Palmdale Shines In Import Drag Racing's 2000 Season Finale - IDRC Nitto Tires International Finals

Palmdale, Calif.'s Los Angeles County Raceway is the birthplace of organized import drag racing. And at the IDRC Nitto Tires International Finals, it saw more power than ever.

The IDRC rented a street sweeper and ran it up and down the racing surface and shut-down area until the driver was dizzy. Then the entire racing surface was prepped with VHT and a close eye was kept on track conditions throughout the two-day event. With 7-second cars such as Abel Ibarra's stable of Mazdas and Marcos Acosta's 20B-powered MX-3 grip was at a premium. Factor in East Coast racers Craig Paisley and Chris Rado along with Stephan Papadakis and a gang of Quick Class warriors, and it's easy to see the need for such preparations.

The proof this worked was clearly evident in the timeslips. Abel Ibarra's Pro Class RX-7 qualified with a 7.93 at 171 mph, while his Flaco Racing counterpart Efren Vasquez was number two in the R-100 with a 7.98. In Outlaw, half of the field was able to break into the 8s during qualifying. Craig Paisley and his TRD-backed Supra edged out RX-7pilot Ray Lochhead 9.866 to 9.875. Adam Saruwatari posted an impressive 8.90 to get the third spot on the grid and Stephan Papadakis rounded out the 8-second contenders with an 8.96 at 162 mph, the highest trap speed in the field. Because of weight and fuel factors, Honda uni-body racers Ed Bergenholtz and Chris Rado found themselves surrounded by jungle-gym cars. They fared well, making the field in the number six and seven spots, running 9.65 and 9.75 respectively. In Quick Class, Lisa Kubo blasted a 9.61, easily the quickest time for a uni-body Honda at Palmdale.

In Street, league leader Ari Yallon was number one with a 10.32, but Rhys Millen was close on his heels with a 10.39 in the UPRD Supra. The All-Motor Class had it toughest, as the track's 2,800-foot elevation took a toll on competitors' power output. What's about these cars? The equal level of performance. Top qualifier Joel Mandl checked in with an 11.48, while the number four qualifier, Erick Aguilar, was a scant .06 seconds back at 11.54. The entire eight-car field was in the 11s.

Toyo Tires Street ClassThe Street class consisted of four RX-7s, a pair of Supras, a '92 Skyline GT-R and a '77 Mercedes. Events unfolded predictably with number one qualifier and division dominator Ari Yallon and his RX-7 and number two car, the Rhys Millen-piloted Supra from UPRD meeting heads-up in the finals. However, predictability went out the door at the flash of the green as the Supra sizzled the RX-7-10.02 to 10.23. During Saturday's qualifying session, the UPRD Supra, which is a handful coming out of the box because of its six-speed transmission, got a lackluster start, but its acceleration at half-track was a real eye opener. UPRD reported 60-foots of 2.2 seconds have been the norm because the old multi-plate clutch would be launched at 6500, but as it would catch, the clutch would pull down the revs to 1800 and the car would bog off the line. But on Saturday, the Supra was pulling 1.8s, thanks to a new six-puck, single-plate clutch from ACT. The ACT clutch was installed a mere four days before the event and no testing was possible prior to hitting the track. After some adjustments and fiddling with tire pressure, the Supra nailed a 1.5-second, 60-foot in the finals en route to its best-ever effort and the class win.

DC Sports All Motor ClassThis could have been the CRX Nats as six of the eight qualifiers were examples of Honda's fastback roller skate. The first two spots on the grid were occupied by the non-believers, namely Joel Mandl's '91 Civic and Scott Kelley's '69 VW. The finals came down to a pair of CRXs, number three on the tree, Jarrod Silvers, and Erick Aguilar, who made the show from the fourth spot in the line-up. In the finals, it was a tale of the staging game. Silvers pre-staged first. Then Aguilar lit the first light. Silvers then final staged and got on the brake and the two-step. Aguilar waited him out. As Silvers got off the gas, Aguilar staged and the tree lit up. The results sheet showed Silvers getting out first, but his engine bogged and the race that was close on paper was over.

Nitto Tires/Turbo Magazine Quick ClassIt was "do or die" in the Quick Class with Lisa Kubo ahead of the pack, but not entirely out of the woods in the series points race. She made the statement early and loudly, blasting a 9.61 in the first round of qualifications, grabbing top spot and precious points. Her main rival, Leevon Eisele, checked in at number seven on the grid. Both racers advanced through the first round and lost in the quarter finals, sealing the series championship and $15,000 for Lisa Kubo Racing. Kubo was running against Kousuke Kida in the peach-colored Signal Auto Civic, when her downpipe blew off and lodged in the tranny's cable-style shift linkage, which kept her from shifting. She ran an 11.26 at 89 mph. Kida wasn't waiting around; he ran a 10.75, letting off on the top end. Eisele ran a good 10.37, but was bitten by Jojo Callos' 9.89. Proving how well the track was hooking, Jimmy O'Connor and the Venom Civic fired off their best-ever run of 9.57 at 147 mph, taking Kubo's quickest ever run by a uni-body Honda at Palmdale. With the big picture decided, it was time to see who would win the race. The Venom Civic could not make the semis, giving Russ Matusevich a free ride into the finals. Kida's 10.44 was enough to dispatch Callos and it was a Honda vs. Toyota final. Matusevich broke and Kida skated to a 10.41 and a $1,500 payday.

JE Pistons Pro ClassTeam Flaco Racing had its way with the competition. Marcos Acosta, the only racer in a position to challenge the R-100 and RX-7, had tire shake gremlins the entire weekend and could not run to full potential. The MVA team has big plans for 2001, so look out. The finals came down to the RX-7 and the R-100 with the 7 collecting the cash with an 8.13 compared to the 100's 8.61.

Apex Integration Outlaw ClassNumber three qualifier Adam Saruwatari, who scorched the track with a 8.90, elected to run exhibition passes on Sunday, allowing Jim Johnson to enter the fray. Johnson, piloting Ray Lochhead's old first-gen RX-7, was an upset winner at the Fontana Battle. Johnson made it to the semis before Rene Franco's RX-3 beat him. Franco beat Paisley in the first round when Paisley could not get off the line. Paisley ran an 8.84, but his 1.125-second reaction time gave Franco the win light with a 9.41. Starting line demons affected Honda racer Stephan Papadakis who redlit in the first round. In the end, Ray Lochhead put the pedal to the metal and wheel-stood his way into the finals, where he dispatched Franco with a blistering 8.86.

ConclusionNot only was the racing action fast and furious, spectators supported the event big-time by filling the stands on Sunday. The Third Annual West Coast Nationals kicks off the 2001 IDRC season February 17 and 18, 2001 at Palmdale's LACR.