"Marshall Craig" Nabs World Title Second-generation driver Craig Marshall delivered a major victory for Mopar drag racing fans by claiming the 2004 IHRA World Championship for Stock eliminator. Marshall, from Columbus, Ohio, is following in the footsteps of his father's (Bob Marshall) 30-year drag racing career. He clinched the title during late season action on the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series trail.
Driving his '74 Dart Sport, which is run as a G/CM with a 360 engine, Marshall parlayed back-to-back national event victories at Maryland International Raceway and Norwalk Raceway Park into the overall point's title. The World Championship was the first for Marshall and came in what was not just his fourth year drag racing, but also in his inaugural season running in the Stock eliminator class.
"Up to this season, I had raced Super Stock class cars only," affirmed Marshall, who won national event titles in both IHRA and NHRA racing back in 2002. "But we built this car last winter as a clone to the one my father has been racing. We actually didn't do that well at the divisional level. Our only point's race win came at U.S. 131 Dragway early in the season. So to be honest, a potential World championship wasn't looking good until the late season races. I pretty much had to win both the national events in Maryland and Ohio to have any chance, and I'll be darned if we didn't go out and do just that. We clinched the championship when we went back to Norwalk following the rainout. It's a special feeling because I grew up around racing with my Dad."
Marshall's stocker is in fact just one of a six cars that his Dodge Material team fields. Marshall and his father run no less then four Super Stockers and two Stock eliminator cars. He cited the team's crew chief Leonard Wyche as being a key component to their success. "Without Leonard, this program would not exist," he added. "He has dealt with small-block Mopars all his life, and he spends 40 hours a week working on our racecars."
Marshall's winning machine was built by John Holt Race Cars, and features a motor program by Burtonville Machine.
California Viper Attack Drag racing's Pro Modified fans saw the emergence of an exciting new machine during 2004, the sport's very first supercharged Dodge Viper. Campaigned by long-time class proponent Kurt Kuhns, the 3000-plus-horsepower Hemi-powered and alcohol-burning machine has quickly evolved into a huge fan favorite. Kuhns has raced Pro Mod type machinery since before the official inception of the class, and his Viper is by far his best racecar yet.
"This is a Jerry Haas car that we acquired from Dennis Radford," revealed Kuhns. "I'm very impressed with the aerodynamics of the Viper, which are obviously very good. Without a doubt, it's the best handling car I've ever driven."
While Kuhns ran limited events within the NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Challenge Series and West Coast Pro Mod Association circuits during 2004, he plans a more extensive tour next season. "Our objective this year was to get the car running fast and build up our parts arsenal," added Kuhns. "We've accomplished both of those so we're going to run more national events next year."