GREAT LAKES DRAGAWAY’S SEASON OPENER SHINES DESPITE RAIN

by Bill Swanson    Sun, 2020-06-07 20:41


By early March of this year, NHRA's Mello Yello Drag Racing Series had two national events in the books. The iconic March Meet had just wrapped up. And tracks across the country were finalizing plans and schedules for the 2020 season. Anticipation was high for everyone, from touring pro to the weekly bracket racer.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the nation, and those plans were laid to waste as state governments moved to forbid public gatherings.

Among the tracks facing uncertainty was Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, WI.

Just weeks earlier the iconic track midway between Milwaukee and Chicago had announced an ambitious 2020 schedule, which would be Its 66th since opening in 1955. The season was to begin April 18th with the Cabin Fever Breakout. Now the entire season, including the Memorial Day Classic, was in jeopardy due to state mandates in response to the pandemic.

Then on May 13th that uncertainty was lifted just as swiftly as it was imposed when the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' stay at home orders and business closure mandates.

With only 10 days before its holiday weekend big show, GLD management went to work.

Instead of the typical Saturday/Sunday show, the Memorial Day Classic would be pared down to Saturday. The Chicago Wise Guys, Brew City Gassers, Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Assn., and Pro E85 Racing were among the groups that enthusiastically committed, as did booked in features Danny Sullivan and Richard Hutchins.

While there was concern about turnout, when race day began under clear sunny skies, nearly 100 race cars towed in, and several hundred fans were close behind. But that beautiful weather was not to last.

Unlike the coronavirus, the unpredictability of Upper Midwest weather to track operators is a constant. After the late morning test session, and first round of qualifying and matches for most groups, the skies suddenly dumped copious amounts of rain, ending the action by mid-afternoon.

Was the Memorial Day Classic a bust? Absolutely not. As Great Lakes' Randy Henning stated to Milwaukee's Fox 6 News, "It's sad to see them leaving, except I know they had fun when they were here."

A sentiment echoed by many after a lengthy layoff.

Great Lakes Dragaway's 2020 season resumes with Anarchy No Prep on Saturday June 13, and Out-A-Sight Vintage Drags on Friday and Saturday June 26 & 27.
 

This season Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Association is including some modern muscle alongside its traditional homage to the Factory Hot Rods. Josh Parks driving NicKey COPO Camaro 001 gets the jump on Jackie Cannon in the Manesis Transportation Mustang FR500 Cobra Jet.
Bucking the conventional in the gasser world is Illinois' Daryl Nelson. Racing with the Brew City Gassers, his 1965 Mercury Comet is called "Tigger" and it's motivated by bored and stroked Ford FE power. Like the cartoon character, the metalflake orange machine is "Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy, Fun Fun Fun!" on the way to a 11.18 ET. 
Chuck Weck's '57 Desoto bodied Pro Mod has a new look this season. And the blown 522" Noonan HEMI has a new attitude, with Weck uncorking an off the trailer 3.92 ET at 193 MPH in the test session. Unfortunately, Chuck and the rest of the Chicago Wise Guys were sidelined once the rain rolled in.
The old school 392 Chrysler pushes Art Zangerle back in the chair of "Big Woody", a homebuilt tribute to the classic dragsters of Woody Gilmore. Zangerle was racing with the 1320's Legends group, devotees of early dragsters, altereds and roadsters.
Pro E85 Racing began its season-long points series at the Memorial Day Classic. in the one and only qualifying session, 2019 season champion Randy Lee raced his "Yellow Dog" Camaro to the Number 2 position in the order behind 2019 points runner-up John Blanchard.

 
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