The ACCEL Survivor Series

Imagine the best eight racers from every Mr. Gasket Pro-Am class pitted in a no-holds barred contest. Then imagine that race at one of the most storied tracks in all drag racing, Rockingham Dragway. Then throw in the fact that the total purse is $80,500, with the winner in each class getting $5,000, the runner-up receiving $1,500, semi-finalists getting $750, and first round qualifiers getting $500. That is the ACCEL Survivor Series in a nutshell.

It is the third year for the highly successful $80,500 program. .

“It’s the second best thing that’s ever happened to me, the first being the World Championship in Quick Rod last year, ”Ron Folk said of the 2005 event. “This program’s great because we all can win at it. Mr. Gasket, the racers, and IHRA. And we get to prove ourselves against the best racers in each class.”

Folk had to face the defending Erson Cams Top Sportsman champion Jamie Silance in the first round, and it did not get any easier after that. Folk had to go through Britt Cummings and Eric Steffey in the final. Folk’s day mirrored the rest of the classes, as there were no easy runs for any of the eventual Survivor Series winners.

Anthony Bertozzi, who has won just about every race imaginable, found himself in the Survivor Series for the second year in a row last season.

“It’s a special deal, and Mr. Gasket puts up all of this money. It’s nice for a company to look out for the sportsman racer and give us a goal to shoot for throughout the whole year. It seems that everybody just cares about the pros, and Mr. Gasket is there for the sportsman racer.”

Malinda Bertozzi feels much the same way about Mr. Gasket and what they are trying to do.

“To race the best of the best, it means to come out on top. We’ve got a company in Mr. Gasket that’s focused on the sportsman racers, and we really appreciate that.”

Britt Cummings, who won in the 2004 Survivor Series, was even more blunt about it.

“I’m what, twenty-fifth in the points, and I made my way into this thing? I run the products, and I get in. I’ll keep backdooring my way into this thing if other racers aren’t willing to run the products.”

What does Cummings have to say to Mr. Gasket?

“Keep doing this, and I’ll find a way to get in. We have to support these companies that are supporting us. They get a huge thanks from us.”

Once again the World Finals at Rockingham Dragway will host this special end of season program sponsored by Mr. Gasket. The top eight racers in each of the seven Mr. Gasket Pro-Am will face off on a sportsman ladder, with #8 racing #4, #7 racing #3, #6 racing #2, and #5 racing #1. The following is the list for each class and where the driver has qualified.

To be eligible, participants must:

1. Complete the ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series portion of the IHRA Special Programs Registration form. You may obtain the form at the tech trailer at any National or Pro-Am event. The products on your vehicle must be fully functional and legal for the class you participate in. The products will be verified upon the completion and submission of this form to the tech official. No points will be awarded until this form has been accepted by the tech department. Retroactive points will not be awarded for failure of participant to complete or submit form.

2. Purchase and install a minimum of three (3) out of seven (7) racing products produced by the Mr. Gasket family of companies. The eligible products you can select from are:

• Mr. Gasket Vacuum Pump
• Hurst Shifter
• Mallory Distributor
• Mallory Ignition Control
• Mallory Fuel Pump
• ACCEL Digital Fuel Injection
• ACCEL Spark Plug Wires

3. Display BOTH the Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Series decal and the ACCEL Sportsman Survivor Series decal on both sides of the vehicle. Mandatory placement of the decals:

• Door Cars - Front fender, in a clearly identifiable location forward of the centerline of the front wheel opening.
• Dragsters - As high as possible on the body, in a clearly identifiable location, in line with the driver's shoulders.
  
  To be eligible for the contingency payout on these products, you must also display the products specific contingency decal.

About Mr. Gasket
Mr. Gasket manufactures a variety of performance parts and accessories, including carburetor and fuel accessories, cooling system accessories, engine components, fasteners, gaskets, and suspension and drive line components.

Besides gaskets and fasteners, the Mr. Gasket brand provides a variety of performance and racing products for all parts of your vehicle including: carburetor and fuel accessories, chrome-plated accessories, cooling system accessories, engine components, ignition and electrical accessories, shifter accessories, specialty tools and suspension and driveline components. Mr. Gasket also includes Ultra-Seal gaskets and fasteners.