IHRA Norwalk FC wrap up

IHRA Skull Gear World Nationals presented by PPG wrap up
courtesy IHRA Communications

Sickles wins third straight in Norwalk

Jim Sickles (Caledonia, N.Y.) also visited the Winner's Circle at Norwalk Raceway Park. Sickles,
who also won at Rockingham earlier this season, was able to defeat two-time defending IHRA Funny
Car World Champion Rob Atchison (London, Ont.) in the final. It was Sickles' third straight
World Nationals victory at NRP.

"This is a great feeling, and to win three times in a row here is a great deal," he said. "It's
the time of the year where we needed a little shot in the arm, and here it was. Atchison has
been running extremely well and the .76 he ran in the second round definitely woke us up. We had
a new blower on the car that we actually tested here last Thursday. We figured it out and we're
starting to run some good, solid numbers."

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.776, 245.58 def. Chris Foster, Dodge Avenger,
5.953, 235.68; Mike Comella, Chevy Corvette, 5.933, 237.84 def. Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo,
5.958, 235.31; Jim Sickles, Monte Carlo, 5.769, 245.54 def. Melinda Green-King, Avenger, 5.928,
236.59; Frederick Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 5.853, 242.19 def. Mark Thomas, Avenger, 5.975, 235.80;
SEMIFINALS -- Atchison, 5.867, 245.67 def. Tigges, broke; Sickles, 5.799, 245.72 def. M.
Comella, broke;
FINAL -- Sickles, 5.802, 246.39 def. Atchison, 22.034, 38.30.

Funny Car

1. Rob Atchison, 947; 2. Jim Sickles, 820; 3. Mark Thomas, 688; 4. Thomas Carter, 562; 5.
Chris Foster, 544; 6. Terry McMillen, 508; 7. Terry Munroe, 415; 8. Frederick Tigges, 330; 9.
Melinda Green-King, 277; 10. Larry Dobbs, 215.