ROCKINGHAM,
N.C.
--
It
may
have
taken
an
extra
three
weeks
to
complete,
but
it
was
well
worth
the
wait.
The
Udderly
Smooth
World
Finals
at
Rockingham
Dragway
saw
history
times
two
as
Rob
Atchison
used
a
record
setting
day
to
claim
his
third
straight
Funny
Car
title
and
Clay
Millican
won
his
unprecedented
ninth
consecutive
race
at
the
track
he
has
virtually
owned
since
2001.
Joining
Atchison
and
Millican
in
the
professional
winners
circle
were
Mike
Janis
in
Torco
Pro
Modified
and
Frank
Gugliotta
in
Torco
Pro
Stock.
Fans
were
also
treated
to
record
setting
performances
in
each
of
the
pro
classes,
as
Millican
demolished
the
Top
Fuel
standard
with
a
pass
of
4.484
on
Saturday
night,
Mike
Bell
backing
up
his
record
setting
pass
of
6.046,
Atchison
posting
a
5.685
on
his
way
to
locking
up
his
championship,
and
Robert
Patrick
setting
the
Torco
Pro
Stock
record
with
a
pass
of
6.360.
Atchison,
from
London,
Ont.,
removed
all
doubt
about
the
championship
picture
when
his
record
setting
run
against
Thomas
Carter
coupled
with
Jim
Sickles'
troubled
filled
shut
down
run
against
Fred
Tigges,
propelled
the
Canadian
to
his
third
straight
crown.
"It
hasn't
even
sunken
in
yet,"
Atchison
said.
"It
just
happened.
The
performance
hasn't
even
sunken
in
yet.
We
came
off
the
trailer
running
hard,
had
a
few
glitches,
but
that's
drag
racing,
we
ironed
them
out
and
away
we
go."
Even
though
Atchison
has
built
up
an
impressive
resume
the
past
three
years,
this
was
his
first
win
at
Rockingham,
putting
a
dramatic
finishing
touch
on
his
championship.
"This
was
our
first
win
at
Rockingham,
we
tied
the
most
wins
in
a
season
(seven)
in
Funny
Car,
our
third
straight
championship,
the
world
record-and
we
backed
it
up
twice.an
unbelievable
weekend,
a
dream
weekend."
The
third
championship
came
the
way
Atchison
wanted
it
to
be
settled-on
the
track.
"We
were
running
numbers
that
nobody
else
has
run,"
Atchsion
said
of
his
5.694
and
5.685.
"They
(Sickles'
team)
talked
a
pretty
good
game,
but
you
got
to
talk
it
and
then
back
it
up,
and
we
did
a
pretty
good
job
of
that."
Atchison
lowered
the
record
to
5.694
when
he
dispatched
Thomas
Carter
in
the
first
round.
Atchison
backed
up
that
run
with
a
5.713/246.30
against
Neal
Parker,
who
ran
a
respectable
5.830/234.49.
This
set
the
stage
for
the
final
against
familiar
foe
Mark
Thomas,
and
Atchison
rose
to
the
occasion
with
his
final
record
setting
effort,
posting
a
5.685/247.07
against
Thomas'
5.812/240.81.
With
all
of
the
goals
reached
for
2005,
and
all
the
fast
numbers
in
the
books,
Atchison
turned
his
attention
towards
2006.
"We've
got
tons
of
tricks
left.
We've
just
gotten
started."
Millican's
win
put
the
finishing
touches
on
his
fifth
consecutive
World
Championship
in
Top
Fuel.
His
ninth
win
of
the
season
came
against
Doug
Foley,
an
opponent
he
is
quite
familiar
with.
This
was
the
fifth
time
that
Millican,
from
Drummonds,
Tenn.,
and
Foley
have
squared
off
this
season,
with
Millican
coming
out
on
top
four
times.
The
pressure
was
off
of
the
Werner
team.
"It
was
nice
to
come
in
here
purely
to
have
fun
having
just
a
couple
of
goals
in
mind,"
Millican
said.
