On the eve of the initial announcement of the all-time IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock drivers, program sponsor Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has announced five alternates for the group.

 

Steve Spiess, Carlton Philips, Billy Ewing, Mike Bell, and Chris Holbrook are recognized as alternates for the group. Of the four, only Spiess is an active competitor in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock category.

 

#21 – STEVE SPIESS – Spiess scored his most recent victory just weeks ago in Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada. The Manhattan, Illinois-based driver went on a tear in the 2005 season, claiming the IHRA Pro Stock championship while adding to his incredible record of 13 career final rounds and six victories. Spiess formerly drove as part of the late Greg Moser’s Pro Stock team.

 

#22 – CARLTON PHILIPS - Philips enters the group with five career final round appearances (2 wins, 3 runner-ups) but one of his greatest contributions to the class was being one of the businessmen who purchased the IHRA from the estate of the late Jim Ruth during the early 1990s. Philips was also one of the owners of Darlington Dragway.

 

#23 – BILLY EWING – Ewing and his brother Lamar were fixtures in the IHRA mountain motor division during the early 1980s and into the 1990s. The Snellville, Ga-based team ran horsepower from Warren Johnson during its colorful career. Billy drove his way to a total of ten career final rounds, two of which resulted in victory. His most emotional victory came during the 1985 IHRA Winter Nationals following the death of his close friend Lee Shepherd.

 

#24 – MIKE BELL – Bell was once a chassis builder for Raymond Beadle’s NASCAR operation but later joined Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School, where he also earned a driving gig with Hill’s Pro Stock operation. Bell drove his way to the 1995 title and amassed a career five final rounds with four victories. He still races and drives for Hill, but now in the Pro Modified division.

 

#25 – CHRIS HOLBROOK – Holbrook’s driving talents come from a strong pedigree as his dad was the legendary Super Stock driver Carl Holbrook. The second-generation Holbrook won the 1999 Pro Stock championship and in his career amassed seven career final rounds with five wins. When the team Holbrook was driving for disbanded prior to the 2000 season, fellow racers showed their respect for him by banding together and donating a complete race car so that he could defend his championship.

 

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