IHRA Pro-Am - Team Duck Tape Sticks It Out At Motor City Nationals

By Michael Beard
With the Duck brand duct tape team's first IHRA National Event behind them with the inaugural Motor City Nationals at Milan Dragway, teammates Matt Zapp and Michael Beard couldn't be happier. The same goes for their car owners! Both drivers were new to their respective rides, but performed admirably for Team Duck Tape.

Zapp carried the Duck brand products banner to the winner's circle in Hot Rod, wheeling Keith Durden's immaculate '66 Chevelle for just the second time. Zapp took but a single qualifying run, and outdrove the field down to the finals, where he met former IHRA World Champion, Glenn Ferguson. Using a slight holeshot, Zapp was able to run dead-on the 10.90 index to grab the win light.

Haley Zapp, Matt Zapp, & Michael Beard

"First and foremost, I have a desire to give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for such a safe and rewarding weekend," said Zapp. "Thank you especially to my father, Bob. He is the best friend a man (or son) could ask for. I hope he enjoys his Iron Man. This one goes to BZ's house.

Keith Durden happens to own one of the baddest Hot Rod cars in the land. Thank you for trusting me with your Marino Blue baby.

"As for our family, you guys are the best. Abruzzi, Schiberl, Sill, Professor Smith, Hupertz, Uncle Buck, The Durdens, and the list goes on. My wife Haley was beyond helpful this weekend. She kept everything running smoothly and helped dial the car in the later rounds. She has given much (more than I can remember) for this to become a reality. The family at Duck Tape has been great to our team thus far. We are grateful to be associated with such a successful operation."

In Stock, Michael Beard qualified Terry Knott's H/CM Dart Sport in the 18th position. In just his third event piloting the car, Beard advanced to the finals, where he met Bob Marshall for a heads-up H/CM battle. Marshall out-powered the Loctite/Duck-backed car to steal the win, 11.06 to an 11.22.

"We had a great time this weekend," said Beard. "It was a little anticlimactic knowing that we had to run Marshall in the final. We qualified on the opposite side of the ladder from him, and watched him win each round, knowing that if we did our job, we'd run into him. But, we have to be really happy with a runner-up in our first national event. We'll probably add a couple events to our schedule now, and see how things go. Right now, Duck brand duct tape is on a roll!

"Thanks so much to Terry for letting me drive the car. I know how hard that must be, since he's also chasing points, and has driven the Loctite/Duck car as far as the semifinals already this year. He worked hard to get the car back together after we killed a driveshaft and transmission at the Beaver Springs Pro-Am just two weeks ago. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Auto Shack Transmissions for their help in getting us back on track. Most of all, we're glad to have been able to put Duck in the finals again! It's already been a great season."

The Duck brand products team will compete next at Kanawha Valley Dragway, WV in the IHRA Div. 3 Pro-Am event, July 19-20, 2003.