Stivers makes first-round exit in Atlanta
COMMERCE, GA (April 27, 2008) - Heading into the JEGS Pro Mod Challenge event this weekend, Lexington, Ky.-resident Rick Stivers wanted two things: a consistent car and a little luck, and he definitely ended up with both, although the results weren't exactly what he was hoping for. Stivers qualified No. 16 in the quickest ProMod Challenge field in history with a blazing 6.099/233.36, pairing him against Canadian Raymond Commisso who led the pack with a 5.957/244.87.
"You'd at least think with a 6.09 I'd be somewhere in the middle of the pack," said Stivers. "I think the competition is just getting better and better, and it really shows."
By comparison, the field for the 2007 event was bookended by a 5.97 and a 6.16, and a 6.09 would have put Stivers at No. 10.
Stivers said knew he would have his hands full with Commisso on the other side in their first-round matchup Saturday Evening.
"We'd run pretty consistently after my wild ride Friday, getting a 6.14 and then a 6.09 that morning, so I was sure we could run something decent, but it would have to pretty remarkable to match a 5.95. He got a little lead at the starting line, but then just flat out-ran us to the finish line," Stivers said.
The tale at the stripe confirmed the story: Stivers with a 6.116/230.5 to Commisso's 6.020/243.63.
"I think I used up all my luck on Friday by not hitting anything or rolling down the track, so when it came time for eliminations, he just had the better run," Stivers said.
In his first qualifying lap on Friday, Stivers’ ‘67 Shelby Mustang GT took a hard left when he hit second gear, causing the veteran driver to correct to the right, and then to the left, miraculously missing the walls and keeping the car from barrel-rolling down the quarter-mile at Atlanta Dragway.
Stivers added that because of the rain in the Atlanta area, plans to test Monday and Tuesday had to be cancelled.
"We were all ready to go and test before St. Louis, because this weekend proves that running an '.09 just won't be competitive any more. Mike [Janis, crew chief] and Tim [Tindle, team owner] had to adjust the plans, though, when we were told by the track people we couldn't test.
"We'll just head to St. Louis and hope we can find some more horsepower along the highway," Stivers said with a laugh.