"We
came
in
here,
and
I
said
that
we
wanted
to
get
the
world
record,
which
we
normally
do.
We
were
planning
on
testing
on
Monday,
but
we
ended
up
testing
in
qualifying.
We
came
here
with
one
goal
in
mind,
to
get
our
IHRA
world
record
back.
That
was
a
big
deal
for
the
whole
team."
Millican
did
get
the
record
back,
running
a
4.484
during
Saturday
night
qualifying.
"After
Saturday,
today's
race
was
just
gravy."
Millican
faced
Bobby
Lagana
in
the
first
round,
with
both
cars
experiencing
troubles.
Millican
slipped
by
Lagana
with
a
5.029/247.66
against
a
5.228/233.96.
Millican
then
defeated
Louie
Allison,
who
shut
off
early.
That
set
up
the
final
round
against
Foley,
and
Millican
ran
a
4.554/319.14
to
Foley's
4.649/293.35.
In
Torco
Pro
Modified,
Janis,
from
Lancaster,
N.Y.,
put
some
of
the
demons
to
bed
that
have
been
plaguing
the
Widowmaker
in
2005,
defeating
Carl
Spiering
in
the
final.
Outside
of
a
win
in
Virginia,
this
was
a
year
that
Janis
and
his
team
would
have
like
to
forget.
"It
has
been
an
up
and
down
season,"
Janis
said.
"This
is
going
to
make
the
winter
go
by
a
little
easier
and
brings
us
in
on
a
high
for
next
season."
Janis
and
his
team
struggled
for
much
of
'05,
and
a
weekend
like
this
was
exactly
what
the
team
needed.
"We
started
the
year
with
a
lot
of
DNQs,
and
even
this
weekend,
we
started
off
shaky.
We
even
prepared
for
the
worst,
but
we
stuck
together,
and
it
all
worked
out."
The
weather
conditions
which
produced
the
quickest
pro
fields
in
every
class
but
Torco
Pro
Modified
caused
a
lot
of
adjustments.
"The
car
responded
to
the
changes,
which
was
the
first
time
it
did
that
all
season,"
Janis
said.
"We
found
our
game
plan.
The
one
round,
we
broke
the
tranny,
and
that
round
against
Castellana
we
both
got
a
gift
as
we
both
shook
the
tires."
Janis
dispatched
some
of
the
biggest
names
in
the
class
on
his
way
to
the
win.
He
got
past
Billy
Harper
in
the
first
round
as
Harper
shut
down
early.
Janis'
round
against
Castellana
was
unspectacular
as
both
cars
ran
high
six
second
passes.
His
real
test
came
in
the
final
as
he
defeated
Spiering
with
a
6.135/234.61
to
Spiering's
6.173/231.87.
2006
will
see
some
changes
for
Janis
and
his
team,
and
this
win
gets
him
ready
for
next
year.
"We've
got
a
new
Cobalt
being
built,
some
new
sponsorship,
and
this
was
a
great
way
to
get
ready
for
next
year."
In
Torco
Pro
Stock,
Frank
Gugliotta
finished
his
late
season
surge
with
a
win
over
Robert
Patrick,
running
a
6.404/218.44
against
Patrick's
troubled
8.487/114.24.
Patrick
had
been
rivaling
Steve
Spiess
as
having
the
car
to
beat
all
weekend,
eventually
lowering
the
world
ET
record
to
a
6.360.
But
it
was
Gugliotta,
who
had
most
recently
won
in
New
England
who
came
out
with
the
Ironman.
Gugliotta
has
been
known
for
his
late
season
surges.
"I
got
to
get
on
this
a
little
bit
earlier
in
the
year.
We
did
struggle
at
the
beginning
of
this
year,
just
like
last
year,
finished
strong
this
year,
and
just
want
to
build
for
next
year."
Gugliotta
has
struggled
at
Rockingham
Dragway
in
the
past,
and
started
off
slow
this
weekend,
but
found
the
right
combination
to
walk
away
with
his
third
Ironman
of
the
year.
