Win number 3, Halsey rolls to IHRA victory
(April 07, 2008) Street, Maryland - No telling how long it's been since a nitrous-assisted doorslammer could potentially do this much damage in IHRA Pro Modified, but the big red machine from Maryland keeps pressing like a steam roller. Jim Halsey, whose Pro Modified involvement dates back to his first stint of driving in the early 1990's is having a most remarkable year, winning his first 3 events of 2008 in 3 very distinct venues. His most recent IHRA National Event win in San Antonio is arguably his most impressive considering the opposition.

As for the seemingly uphill battle against blower cars in the same division, Jim Halsey commented less than two weeks ago that he honestly felt as though his nitrous set-up was gaining ground against his blown competition, but since he hadn't lined up against one since last year it was difficult to tell for sure. With IHRA's season-opener now in the books, Jim Halsey's way of thinking is seeming more legit with every win light.

After a pair of 660 ft victories early in 2008, Jim Halsey felt great going into the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals, also to be contested on the 1/8 mile. "We felt great, that is, until a particular qualifying run", commented Halsey on Monday, minutes before boarding a plane bound for his home in Maryland. The run that caused Halsey great concerned was the final qualifying hit on Saturday night. Halsey's Tim McAmis-constructed 1968 Camaro hadn't done anything but go straight as a ribbon on its last 50 passes, but on Saturday night the car shook the tires at 200 foot. Halsey clicked it early, almost in disbelief as he coasted through the lights on his last attempt.

At this point it hardly mattered to Halsey that his hot rod was one of only 3 Pro Mods on the property to dip south of the 4-second border. Trying to fall asleep with tire shake on your mind is something that counting sheep can't easily fix. "We were plenty concerned about round one eliminations", confessed Halsey. Confidence returned in an instant though, with a round one stoppage of Mike Castellana. "We had been creeping up on something in the set-up, and we think we finally went a little too far with it on Saturday night", commented Halsey, as he spoke of the fluke rattling of the tires during qualifying.

Round two was just another rung in the ladder of confidence, as Halsey climbed closer to the finals with a win over multiple Pro Modified World Champion Scotty Cannon. In the semi-finals, the Cinderella clock of first-alternate Jason Stock struck midnight. Stock's 4.16 fell short against Halsey's hole shot and quicker 4.06 elapsed time. As Kentucky's Billy Harper rolled to the lanes, the stage was set for an all-nitrous final, the first since Milan, MI in 2005. Halsey was a fraction quicker out of the gate, but began to pull away convincingly when Harper's Viper stumbled around the 200 ft mark. Halsey stopped the clocks with a 4.10 @ 184mph to Harper's slowing 4.68 @ 115mph.

Before the parachutes were even picked up, Halsey placed a call to Gene Fulton as he stood beside his car in the shut down area. "He was real pleased, and why not? What could be better to Gene Fulton than beating a Reher&Morrison, a Charlie Buck and a Scotty Cannon?", laughed Halsey. This latest IHRA win was Halsey's first since stopping Carl Spiering in Edmonton, ALB Canada in 2005, finishing the season 4th in points.

Holding the 1/4 mile world record for doorslammers with a nitrous distinction, Halsey is pleased with his short time numbers thus far, and is optimistic heading into his first 1/4 mile test of 2008, the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham. Taking delivery of a new engine, a Fulton Competition 820, plus having time to make a few test hits is a real possibility before Rockingham. "This new engine has all the latest bells and whistles, and will make a lot more horse power than the one we're running now", says Halsey.

As speculation swirls about the possibility of a 5.99 nitrous car in 2008, Jim Halsey has a clear opinion on the time frame. "Ask me after Rockingham", commented Halsey, adding that the Spring Nationals event should set the tone for what a nitrous car could possibly produce in 2008.

Winning a race is usually a pressure reliever, but for Jim Halsey it continues to mount. "What's on my mind now is how to keep winning" says Halsey. "It's actually a tough spot to be in, I'm not used to all this winning", laughs Halsey. Off to a magnificent start in 2008, Halsey currently leads the points in IHRA Pro Modified, as well as the cult-following Quick-8 Racers Association. A season-opening ADRL Houston win would easily put Halsey leading the points in 3 venues this year, but in the ADRL format, points for the new season actually begin getting tallied at the season-ending event the previous year. "Despite losing in the first round of ADRL's final event last year, I think I'm only half a round out of first place when you factor in the Houston win last month", commented Halsey.

