Strong performance at finale lifts Balducci to season title

National Dragster, Jan 30, 2004

ATCO RACEWAY, Atco, N.J. -There's nothing like having a nice winning streak; no, make that a great winning streak. Berlin, N.J.'s Dom Balducci won 20 Super Pro rounds at the season-ending Bill Mitchell Summer Series Shootout to pole vault from being tied for 13th to the championship.

Balducci, who is notorious for showing up late, entered the first round with no time runs under his belt. he put together a .019-second package with his Undercover dragster, which he won at the AA Auto/Stalba race at Atco Raceway. The dragster also features rims and tires that he won at Cecil County Dragway and a J&J custom paint job that he won at the 5-Day Bracket Championships at Moroso Motorsports Park.

In the following rounds, Balducci put together .025-, .024-, and .018 second packages to advance. In the quarterfinals, his opponent broke, giving him a single, and in the semi's, Balducci nailed a perfect light and posted a .Oil-over 7.581 to beat Super Chevy winner Jim Saiber Jr.

Because of rain, the final was not contested until 4 p.m. Saturday. Nick Willard, also in an '02 Undercover rail, made it close by .014-second, but the Balducci streak continued, moving him into second place in points, just ahead of son D.J. Jr.

Saturday's 1OK race featured 136 cars, and again Balducci was ready. John Kirk's Oldsmobile has always been a tough challenger for Balducci; however, this time Kirk ran under by .001-second. Balducci stopped Wayne Harrison on a big holeshot in round four, then received an automatic win when Len Wisneski red-lighted at the start in the fifth round. After receiving a bye in the semi's, Balducci stopped a red-lighting VaI DiGenova in the final. The win gave him a fivepoint lead for the championship.

Try as he might, though, Balducci was unable to pull off the hat trick and win Sunday's crown. After beating Debby DiGenova and Ron Riegel in the opening frames, Balducci went red by .002-second against eventual race winner Kelly Johnson.

Despite falling early Sunday, Balducci earned an amazing 27 points in the final weekend to claim $20,000 in three days, pleasing sponsors Dynatech Headers, Motorsports Innovations, B&M Transmissions, Nickerson Performance, Positive Performance, Gil Davis Race Engines, and Interstate Race Fuels.

The weekend capped a season of ups and downs for Balducci, who battled a heart condition throughout the year. Son Bryan finished second in Atco's series, and older son D.J. tied for fourth in the Bill Mitchell Series.

- "Mad Max"