"The
Rock
has
not
been
good
to
me.
It's
seems
that
every
time
I've
come
here,
even
in
Top
Sportsman,
I
couldn't
get
past
the
second
round.
I've
never
had
any
luck
here.
We
struggled
Friday
night,
and
Saturday,
and
the
first
round
this
morning.
We
pulled
a
clutch
out
of
the
box,
and
got
lucky,
pulling
a
.38,
and
said,
'alright,
maybe
we
can
play
ball
today."
Gugliotta's
day
of
eliminations
started
with
a
win
over
Pete
Berner,
posting
a
6.481/216.90
to
Berner's
6.497/195.03.
He
then
beat
a
surprising
Bert
Jackson,
who
upset
Rick
Jones
in
the
first
round.
Jackson
had
Gugliotta
on
the
tree,
but
Gugliotta
made
too
much
power
and
his
6.389
was
enough
to
get
by.
Gugliotta
then
took
down
John
Bartunek
in
an
exciting
side
by
side
race,
running
a
6.393/218.37
to
Bartunek's
6.425/216.65.
This
set
up
the
final
showdown
with
Patrick.
While
Steve
Spiess
ran
three
consecutive
6.36s,
and
Robert
Patrick
walked
away
with
the
world
record,
it
was
Gugliotta
that
had
the
final
say.
"Those
are
the
most
important-wins.
Records
are
nice,
but
I
really
like
the
wins.
You
don't
get
an
Ironman
for
the
numbers."
Sunday's
final
results
from
the
Tenth
annual
Udderly
SMOOth
World
Finals
at
Rockingham
Dragway.
The
$1.1
million
race
is
the
12th
of
12
in
the
2005
Hooters
IHRA
Drag
Racing
Series:
Top
Fuel
--
Clay
Millican,
4.554
seconds,
319.14
mph
def.
Doug
Foley,
4.649
seconds,
293.35
mph.
Pro
Modified
--
Mike
Janis,
Dodge
Stratus,
6.135,
234.61
def.
Carl
Spiering,
Chevy
Corvette,
6.173,
231.87.
Funny
Car
--
Rob
Atchison,
Pontiac
Firebird,
5.685,
247.07
def.
Mark
Thomas,
Dodge
Avenger,
5.812,
240.81.
Pro
Stock
--
Frank
Gugliotta,
Ford
Escort,
6.404,
218.44
def.
Robert
Patrick,
Ford
Cobra,
8.487,
114.24.
Top
Stock
--
Monty
Bogan
Jr.,
Pontiac
Firebird,
9.519,
131.90
def.
Matt
Morgan,
Chevy
Camaro,
broke.
Top
Sportsman
--
Eric
Steffey,
Chevy
Camaro,
6.903,
199.35
def.
Frankie
Pennington,
Pontiac
Grand
Am,
6.895,
198.85.
Top
Dragster
--
Ricky
Adkins,
Dragster,
7.379,
178.05
def.
Nick
Folk,
Dragster,
6.934,
187.94.
Quick
Rod
--
Britt
Cummings,
Dragster,
8.960,
167.95
def.
David
Elrod,
Dragster,
8.982,
161.34.
Super
Rod
--
Brian
Freeman,
Chevy
Corvette,
9.923,
157.43
def.
Rusty
Cook,
Corvette,
foul.
Hot
Rod
--
Keith
Mayers,
Porsche
944,
10.900,
142.82
def.
Michael
Harris,
Chevy
Camaro,
10.909,
135.22.
Super
Stock
--
Robbie
Hudlow,
Oldsmobile
Achieva,
9.503,
140.68
def.
Jim
Harrington,
Chevy
Camaro,
9.756,
136.02.
Stock
--
Terry
Taylor,
Chevy
Corvette,
9.969,
131.63
def.
Eric
Patton,
Ford
Mustang,
11.489,
116.21.
Summit
SuperSeries
Box
ET
--
J.J.
Brock,
Dragster,
7.907,
165.01
def.
