STOCK — 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals, June 4-7, Chicago
Davis scores fourth victory, goes back to back again
Adam Davis, near lane, collected his second consecutive national event victory when he beat John Shaul in the final
round with a .016-second reaction and 11.18 on his 11.15 dial to his opponent’s .044 launch and 10.11 (10.09 dial).
(Right) Cullman, Ala., resident Davis has four national event victories on his résumé in five final-round appearances.
by Kelly Wade “It’s nice knowing that if you win that round,
you’re going to the final, and it was really nice doing
A pattern is quickly emerging for successful bracket
racer Adam Davis in NHRA competition: win and
win again. Davis, who triumphed in Richmond last
it two weeks in a row,” said Davis. “The week before
in [Topeka], I got the bye to the final, and I won it.
It’s just so much relief knowing that, really, all you
season two weeks after collecting a Wally at the have to do is take the Tree and you win the round.”
Memphis national event, repeated the accomplishment Davis used the single to hone his skills for the
of scoring back-to-back victories this season when he final, where he was quicker at the Tree than John
won in Topeka and earned a trip to the winner’s circle Shaul by .028-second and put an 11.18 (11.15) on the
at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals in scoreboard to his opponent’s 10.11 (10.09) and
Chicago just one week later. earned his fourth career victory.
The success was preceded by a less-than-stellar “Everything just rolled on through,” said Davis. “I
start to the season that included just a handful of have driven better, but, obviously, I drove well
round-wins at national events, but after back-to-back enough to get the job done.”
wins, Davis appears to have regained his edge.
“I started the year out in a slump and making the The key race: “Racing David Rampy is tough, and I recently invested in a dragster that Davis could pilot in
wrong decisions, but the last two races I just made was disappointed in myself that I was [.047] on him,” competition as early as the Norwalk event. Davis plans to
myself stay focused,” said Davis. “That was a big key in said Davis, who raced the multi-category-winning, 70- compete in both Stock and Super Comp at most events.
me winning both of those races, staying focused. I time national event titlist in the third round. “I know
hadn’t really been ready to race when I put my helmet better than to miss the Tree on him. I don’t need to Quotable: “That car has been real good to me, and
on like I needed to be, but I’m just pushing it more miss it on anyone, but you know Rampy’s going to be a couple of the rounds this week I really should not
now. I’m preaching at myself and making myself stay on his game because he is every time. That was my key have won, but the car pulled me through. That car
focused. It’s hard to do, but I’ve been doing it.” round, pulling that off. I really don’t know how I won hardly ever lets me down.” — Adam Davis
In the first round, Davis was quicker off the because, normally, a [.047] isn’t going to beat him.”
starting line and survived a double-breakout with Best packages: 1. Brad Zaskowski (Belmont,
Chris Stephenson. In round two, he drew tough The runner-up: Shaul claimed his first NHRA Mich.) .007/10.921 (10.92 dial) round two; 2. Craig
competitor and incoming points leader Robbie Shaw. national event title at the spring Las Vegas event Marshall (Columbus, Ohio) .012/11.139 (11.13 dial)
Davis cut a .015-second light and laid down an 11.06 last season, where he won over Clark Holroyd in a and Mark Faul (Tacoma, Wash.) .018/11.383 (11.38
pass on his 11.05 dial to defeat Shaw’s decent .025 heads-up, no-breakout A/SA final-round contest. The dial) round one ND
reaction and breakout 10.27 (10.30 dial). Vintage Plymouth Fury pilot, of Fultonham, N.Y., is
Disposing of Shaw was an accomplishment, but one of the few Stock racers who doesn’t use a two-
Davis was rewarded with a third-round match with one step and leaves off of a footbrake.
About the winning car
of the winningest drivers of all time, Comp ace David T he winning D/SA ’67 Camaro driven by Adam Davis is
Rampy. Davis recovered from a .047-second reaction by Fast fact: Only two heads-up, no-breakout matches owned by Todd Ewing of Huntsville Engine & Performance,
running two-thousandths over his 11.05 dial for the win were contested during eliminations. In the first which built and maintains the 396-cid Chevy engine. The
to Rampy’s .016 start and 11.24 (11.21). round, Anthony Bertozzi came out on top in a C/SA classic Camaro has a ProTrans transmission, ATI
The Cullman, Ala., resident then drove his C/SA race with Jamey Picht, and in round three, Steve converter, Weld wheels, and Goodyear tires.
Camaro to victory against breakout-opponent Craig Wann was the victor in a F/SA match with Lyn “I’d like to thank Todd Ewing; I can’t thank him
Marshall in the fourth round, and in the quarterfi- Smith, who went red by .094-second. enough for giving me this opportunity, and I really
nals, he got a huge — and somewhat familiar — break couldn’t do this without him,” said Davis, who also
when Chicago-area resident Brad Bishop fouled by Did you know: Davis is in the midst of licensing and acknowledged Goodyear, Moroso, Afco, CV Products,
.025-second, handing Davis a bye run into the money will soon be making a foray into the world of Super Lucas Oil, and Comp Cams for their continued support.
round for the second straight event. Comp with the assistance of car owner Todd Ewing, who
66 ✦ National DRAGSTER
Stock Qualifying
(Top 16 of 80 qualifiers)
1. Jim Waldo, Richland, Wash. (A/S ’02 Firebird). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.130 (-1.120)
2. Lee Zane, Perry Hall, Md. (C/SA ’98 Firebird) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.592 (-1.108)
3. Bo Butner, Georgetown, Ind. (C/SA ’97 Camaro) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .