ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series Caps Off Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour

by C.J. Perry | IHRA Communications

The Udderly SMOOth World Finals at Rockingham Dragway was host to one of the biggest sportsman events of 2005. The ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series, which pits the top eight sportsman racers who run select Mr. Gasket products, is the culmination of the Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour.

The champions of this year’s Survivor Series, with a total purse of $80,500, reads like a who’s who of sportsman racers: Ron Folk in Erson Cams Top Sportsman, Malinda Bertozzi in Mallory Top Dragster, Scotty Stillings in ACCEL DFI Super Stock, Anthony Bertozzi in Hays Stock, Britt Cummings in ACCEL Quick Rod, Bernard Weaver in Lakewood Super Rod, and R.L. Koontz in Hurst Hot Rod. Each one took home $5,000 for their victories. >>>Full 2005 Story | Full 2005 Round By Round Results

IHRA Announces ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series for Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour

NORWALK, Ohio - The IHRA Competition Department announced the formation of the ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series for the Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Series Tour competitors.

This special sportsman program, contested during the World Finals at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway, consists of the top eight racers in each of the seven Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour classes based on the national point standings. The racers will be paired and run-off, resulting in a winner for each class.

"We feel that the name is a reflection of the intense nature of the competition in each sportsman class contested on the Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour divisional events and as a part of the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing national event series," said Mr. Gasket Vice President of Marketing, Dennis Rogers. "To get to become a member of the 'elite eight', every racer will have to persevere and overcome some adversity. We feel that the racers that qualify for this event will truly be survivors. And when the final rounds are in the books, we will have seen the survival of the fittest.

"With a total purse of $70,000 up for grabs, plus the prestige that a victory as the Final Survivor will generate, we feel this will certainly spice up the sportsman ranks."

The payout schedule: winner - $5,000, runner-up - $1,500, semi-finalist - $750, first round qualifier - $500.

To be eligible, participants must:

1. Complete the ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series portion of the IHRA Special Programs Registration form. You may obtain the form at the tech trailer at any National or Pro-Am event. The products on your vehicle must be fully functional and legal for the class you participate in. The products will be verified upon the completion and submission of this form to the tech official. No points will be awarded until this form has been accepted by the tech department. Retroactive points will not be awarded for failure of participant to complete or submit form.

2. Purchase and install a minimum of three (3) out of seven (7) racing products produced by the Mr. Gasket family of companies. The eligible products you can select from are:

• Mr. Gasket Vacuum Pump
• Hurst Shifter
• Mallory Distributor
• Mallory Ignition Control
• Mallory Fuel Pump
• ACCEL Digital Fuel Injection
• ACCEL Spark Plug Wires

3. Display BOTH the Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Series decal and the ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series decal on both sides of the vehicle. Mandatory placement of the decals:

• Door Cars - Front fender, in a clearly identifiable location forward of the centerline of the front wheel opening.
• Dragsters - As high as possible on the body, in a clearly identifiable location, in line with the driver's shoulders.
  
  To be eligible for the contingency payout on these products, you must also display the products specific contingency decal.

About Mr. Gasket
Mr. Gasket manufactures a variety of performance parts and accessories, including carburetor and fuel accessories, cooling system accessories, engine components, fasteners, gaskets, and suspension and drive line components.

Besides gaskets and fasteners, the Mr. Gasket brand provides a variety of performance and racing products for all parts of your vehicle including: carburetor and fuel accessories, chrome-plated accessories, cooling system accessories, engine components, ignition and electrical accessories, shifter accessories, specialty tools and suspension and driveline components. Mr. Gasket also includes Ultra-Seal gaskets and fasteners.