Bob
Pearson,
Chevy
Corvette,
9.963,
147.91.
Summit
SuperSeries
No
Box
ET
--
Rick
Baehr,
Chevy
Camaro,
10.497,
117.48
def.
Keith
Dunkum,
Ford
Mustang,
10.110,
131.83.
Final
round-by-round
results
from
the
Tenth
annual
Udderly
SMOOth
World
Finals
at
Rockingham
Dragway,
the
12th
of
12
events
in
the
2005
Hooters
IHRA
Drag
Racing
Series:
TOP
FUEL:
ROUND
ONE
--
Louie
Allison,
4.782,
284.56
def.
Bruce
Litton,
6.226,
135.88;
Danny
Dunn,
4.701,
300.26
def.
Tim
Cullinan,
4.682,
311.70;
Doug
Foley,
5.730,
157.23
def.
Rick
Cooper,
broke;
Clay
Millican,
5.029,
247.66
def.
Bobby
Lagana
Jr.,
5.228,
233.96;
SEMIFINALS
--
Millican,
4.576,
312.93
def.
Allison,
13.781,
53.78;
Foley,
4.685,
303.16
def.
Dunn,
6.313,
134.44;
FINAL
--
Millican,
4.554,
319.14
def.
Foley,
4.649,
293.35.
PRO
MODIFIED:
ROUND
ONE
--
Carl
Spiering,
Chevy
Corvette,
6.144,
232.31
def.
Harold
Martin,
Pontiac
Grand
Am,
8.967,
120.67;
Quain
Stott,
Corvette,
6.270,
226.81
def.
Chip
King,
Dodge
Daytona,
16.084,
48.78;
Shannon
Jenkins,
Chevy
Camaro,
6.165,
227.88
def.
Thomas
Patterson,
Willys,
broke;
Rick
DiStefano,
Corvette,
6.198,
228.04
def.
Jim
Halsey,
Camaro,
9.533,
109.40;
Steve
Bareman,
Corvette,
6.104,
235.19
def.
Johnny
Pilcher,
Corvette,
8.351,
107.32;
Mike
Janis,
Dodge
Stratus,
6.131,
233.80
def.
Billy
Harper,
Dodge
Viper,
16.399,
46.64;
Mike
Castellana,
Chevy
Cavalier,
6.159,
218.83
def.
Eddie
Ware,
Willys,
6.620,
215.51;
Mike
Bell,
Ford
Mustang,
6.103,
232.79
def.
Ronnie
Hood,
Corvette,
16.843,
47.47;
QUARTERFINALS
--
Spiering,
6.134,
232.83
def.
DiStefano,
6.423,
212.73;
Janis,
6.866,
202.70
def.
Castellana,
6.869,
221.82;
Bareman,
6.098,
231.28
def.
Jenkins,
foul;
Bell,
6.124,
228.04
def.
Stott,
6.298,
230.80;
SEMIFINALS
--
Janis,
6.531,
180.96
def.
Bell,
6.739,
163.41;
Spiering,
6.208,
232.23
def.
Bareman,
foul;
FINAL
--
Janis,
6.135,
234.61
def.
Spiering,
6.173,
231.87.
FUNNY
CAR:
ROUND
ONE
--
Rob
Atchison,
Pontiac
Firebird,
5.694,
246.84
def.
Thomas
Carter,
Chevy
Camaro,
5.820,
236.88;
Mark
Thomas,
Dodge
Avenger,
5.847,
238.76
def.
Chris
Foster,
Avenger,
5.886,
239.74;
Frederick
Tigges,
Camaro,
5.741,
244.92
def.
Jim
Sickles,
Chevy
Monte
Carlo,
11.945,
74.25;
Neal
Parker,
Monte
Carlo,
5.841,
234.57
def.
Terry
Munroe,
Monte
Carlo,
5.833,
238.60;
SEMIFINALS
--
Thomas,
5.838,
238.81
def.
Tigges,
14.374,
62.93;
Atchison,
5.713,
246.30
def.
