One millisecond.
That was all the time that separated winner Andy Closkey and his 1965 Chevelle from the front bumper of Bobby Bailey's 1968 Barracuda when they zipped across the finish line Sunday afternoon at Rolling Mix Raceway.
Closkey, a Quesnel high school auto mechanics teacher and former Prince George resident, said he could not have written a better script in the final of the NHRA Summit National Open against Bailey, a 23-year-old butcher from Beaverlodge, Alta. Not only are they longtime friends away from the track but Closkey built Bailey's car.
Close finishes have been regular occurrences for the two drivers. A week ago in Fort St. John, Bailey eliminated Closkey in the
semifinal round by that same one millisecond margin.
"When you consider I raced somebody I raced last Sunday in Fort St. John and he beat me by a thousandth of a second and today I beat him by a thousandth of a second and he's racing a car I built, this is about as sweet as it gets," said Closkey.
The pro class was the biggest of the meet with 32 entries and Closkey had to win six rounds to claim his prize.
Closkey also won the pro class final on Saturday and now has nine NHRA Wally trophies in his collection. Coming out second-best means Bailey will just have to wait for his first.
