Cannon first in 5.70’s, first over 250 in North America

Scott Cannon, driving a supercharged Vanishing Point Race Cars-built 1970 Superbird owned by Thomas Patterson and tuned by his father, the legendary Scotty Cannon, shattered the existing North American ET and Speed Record for doorslammers at the Shakedown at E-town, setting the new records at 5.738/252.71.

Australian “Tin Tops” (their version of Pro Mod) have regularly exceeded 250 mph but Scott and Scotty Cannon are the quickest and fastest in North America by a ton. Since there were no restrictions placed on the supercharged doorslammers, it is safe to assume that they could have easily been running more than the IHRA/NHRA maximum overdrive on their supercharger but that isn’t an issue as again this was a NO RULES race and it was truly “run-what-ya-brung”!   (Todd Dziadosz file photo) [10/08/08]

Not so Sweet at Hut Hundred

Brad Sweet continued his fine 2008 season with a third-place finish in one of America's most prestigious Midget events, the 57th running of the "Hut Hundred" at Indiana's Terre Haute Action Track. The 100-lap grind, part of the USAC Mopar Midget National Championship Series, was run on Saturday evening, Oct. 4. Sweet, driving the Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR) Mopar machine, had kicked off the evening by setting fast time in qualifications.
Unfortunately, what had looked like a stellar night for a couple of other Mopar contenders turned sour. Without question, the biggest heartache belonged to Brady Bacon, Sweet's KKR teammate, running second and threatening the leader when his right-front tire blew on lap 92. Bacon rebounded to place 14th, though that was no consolation after his terrific run had been derailed.
Things weren't much better for two-time USAC Midget champion Jerry Coons Jr., who joined both Kahne drivers and others in a thrilling mid-race top-five brawl. It all went for naught after 86 laps, when Coons spun out of third-place in turn one, which all evening had been a tricky spot on the fabled half-mile dirt oval. After restarting last, Coons gunned his Wilke-Pak Mopar back up to eighth at the finish, but, as with Bacon, his result was no reflection of his great effort.
USAC's Mopar Midget National Championship moves next to Pontoon Beach, Ill., and Tri-City Speedway's "Gold Crown Midget Nationals" on Oct. 9–11. Sweet (third) and Bacon (fifth) have both halves of the Kahne team in the top five in the USAC Midget standings, with Coons a bit further back in eighth. (photo courtesy Mopar) [10/08/08]