Parker,
5.830,
234.49;
FINAL
--
Atchison,
5.685,
247.07
def.
Thomas,
5.812,
240.81.
PRO
STOCK:
ROUND
ONE
--
Brian
Gahm,
Ford
Mustang,
6.399,
216.72
def.
Tony
Gillig,
Mustang,
6.407,
215.93;
Frank
Gugliotta,
Ford
Escort,
6.481,
216.90
def.
Pete
Berner,
Mustang,
foul;
John
Bartunek,
Chevy
Cobalt,
6.435,
216.10
def.
Daniel
Seamon,
Escort,
6.394,
216.55;
Robert
Patrick,
Ford
Cobra,
6.360,
218.48
def.
John
Montecalvo,
Cobalt,
6.443,
214.96;
Ed
Machacek,
Chevy
Cavalier,
6.549,
185.33
def.
Jerry
Haas,
Cavalier,
broke;
Larry
O'Brien,
Dodge
Stratus,
6.430,
214.93
def.
John
Nobile,
Ford
ZX2,
foul;
Bert
Jackson,
Cavalier,
6.453,
214.83
def.
Rick
Jones,
Cobalt,
6.418,
217.28;
Steve
Spiess,
Cobalt,
6.416,
217.46
def.
Michael
Bruno,
Cavalier,
6.456,
215.41;
QUARTERFINALS
--
Gugliotta,
6.389,
218.12
def.
Jackson,
6.503,
214.21;
Bartunek,
6.444,
215.79
def.
O'Brien,
8.057,
107.99;
Spiess,
15.366,
63.44
def.
Gahm,
broke;
Patrick,
6.381,
218.37
def.
Machacek,
foul;
SEMIFINALS
--
Gugliotta,
6.393,
218.37
def.
Bartunek,
6.425,
216.65;
Patrick,
6.381,
218.05
def.
Spiess,
6.402,
216.65;
FINAL
--
Gugliotta,
6.404,
218.44
def.
Patrick,
8.487,
114.24.
Point
standings
(top
10)
for
IHRA
professional
categories
following
the
Tenth
annual
Udderly
SMOOth
World
Finals
at
Rockingham
Dragway,
the
12th
of
12
events
in
the
2005
Hooters
IHRA
Drag
Racing
Series
-
Top
Fuel
1.
Clay
Millican,
1,546;
2.
Doug
Foley,
1,282;
3.
Bruce
Litton,
1,115;
4.
Rick
Cooper,
945;
5.
Louie
Allison,
865;
6.
Bobby
Lagana
Jr.,
568;
7.
Roger
Dean,
464;
8.
Chris
Karamesines,
392;
9.
Todd
Paton,
382;
10.
Paul
Athey,
357.
Pro
Modified
1.
Mike
Castellana,
935;
2.
Shannon
Jenkins,
769;
3.
Carl
Spiering,
746;
4.
Mike
Janis,
726;
5.
Jim
Halsey,
694;
6.
Ed
Hoover,
585;
7.
Quain
Stott,
581;
8.
Burton
Auxier,
579;
9.
Harold
Martin,
570;
10.
Dennis
Radford,
549.
Funny
Car
1.
Rob
Atchison,
1,243;
2.
Jim
Sickles,
1,168;
3.
Mark
Thomas,
952;
4.
Thomas
Carter,
776;
5.
Chris
Foster,
699;
6.
Terry
McMillen,
665;
7.
Terry
Munroe,
554;
8.
Frederick
Tigges,
534;
9.
Melinda
Green-King,
312;
10.
Larry
Dobbs,
307.
Pro
Stock
1.
Steve
Spiess,
1,210;
2.
Frank
Gugliotta,
933;
3.
Robert
Patrick,
882;
4.
Rick
Jones,
780;
5.
Daniel
Seamon,
776;
6.
Tony
Gillig,
767;
7.
Pete
Berner,
645;
8.
John
Montecalvo,
615;
9.
Brian
Gahm,
614;
10.
Jerry
Haas,
608.