2003 season comes to a close in Orlando

National Dragster, Jan 30, 2004 by McKenna, Kevin

ORLANDO SPEED WORLD DRAGWAY, Orlando, Fla. (Dec. 13-14) - Orlando Speed World Dragway hosted the final NHRA event of the 2003 season, the annual Southern Sportsman Nationals Open. The event featured open competition in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street and NHRA national record runs.

Kenny Schindler, a 20-year veteran in the Southeast Division, wheeled his SS/EA Corvette to the Super Stock title over Division 4's Pete Peery. Former Top Fuel driver Jim Bailey scored in Stock by driving his rare Max Wedge-powered A/SA '63 Dodge to a final-round victory over Arnold Greene's A/S entry. Orlando native Jim Perry won in Super Comp by defeating motorcycle ace Roy Hagadorn in the final, and Jeff Barker, son of former track operator Jerry Barker, claimed the Super Gas title after Rendell Kuhns broke out. Former NHRA Summit Racing Series national champion Mike Ruff won the Super Street crown over Ernie Griggs, 10.93 to 10.89. - Kevin McKenna