Gainesville: Steve Vick apreview

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - When the 2000 IHRA season drew to a close last fall, the record for the fastest nitrous-injected Pro Modified pass ever recorded belonged to Mocksville, North Carolina's Steve Vick. And to prove that the 6.267-second time slip he picked up at the CARQUEST Autumn Nationals was no fluke, the three-time IHRA national event winner raised the bar even further in 2001 pre-season testing

In January, during the Majesty Homes Groundhog Warm-up, Vick pointed his colorful '68 Camaro towards the finish line at Darlington International Raceway, and ran it through the traps in 6.249 seconds, at a speed of 224.55 miles per hour. And this was after a daylong battle with motor problems. You can bet your last blower belt that the supercharger crowd has been following Vick's activities with great interest.

Not that it takes much to spark a nitrous-injected vs. blower confrontation in the Pro Mod class, but their introduction to NHRA fans during the running of the Mac Tools Gatornationals on March 16-18 will be a major incentive for all involved to strut their best stuff. This will be the first of five exhibition races to be presented at Winston Drag Racing national events this season.

There has been just one Pro Mod car to ever run in the "teens", and a supercharged motor powered it. You just know that there are a bunch of bottle rocket drivers just itching to equal the feat this season. Where better to do it than in Gainesville? And who has the best chance to break the barrier? Well, Steve Vick has already knocked on the door this year, in January, no less. Does anyone think for a minute that he showed all his cards? Steve isn't talking, but he has been seen grinning an awful lot lately. Stay tuned.

www.stevevickmotorsports.com