 MMP Mayor's Cup - Three Second Runs, Grenading Engines and a Lot of Fun(Oct. 29, 2007) -- The 10th Annual Mayor's Cup Nationals October 27-28
recorded the fastest - ever Nitrous Pro Modified run in Montgomery
Motorsports Park history, domination of the 6.0 heads-up class by one
hometown hero, and a lot in between.
 The event featured an open Outlaw Pro Mod Show split into Nitrous and
Blower Classes (sponsored by
promodifieds.us). Chancellor, Alabama veteran Johnny Pilcher
dominated Nitrous Pro Modified qualifying Saturday with his record
breaking 4.028 at 178.28 miles per hour. On race day, he backed that up
with runs of 4.120 (176.64), 4.177 (173.64) and 4.103 (177.02) in the
finals against Kenny "The Undertaker" Scott of Hueytown, AL.
Scott was the talk of the event when he uncorked a scorching 4.260 at
173.67 in his Corvette in the finals. Long-time friends of The
Undertaker guessed that run was his fastest ever in a Nitrous Pro Mod.
Scott gave Pilcher all he could handle in the finals but his 4.289
(158.25) didn't match up to Pilcher's winning 4.103.
 In the Blower Pro Mod class, "Big Money" Bill Clanton of Rome, GA and
Dewayne Watkins of Rosemark, TN uncorked three second runs in qualifying,
Clanton's a 3.894 at 191.65 and Watkins' a 3.914 at 185.56 mph.
On race day, though, Big Money made it through round one with a 3.978 at
171.59 to defeat Hugh Scott but blew a connecting rod out of the bottom of
the engine and the top end and had to retire. That left the field clear
for Watkins, who defeated (in turn) Rodney Stokes and Jeff Byrd to make
the finals against Pro Mod hitter Rodney Rosenteil of Pace, FL. Coming to
the line, Rosenteil's hot rod wouldn't fire, so Watkins got a solo dance
to the winner's check.
 The $10,000 checks in the Pro Class (sponsored by
dragcoverage.com) attracted a field of over 120 race cars. On
Saturday, Fort Payne, AL racer Matt Noojin outlasted the field, defeating
Georgia veteran Charlie Hardy in the finals. Noojin's .023 light, 4.731 on
his 4.71 dial at 141.70 combined to best Hardy, who had a great .003 light
but ran a 6.635 at 102.23 on his 5.59 dial. Josh Mackey of Opelika, AL
was the semi-finalist.
 On Sunday, it was a battle of wily veterans in the Pro finals, and Stacy
Carpenter did in "Roanoke Mafia" godfather Mike Smith of Roanoke, AL.
Carpenter had an .020 light and ran a 5.065 at 134.68 on his 5.06 dial.
Smith was also dead on with a 4.819 on a 4.81 dial at 141.37 with an .023
tree. Former Million Dollar Race winner Jeff Rucks was the lone
semi-finalist.
The Footbrake wars were hot and heavy with veteran Gary Martin winning day
one and Clint Boyt bringing home the bacon in his Dodge Dakota pickup
truck on Sunday. Boyt ran an 8.056 on an 8.04 dial at 83.93 miles per
hour to defeat Matt Montgomery in the finals. Montgomery had some in the
bank from his .035 light but ran a breakout 6.905 on his 6.91 dial. Kelly
Lackey was the lone semi-finalist.
 The 6.0 heads-up class was ruled all weekend by Millbrook, AL racer Kevin
Pruett as he won both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Pruett defeated
Chris Hagan in the finals with a spiffy .022 light and a perfect 6.000 run
at 108.49. Johnny Phelps was the lone semi-finalist.
On Sunday, it came down to Pruett and Georgia racer Mark Fowler. Kevin
pulled a.014 light out of the hat and a 6.010 jewel to defeat Fowler, who
matched up on the tree but ran a 5.998.
 In the 7.0 wars, class sponsor Fun Carts of Opelika made the winners
circle as Fun Carts executive Tracey Hadaway defeated veteran Rickie
Taylor in the finals. Hadaway had an .023 light and a 7.091 to defeat
Taylor's .063 light and 7.092.
On Sunday in 7.0, hometown hero Cole Cousins of Millbrook took the win
over another Fun Carts - sponsored entry, this one driven by Jared Mackey
of Opelika. Cousins was .019 on the tree and ran a 7.027 to Mackey's .042
light and 7.024.
(Action shots courtesy of Lifetime Photography... Winner's Circle
Photography courtesy of Lifetime and Wade Mooney) |
The 6.0 heads-up class was ruled all weekend by Millbrook, AL racer Kevin
Pruett as he won both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Pruett defeated
Chris Hagan in the finals with a spiffy .022 light and a perfect 6.000 run
at 108.49. Johnny Phelps was the lone semi-finalist.
On Sunday, it came down to Pruett and Georgia racer Mark Fowler. Kevin
pulled a.014 light out of the hat and a 6.010 jewel to defeat Fowler, who
matched up on the tree but ran a 5.998.
In the 7.0 wars, class sponsor Fun Carts of Opelika made the winners
circle as Fun Carts executive Tracey Hadaway defeated veteran Rickie
Taylor in the finals. Hadaway had an .023 light and a 7.091 to defeat
Taylor's .063 light and 7.092.