Savoring the victory of his statement-making IHRA outing, the celebration was quiet modest. "We had a few beers in the trailer, then grabbed some dinner", said Halsey, adding that simply being together is celebration enough. Eleven days of preparation is now all that's between Jim Halsey and the start of the IHRA Nitro Jam Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, set to begin April 18.

Jim Halsey wishes to thank:

Cathy Crouse
Eric Davis
Allen Lay
Richard Crouse
Gene Fulton
Tim McAmis
Patrick and Constance Smith

Story by:

Van Abernethy Press Releases
3898 West Hwy 10
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 302-0356
writevan@yahoo.com

Jim Halsey reflects on Farmington, prepares for San Antonio
(March 28, 2008) Street, Maryland - Back home at his northeastern Maryland residence, Jim Halsey reflects on his visit to the Tar Heel state, where he won an event that won't be soon forgotten. In what is becoming the most publicized 1/8 mile final round in recent memory, Halsey, along with local star "Tricky" Rickie Smith put on a side by side 3 second show at Farmington Dragway while competing in the original heads-up doorslammers club, Don Plemmon's Quick-8 Racers Association.

Take all the collective memories during his 2-day stay at the Mocksville, NC facility and Jim Halsey is no different than most everyone else in attendance, confessing that the final run of the night is what burns in his mind most vividly. Halsey lit up the night with flaming headers, and an eye-opening elapsed time of 3.95 @ 188mph, to Smith's runner-up time of 3.97 @ 186mph. As the parachutes fell limp in the shut down area, Halsey climbed out of his race car and exchanged pleasantries with Rickie Smith, a multiple champion of the Quick-8 series. "That must have been one heck of a show", Smith commented to Halsey, as the two shook hands and chatted about the run. For the fans who saw it unfold before their eyes, "Heck of a show" only scratches the surface.

The final run of the night, widely regarded as the first all-3 second final round in the history of nitrous doorslammers, was at the very least, the most stunning display of carbureted horsepower ever witnessed at Farmington. It would be unimaginable for many to realize that Halsey was actually trying to run quicker, but that is exactly the case. "That track was dynamite and we were trying to run even quicker, but we were a little soft in the clutch", commented Halsey. Quick to praise Don Plemmons for a first class show, Halsey confirmed his desire to return, and even hopes to attend the next Farmington Quick-8 if his schedule allows it.

Halsey, who took delivery of his current race car, a Tim McAmis-built 1968 Camaro in the spring of 2007, is one of just a handful of nitrous racers who is still willing to mix it up with the blower entries of Pro Modified's founding sanctioning body, IHRA. "I can't speak for the other guys, but I honestly feel like I've gained some ground on the blowers", says Halsey. "It's hard to tell for sure since I haven't competed against a blown car this year, but I've definitely stepped up my program", added Halsey.

Halsey and crew will travel to San Antonio, TX in less than two weeks to compete in the IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals. The event will be run on an 1/8 mile format, of which Halsey has experienced recent success at Farmington, as well as a victorious finish in ADRL's season opener earlier this month. With IHRA's National Event opener on a fast approach, Halsey declares that he's going into San Antonio with an open mind, and leaving the same way. "After Rockingham we should be able to make a call", says Halsey. "If I'm running 6.0's and the blower cars are clocking 5.80's, I don't think I'll be running the entire IHRA circuit", commented Halsey.

No stranger to the IHRA winner's circle, Halsey is one of very few Pro Mod racers in recent years to put a nitrous car in the winner's circle when he drove his first McAmis Camaro to a national event win in Edmonton, ALB Canada in 2005. Impressive as his recent performance is, Halsey's current Camaro could stand to shed a conservative 80 pounds and still be legal within IHRA's minimum weight rule. If competitive against his blown opposition, Halsey intends to compete for the IHRA Pro Modified World Championship in 2008. In addition to IHRA sanctioned events, Halsey also plans a full circuit assault within the ranks of ADRL, as well as select Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod and Plemmons Quick-8 events.

Jim Halsey wishes to thank:

Cathy Crouse
Eric Davis
Allen Lay
Richard Crouse
Gene Fulton
Tim McAmis

Story by:

Van Abernethy Press Releases
3898 West Hwy 10
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 302-0356
writevan@yahoo.com