
For further information, call (618) 482-2400 or go to worldfordchallenge.com.
MOBIL 1 WORLD FORD CHALLENGE 6
At Gateway International Raceway
Thursday May 15
9 a.m. – Gates Open
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Registration, Tech Inspection and Setup
Friday May 16
8 a.m. – Gates Open
8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Race Car Registration, Tech Inspection, Swap Meet Registration 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Auto Show Registration, Classification, Shown-n-Shine 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Time Trials 3 p.m. – First Qualifying Round (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge.
(more)
Gateway/Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge 6 Schedule/Page 2
Saturday May 17
8 a.m. – Gates Open
8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Race Car Registration, Tech Inspection, Swap Meet Registration 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Auto Show Registration, Classification, Show-n-Shine 9 a.m.-12 noon – Bracket Eliminations Round 1 (ET-1, 2, 3) 12 noon-2 p.m. Second Qualifying Round (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 2 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 2 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Wild Street Road Tour 4 p.m. – Wild Street Qualifying (3 Rounds) 5 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 3 6:00-7:30 p.m. – Third Qualifying Round (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 7:30 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 4 8:00 p.m. – Bracket Elimination Finals
Sunday, May 18
8 a.m. – Gates Open
8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Race Car Registration, Tech Inspection, Swap Meet Registration 9 a.m.-12 noon – Auto Show Final Judging, Show-n-Shine 9 a.m.-12 noon – Bracket Eliminations Round 1 (ET-1, 2, 3) 12 noon-1:30 p.m. Eliminations Round 1 (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 1:30 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 2 3 p.m. – Auto Show Trophy Presentation 3-3:30 p.m. – Eliminations Round 2 (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 3:30 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 3 4:30-5 p.m. – Eliminations Round 3 (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 5 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 4 5:30-6 p.m. – Elimination Finals (Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 6 p.m. – Bracket Elimination Finals 6:30 p.m. – Elimination Finals (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street 7 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
NOTE: No Saturday or Sunday Time Trials
FOR SCREAMING WEEKEND OF EXCITEMENT FRIDAY-SUNDAY
MADISON, Ill. (May 12) -- The speeds have popped over the 200 mph mark. The number of competitors keeps rising, and the interest is overflowing as the Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge returns to Gateway for the fourth straight season this Thursday through Sunday.
Led by the Pro Mod 5.0 class, WFC 6 – the “Super Bowl of Ford Drag Racing” -- will bring around 1,000 race, and show cars, to the Gateway grounds. More than 50,000 fans are expected over the course of the weekend to watch competitors race for $150,000 in prize money.
The lion’s share will go to the Pro Mod 5.0 crowd, which will look to divvy up a purse of $60,000 –_with a huge payday of $35,000 to the winner.
Last year, it was Randy Eakins of Sikeston, Mo., who took advantage of a starting line fireball that stopped two-time champ Billy Glidden in his tracks. Eakins roared home with the biggest win of his career, topping 192 mph in the finals.
“We had a lot of troubles all weekend we didn’t talk about – and we were thinking just get to the finals and collect the $15,000 (runnerup check),” Eakins said. “We didn’t know Billy would have bigger troubles and leave us the $35,000. This is a big thing for this team.”
He is coming off a victory in a National Mustang Racing Association event two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio, reaching a speed of 190.38 mph in the finals.
These nitrous and turbocharged Mustangs have cracked the 200 mph barrier already this season. In March at Bradenton, Fla. Chuck Samuel of Morton Grove, Ill., topped 203 mph in qualifying while Don Walsh Jr. of Wixom, Mich., clinched the NMRA speed mark of 202.8 mph and the elapsed time record of 6.896 seconds on his way to a victory in that event.
“These cars just get more amazing each year. At a track like Gateway, with good spring conditions, it could be truly awesome racing,” said event promoter George Gonzalez of World Racing Events in Miami, Fla.
Other champions crowned Sunday included Dan Millen of Dearborn, Mich. (Pro Street) Lee Howie of Groveport, Ohio (Wild Street), Bob Kurgan of Elgin, Ill., (Renegade), Scott Budisalich of Decatur, Ala. (Hot Street), Steve Torkelson of Wauwakee, Wis. (Real Street), Gene Hindman of Knoxville, Tenn. (Pure Street), Troy Carter of Lansing, Ill. (Factory Stock), John Brady of McMinnville, Tenn. (Open Comp), Alan Braasch of Chicago (Modifided Street), Vernon Jones of Columbia, Mo. (Street Lightning), Willie Figueray of Miami, Fla. (Diesel) and bracket class winners Jon Pickering of Troy, Ohio, Patrick Richauson of Memphis, Tenn. And John Wellen of Cincinnati, Ohio.
There will be 17 different categories of heads-up, and E.T. Bracket Racing during the weekend. In addition, there will also be the Auto-Show Spectacular Car Show with more than 70 classes. In addition, there will be a Manufacturer’s Midway and Swap event for Ford lovers to get the parts they need for their machines.
Gates open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, and 8 a.m. on Friday through Sunday. Tickets for the event are $25 per day for adults ($15 on Thursday), with a $50 multiday ticket also available. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult.
For further information, call (618) 482-2400 or go to worldfordchallenge.com.
MOBIL 1 WORLD FORD CHALLENGE 6
At Gateway International Raceway
Thursday May 15
9 a.m. – Gates Open
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Registration, Tech Inspection and Setup
Friday May 16
8 a.m. – Gates Open
8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Race Car Registration, Tech Inspection, Swap Meet Registration 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Auto Show Registration, Classification, Shown-n-Shine 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Time Trials 3 p.m. – First Qualifying Round (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge.
(more)
Gateway/Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge 6 Schedule/Page 2
Saturday May 17
8 a.m. – Gates Open
8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Race Car Registration, Tech Inspection, Swap Meet Registration 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Auto Show Registration, Classification, Show-n-Shine 9 a.m.-12 noon – Bracket Eliminations Round 1 (ET-1, 2, 3) 12 noon-2 p.m. Second Qualifying Round (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 2 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 2 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Wild Street Road Tour 4 p.m. – Wild Street Qualifying (3 Rounds) 5 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 3 6:00-7:30 p.m. – Third Qualifying Round (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 7:30 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 4 8:00 p.m. – Bracket Elimination Finals
Sunday, May 18
8 a.m. – Gates Open
8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Race Car Registration, Tech Inspection, Swap Meet Registration 9 a.m.-12 noon – Auto Show Final Judging, Show-n-Shine 9 a.m.-12 noon – Bracket Eliminations Round 1 (ET-1, 2, 3) 12 noon-1:30 p.m. Eliminations Round 1 (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 1:30 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 2 3 p.m. – Auto Show Trophy Presentation 3-3:30 p.m. – Eliminations Round 2 (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 3:30 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 3 4:30-5 p.m. – Eliminations Round 3 (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street, Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 5 p.m. – Bracket Eliminations Round 4 5:30-6 p.m. – Elimination Finals (Hot Street, Renegade, Open Comp, Modular Street, Cobra 03 Challenge, Pure Street, Real Street, Factory Stock, Pro Lightning, Street Lightning, Ford Diesel Challenge). 6 p.m. – Bracket Elimination Finals 6:30 p.m. – Elimination Finals (Pro Mod 5.0, Pro Street Outlaw, Drag Radial, Wild Street 7 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
NOTE: No Saturday or Sunday Time Trials
