VIPsports Indy IRP preview, Beech Bend canceled

A Day at the Beech--

Milford, Michigan -- The VIPsports.com Top Alcohol Funny Car Team had a day at the "beech" they weren't expecting. The August 26th -- 28th NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Beech Bend Raceway Park was rained out. The bad weather in Bowling Green, Kentucky held off long enough for Danny Townsend to qualify third and to win Saturday's first elimination round. After that, there was nothing to do but tend to details on the Mopar Hemi engine and hope for blue skies. On Monday morning, with no apparent let-up in sight, and the U.S. Nationals looming only days away, the race was called. NHRA has rescheduled it to run concurrent with the final Division 3 race, at Columbus, Ohio, September 23rd -- 25th.

Upon learning of the cancellation, the crew packed up the VIPsports.com pit area and headed off to Indianapolis Raceway Park -- in pouring rain. The team is hoping for better weather in Clermont, Indiana, for the August 31st -- September 5th Mac Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. The event is the oldest and most prestigious on the NHRA schedule. The ParkerTech crew won the U.S. Nationals in 2003, with their old car, and swept away the TAFC field there earlier this year with the current VIPsports.com Dodge Stratus.

NHRA's "Tricky Tipster," in the August 26th issue of National Dragster, gives Townsend and the VIPsports.com car 10-1 odds to win the TAFC race. Frank Parker, team owner, said of the Tipster's odds, "I don't agree with those numbers at all. We're going to Indy with the sole intent of putting the VIPsports.com Dodge Stratus in the winner's circle. With our Mopar Hemi, McKinney chassis and Danny Townsend all working together under the Dodge Stratus fuel-style body, our odds are a heck of a lot better than they think."

Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying starts Thursday, September 1st at 2:30 pm, continues Friday at noon and 4:30 pm and wraps up Saturday at 4 pm. The first round of TAFC eliminations is on Sunday at 10 am and picks up again on Monday at 11 am. For track information, call 317-291-4020 or visit www.irponline.com.

-www.challengerconsultingllc.com