NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

While opponent Arthur Kohn was sitting under the tower, strapped into his COPO Camaro, Joe Welch and his crew were in the back of the Bristol Dragway staging lanes, hastily preparing his Drag Pak Challenger for the final round. Welch answered the call with seconds to spare, and then earned his first win in the SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown after Kohn red-lighted. 

Rock-solid through most of eliminations, Welch put an exclamation point on his victory with an 8.275, 164.67. Hoisting the Wally trophy, Welch became the first driver of a Hemi-powered Dodge Challenge to win a Factory Showdown event. 

“We came up here [a little late] but we were ready and we made it,” said Welch. “We’ve been working on this car all weekend but the track was the real issue. It was really hot today and my crew did a fantastic job.”

Like everyone else who raced in Bristol, the Factory Showdown racers had to deal with some of the hottest and most humid weather conditions of the year. There were also 24 drivers vying for just 16 spots in the field, which put even more of a critical emphasis on qualifying. Welch, with the help of engine builder Mike Moran, posted an 8.275 to qualify No. 2, setting the stage for his first win. 

“We had nothing but trouble getting through qualifying,” said Welch. “We made a good pass early on but on the second pass I messed up as a driver and then the transmission let go before round three. My guys worked their tails off to get the car fixed for eliminations.”

Five of the top eight qualifiers did not advance in an upset-filled first round including low qualifier David Barton and Gainesville winner Stephen Bell, but Welch was able to move on after posting a consistent 8.287 against Carl Tasca, who spun the tires in his Cobra Jet Mustang. 

Welch made the best run of eliminations in the quarterfinals with an 8.265 to take out Aaron Stanfield, who was close behind at 8.318 in his COPO Camaro. Stanfield went on to win the Bristol Top Dragster title for the second-straight year. Welch spun the tires to a 10.41 in the semifinals, but was able to advance after Kevin Skinner red-lighted. 

Kohn, the winner of the SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown event in Charlotte, came from the No. 9 qualifying spot to reach his second final after wins against Barton, Top Fuel star Leah Pritchett, and semifinal opponent Leonard Libersher. Kohn, who uses engines from former Pro Stock racer Greg Stanfield, was also consistent with a pair of 8.31-second run in eliminations.

Welch and Pritchett weren’t the only Dodge drivers to make the Bristol field. Former Mello Yello Pro Stock champion Allen Johnson put his Southland Dodge entry into the field in the No. 7 spot with an 8.310. Another former Pro Stock driver, Mark Pawuk, made his Factory Stock debut in Bristol but missed the cut in his Schumacher Racing Dodge. 

The SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown will return next week at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk for the fourth of seven events.