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CAYUGA, ON. – When the eMax IHRA Drag Racing Series tour kicked off in San Antonio last March, veteran Pro Modified competitor Alan Pittman didn’t foresee using the entire 11-race schedule as an extended test and tune session, but with just two dates left on the 2006 race calendar, that’s the way it appears to be working out.
Through the first eight races, Pittman, a chassis builder from Greenville, South Carolina, had experiences that covered the entire spectrum of on-track performance and off-track emotions. A win and three DNQs during that stretch set the scene for the type of year that Pittman, car owner Mel Bush, and the crew have been through up to now.
Although the season itself has been fraught with inconsistencies, that does not apply to the team’s 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air, however. Built by Pittman in his AP Race Cars shop, the unique “bubble top” Chevy has been a solid performer all season long. The combination of a straight-running car and supercharged power from fellow Pro Mod racer Carl Spiering has allowed Pittman to log career-best performances in 2006.
His problems in qualifying have stemmed from such things as tire shake, clutch adjustment issues, and as was the case at the last race in New Hampshire, a loose oil tank cap.
So when IHRA teams assembled at Toronto Motorsports Park for the completion of the Canadian Nationals, which had been rained-out in July, Pittman and his crew were keen to put the past behind then and take a shot at a top-ten finish in championship points.
They struggled a bit in qualifying, but made the show in impressive fashion with a last-chance run of 6.197, 226.28 on Saturday night, good enough for the No. 10 spot in the 16-car field, and a meeting with No. 2 qualifier Tommy D’Aprile in the first round of eliminations.
Pittman’s weekend ended early the next day when his car launched into tire shake just off the line, and he was forced to get out of the throttle. He was satisfied with his car and his team’s effort, however, on what he described as “a weird weekend.”
“The weather conditions changed from day-to-day, and sometimes from hour-to-hour,” Pittman said. “We have to be able to adapt to different conditions, of course, but it was real challenging. We had variations in temperatures, and of course it rained quite a bit again, which changed the traction properties of the track.
“I’m not making excuses, though, because I was happy with the way our car ran,” Pittman said. “Since we don’t have a lot of time to test, we have to do quite a lot of experimenting at the races themselves, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out the way we plan. We tried some different ratios at Toronto, for example, and it beat us in the long run.”
With just two events remaining this season that No. 10 finish is still within sight, as Pittman currently occupies the thirteenth position. If he can finish strong and make the top-ten, it will go a long way towards jump-starting his next campaign.
“We have a good car, a good engine program, and a good team,” said Pittman. “We’ll be keys players next season – trust me on that. We just want a solid finish to build on for 2007.”
This weekend’s race is the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals, September 29 – October 1, 2006, Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, Maryland
Pittman First-Round Finisher at Canadian Nationals
CAYUGA, ON. – When the eMax IHRA Drag Racing Series tour kicked off in San Antonio last March, veteran Pro Modified competitor Alan Pittman didn’t foresee using the entire 11-race schedule as an extended test and tune session, but with just two dates left on the 2006 race calendar, that’s the way it appears to be working out.
Through the first eight races, Pittman, a chassis builder from Greenville, South Carolina, had experiences that covered the entire spectrum of on-track performance and off-track emotions. A win and three DNQs during that stretch set the scene for the type of year that Pittman, car owner Mel Bush, and the crew have been through up to now.
Although the season itself has been fraught with inconsistencies, that does not apply to the team’s 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air, however. Built by Pittman in his AP Race Cars shop, the unique “bubble top” Chevy has been a solid performer all season long. The combination of a straight-running car and supercharged power from fellow Pro Mod racer Carl Spiering has allowed Pittman to log career-best performances in 2006.
His problems in qualifying have stemmed from such things as tire shake, clutch adjustment issues, and as was the case at the last race in New Hampshire, a loose oil tank cap.
So when IHRA teams assembled at Toronto Motorsports Park for the completion of the Canadian Nationals, which had been rained-out in July, Pittman and his crew were keen to put the past behind then and take a shot at a top-ten finish in championship points.
They struggled a bit in qualifying, but made the show in impressive fashion with a last-chance run of 6.197, 226.28 on Saturday night, good enough for the No. 10 spot in the 16-car field, and a meeting with No. 2 qualifier Tommy D’Aprile in the first round of eliminations.
Pittman’s weekend ended early the next day when his car launched into tire shake just off the line, and he was forced to get out of the throttle. He was satisfied with his car and his team’s effort, however, on what he described as “a weird weekend.”
“The weather conditions changed from day-to-day, and sometimes from hour-to-hour,” Pittman said. “We have to be able to adapt to different conditions, of course, but it was real challenging. We had variations in temperatures, and of course it rained quite a bit again, which changed the traction properties of the track.
“I’m not making excuses, though, because I was happy with the way our car ran,” Pittman said. “Since we don’t have a lot of time to test, we have to do quite a lot of experimenting at the races themselves, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out the way we plan. We tried some different ratios at Toronto, for example, and it beat us in the long run.”
With just two events remaining this season that No. 10 finish is still within sight, as Pittman currently occupies the thirteenth position. If he can finish strong and make the top-ten, it will go a long way towards jump-starting his next campaign.
“We have a good car, a good engine program, and a good team,” said Pittman. “We’ll be keys players next season – trust me on that. We just want a solid finish to build on for 2007.”
This weekend’s race is the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals, September 29 – October 1, 2006, Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, Maryland
