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Boise's Nightfire Nationals
August 13, 2008
Mark King photos
Rod Pearce
Round one:
Top qualifier Billy Harper took on Frank Cersisimo in Billy's old Viper. Harper has been dominating the ADRL as well as this weekend with his new black beast (Viper). It was not what anyone in the house was anticipating, as Harper broke and did not even stage his car. Lucky for Cersisimo, as he had troubles as well, and could only muster up a 7.04/161 lap. But he is off to round two. It did not go any better for Radford, as he too did not get down the track under power. Vern Mills was his opponent, and his run was almost identical to Cersisimo's. He too had issues, but when the car in the other lane has more issues than his, off to round two for Mills. Mills turned in a 7.02 @ 154. Rod Pearce also ended up with a relatively easy win in the opening round. He took on #3 qualifier Dan Vogt, Vogt got real loose, and was forced to lift early, coasting through with a 7.90. Pearce lifted early as well, but he already had the victory in hand as he turned on the scoreboards to the tune of a 6.78/200. The best race of the opening round was the Ross Hogenson and Lee Frank pairing. Hogenson got the win with a 6.59@211 mph lap compared to Frank's slightly early shut off 6.78/203 effort.
Dennis Radford
Round two would see Hogenson vs Cersisimo and Mills Vs Pearce.
Vern Mills
Round two. (Semi finals)
Hogenson stayed consistent in the semis, with a solid 6.66 at only 202 mph but Cersisimo's luck finally ran out, as he was forced to lifted early, after getting loose and running 8.19/124 mph. Pearce ended up with a single, as Vern Mills who was troubled throughout the weekend, without a full 1320 lap. Pearce got lane choice for the final with a strong 6.53/215 mph run.
Ross Hogenson
Final round
The final was 63 Corvette Vs 63 Corvette. Both cars have huge 750-800 cu in nitrous behemoths between the frame rails. Both ran 6.50s as their best ets so it was going to be very close (on paper).
As per the early rounds, this one was not that close, as Hogenson had early run issues, and was forced to lift early, while Pearce was right down Broadway, running his best lap of the weekend, a great 6.47/215.98 mph shot. Ross when has had to run his best lap of the weekend as well to have a chance.
Rod Pearce
Here are the numbers:
Champion-Rod Pearce, Granite Bay, Calif., 6.46, 215.67.
Runner-up-Ross Hogenson, Lethbridge, Alta., 8.93, 104.66.
August 7-10, 2008
Friday qualifying....
Where have all the blowers gone..........
Billy Harper turned in his ADRL performance into 1/4 mile shots as well, with a stellar 6.22 in round one to blitz the field Friday night. In what looks like a turning of the guard ...again in the West Coast Pro Mod assoc., the nitrous cars are now the dominant cars in the series, and this weekend really showed as only one....yes one blower car turned up at Boise. Tom Johanns must have felt like an alien surrounded by a bunch of predators.
The shirt "It's hard to run with the dogs when you piss like a poodle", was likely not seen too much on the weekend.
Qualifying #1
1 Billy Harper 6.229 224.91
2 Dennis Radford 6.385 216.50
3 Dan Vogt 6.554 217.02
4 Vern Mills 6.617 192.96
5 Tom Johanns 6.673 213.16
6 Tom Meheden 6.778 205.94
7 Lee Frank 7.262 142.62
8. Rod Pearce 7.639 129.64
Not qualified
9. Wayne Ryder 7.920/151.31 10. Ross Hogenson 8.784/104.00 11. Perry Thyr 11.492 97
In the second session Saturday afternoon, only Rod Pearce really stepped up, getting off the bump and into the 4 slot with a solid 6.57. Ross Hogenson, Perry Thyr, Wayne Ryder and Frank Cersisimo all shook or abborted their runs.
Qualifying #2
1 Billy Harper 6.229 224.91
2 Dennis Radford 6.385 216.50
3 Dan Vogt 6.554 217.02
4 Rod Pearce 6.578 215.93
5 Vern Mills 6.617 192.96
6 Tom Johanns 6.673 213.16
7 Tom Meheden 6.778 205.94
8. Lee Frank 7.262 142.62
Not Qualified
Wayne Ryder. Perry Thyr, Frank Cerisisimo, Ross Hogenson
The final round Saturday evening was one for the record books, as Billy Harper anhialated the track record, to the tune of a 6.19/227 blast. Dennis Radford found almost a tenth, to improve to a 6.30. Lee Frank moved way up with a solid 6.49/218 to sit #4 and Ross Hogenson layed down a great 6.51/214 to move into the middle of the pack in the #5 spot. Frank Cersisimo fianally got the ex Harper Viper figured out and layed down his best lap of the weekend, a 6.63 to just squeak into the field on the bump. Unfortunately for Tom Johanns and Tom Meheden, their early attempts did not keep them in and they could not improve on their positions Saturday night, so they were spectators Sunday.
Final qualifying
1 Billy Harper 6.198/227.73
2 Dennis Radford 6.309 /218.60
3 Dan Vogt 6.471219.88
4 Lee Frank 6.495/ 218.49
5 Ross Hogenson 6.519/214.33
6 Rod Pearce 6.578/215.93
7 Vern Mills 6.617.192.96
8. Frank Cersisimo 6.635/208.81
DNQ
9 Tom Johanns 6.675 208.81
10 Tom Meheden 6.778 205.94
11 Wayne Ryder 7.920 151.31
12 Perry Thyr 8.206 127.64
Hotel info for all the teams:
Headquarters: Holiday Inn 208 343-4900 (located at I-84 and Airport,
best deal)
Best Western Vista Inn 208 287-0579 (across the freeway from Holiday
Inn)
Hilton Garden Inn 208 938-9600 (1st closest to track, likely a bit more
expensive)
Hampton Inn - Suites 208 887-3600 (2nd closest to track, back towards
Meridian, a nice newer establishment)
Be sure and mention to your racers that they'll be racing at Firebird
for best rates.
Race info:
37th Annual
PEPSI NIGHTFIRE
NATIONALS
Wednesday, August 6th
Pre-Event Sportsman Parking/Credentials: 1 pm-6 pm
Thursday, August 7th
Opens: 1 pm
Sportsman Racing: 4 pm
Professional Parking: 1-9 pm
Go Float the Boise River through town: Afternoon (Fun & Refreshing!)
Thursday Night NEW CREW Barbecue: 9:30 pm
(free to all participants)
Friday, August 8th
Gates Open: 9:00 am
Sportsman Bracketeer Racing: 12:30 Pm
PRO MODIFIED QUALIFYING: 7 pm
Saturday, August 9th
Gates Open: 9:00 am
Sportsman Bracketeer Racing: 12:30 pm
PRO MODIFIED QUALIFYING: 2 pm
PRO MODIFIED QUALIFYING: 7 pm
Sunday, August 10th
Gates Open: 9:00 am
Sportsman Bracketeer Racing: Noon
PRO MODIFIED ELIMINATIONS: 5:30 pm
FIREBIRD IS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTH
OF HWY 44 ON HWY 16 NORTHWEST OF EAGLE
Firebird Hotline: (208) 938-8986\
Pre-entry list
Boise Pre-Entry as of 7-21-08
Wayne Ryder
Joe Delehay
Perry Thyr
Wayne Hofer
Ross Hogenson
Tom Johans
Vern Mills
Dan Vogt
Lee Frank
Rod Peirce
Keith Korecki
Brian Lane
Frank Cersosimo
Billy Harper
Dennis Radford
Tom Meheden