Val Torres Jr. Stops Mel Jones in Pro Gas Finale at LACR—Gunther takes Shootout

By Bob Johnson
L.A. County Raceway, Palmdale CA Sept.26, 2004

Val Torres Jr. won the final event of the 2004 Southern California Pro Gas Assoc.; season, defeating Mel Jones in the final round at L.A. County Raceway.  This was Torres Jr. second final of the season, and his first win.  He was the runner-up to eventual series champion Mike Blodgett Sr. at the third race of the year at Bakersfield.  Rick Gunther won the annual Pro Gas Shootout.

The race, sponsored by Wayne & Dave’s Automotive, The Radiator Shop, Lindy’s Auto Parts, Classic Auto Sales, and K.C. Custom Mouldings, drew 56 entries a month after the originally scheduled date.  Poor weather forced postponement of the race until the mid-November date.

Andy MacDougal nailed down the number one qualifying spot with his Chevy S-10 pickup, followed by John Turk. Bob Williams was third, and Woody Tryon was fourth.

Torres Jr.—driving the Perma-Coil Pontiac owned by Bob Duncan—opened eliminations with a win over Rocky Mollicone, he beat Jed Bourquin in round two, and Doug Sedmak in the third round.  In the fourth round he stopped former champ Dave Coapstick, and in the semifinal he used a 10.14, 147 (10.20 index) to beat Greg Ventura, who red lighted (-.013) with his Chevy Nova.  Mel Jones “County Mountie” ’27 Ford roadster got to the final by beating John Cerasoli, PJ Giacalone, Phil Miller, and Steve Parsons before defeating with Alan Hoefer in the semi.

Torres Jr. got a slight advantage at the starting line in the final--.012 to a .017--, but Jones went way too fast at 10.071, 132.26 to put Torres in the winner’s circle with a 10.245, 129.66.

The 2004 Pro Gas championship series came down to the last event of the season, and when Wayne Newman lost in round one to Jed Bourquin, the door was open to Mike Blodgett Sr. to nail the title down.  Blodgett went to the third round before losing to Steve Parsons, and the 2004 Championship and a trip to Hawaii will go to the Blodgett's.

Blodgett finished the season with 3665 points, just ahead of Wayne Newman at 3411.  The final event won by Val Torres Jr. elevated himself to third place with 3327, and Jed Bourquin was fourth with 3144.  Other racers in the Pro Gas top ten included:  Chris Newman, 3120; Gary Williams, 3027; Dave Coapstick, 3017; Greg Ventura, 2933; Dave Fargo, 2815; and Alan Hoefer, 2808.

Ray's Notes