IHBA: Final qualifying Oak Hollow Boat Drags

July 28, 2001 (Austin, TX) --- Overcast skies did not damped the spirits of the IHBA competitors and their fans during qualifying at the IHBA Oak Hollow Boat Drags on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, North Carolina today. John Haas took the top spot in Top Fuel Hydro, Tim Stokes and Eric Morris continued their dominance of the Top Alcohol Hydro and Top Alcohol Flat classes, respectively, and in Pro Mod Ron McLellan rounded out the number one qualifiers.

John Haas missed the first round of Top Fuel Hydro qualifying and had to wait and see if Top Fuel Hydro points leader Greg Tedesco of Reno or challenger John Hipwell, of Landing, New Jersey, could run a quicker number after he laid down his 5.19 second pass this afternoon. At the end of the day it was Haas standing atop the star-studded field.

"We missed the first round because of some bad magnetos. We have been fighting some problems for the last three races and we still don't have them all worked out. We are ready for tomorrow. It helps being the number one qualifier so you can get a favorable first round opponent. If you can get past that first round then you have to be ready for Tedesco, Hipwell, or Kinsley. The racing is going to be tough. Anyone one of those three boats can step it up tomorrow," said Haas.

Tim Stokes, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, and Eric Morris, of Madera, California, are becoming accustomed to sitting atop their respective fields. Stokes is holding off Ted Faggart, of Porterville, California, in the Top Alcohol Hydro class and he knows Faggart has the experience go rounds even if he may be lacking the horsepower.

"Every race we are trying to be the number one qualifier and win the race. Ted (Faggart is also making huge strides every race. We were tuned up and ready for that second round but once we saw Faggart didn't beat our number we just idled down the track to save the boat. A lot of people are talking about us meeting in the final but we are just taking it one round at a time. Our goal tomorrow is to win every round one at a time," said Stokes.

In the Top Alcohol Flat class Eric Morris has a stranglehold on the top spot and is enjoying his first East Coast swing. He is consistent and fast which in this class is a deadly combination.

"Everything looked good today and we are ready for tomorrow. There are an odd amount of boats so I'll get a bye in the first round, which is good. We are about 600 points out of first place so every point counts. We set the boat up pretty easy and it still ran a good number. We know there is more in the boat so tomorrow we will be ready to run," said Morris.

Pro Mod top qualifier Ron McLellan took the top spot with a near perfect 7.01-second pass versus the 7.00 index. He will be looking at a tough Pro Mod field heading into tomorrow's eliminations.

Final Eliminations at the IHBA Oak Hollow Boat Drags will get under way at noon. <pre>

Final Qualifying IHBA Oak Hollow Boat Drags Top Fuel Hydro Name, Hometown ET MPH 1. John Haas, Allegan, MI 5.197 218.12 2. John Hipwell, Landing, NJ 5.202 229.70 3. Scott Lumbert, Batavia, IL 5.481 213.26 4. Greg Tedesco, Reno, NV 5.669 216.38 5. Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, TX 6.514 105.34 6. Craig Caulk, S. Houston, TX 6.787 179.16 7. Joe Reinhardt, Charlotte, NC 6.833 121.42 8. Bob Montgomery, Spring City, TN 7.216 167.94

Top Alcohol Hydro Name, Hometown ET MPH 1. Tim Stokes, Eufaula, OK 5.534 216.80 2. Ted Faggart, Porterville, CA 5.559 210.72 3. Andy Reynolds, Belmont, NC 5.742 207.58 4. John White, Houston, TX 6.179 196.34 5. Mike Robbins, Youngsville, NC 6.213 200.72 6. Sam Shaffer, Cambridge, IA 6.619 161.72

Top Alcohol Flat Name, Hometown ET MPH 1. Eric Morris, Madera, CA 6.839 154.74 2. Willie Lawrence, Richmond, VA 6.861 166.54 3. Don Ermshar, Riverside, CA 6.893 164.84 4. Todd Haas, Houston, TX 7.364 150.94 5. Buddy Tippett, Loveville, MO 7.492 123.46 6. Tracy Graves, Abell, MO 8.567 132.94 7. Jerry Davis, Conroe, TX 00.00 00.00

Pro Mod (versus 7.00 second Index) Name, Hometown ET MPH 1. Ron McLellan, Thamesford, Ont, CAN 7.011 165.78 2. Ron Chevillet, Southgate, MI 7.027 170.92 3. Charlie Zalaudek, St. Louis, MO 7.174 168.90 4. Jeff Miller, Russellville, KY 7.210 165.26 5. Bob Genther, Wayland, MI 7.294 166.38 6. Joe Link, Newburg, MD 7.682 147.66

-IHBA