By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

The Goodrich family of Greenwood epitomizes everything good about the National Hot Rod Association’s Sportsman (amateur) class of drag racing.

Robert Goodrich, a former Greenwood High School quarterback, had dreamed of drag racing since he was a kid. Racing in the Super Pro class again in the U.S. Nationals, Goodrich is living the dream at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg.

That explains the script on the back end of his 1993 Ford Mustang that reads: “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” 

Most significantly, drag racing is a family affair for the Goodrich family, which includes wife Shelly Mize Goodrich, brother Tim, sisters Connie and Vicki, sons Robert II and Nick and grandsons Banks and Nohlen.

“This is a family race team,” Robert Goodrich said. “This (Sportsman class) is all about the friendship of family and team members.”

Last year Goodrich’s parents chipped in and bought his 434 cubic-inch short-block Chevrolet that powers his white Mustang. 

The machine gets its share of attention although it sits across a drive from far more expensive Super Pro cars at Lucas Oil Raceway.

“I think fans just like our car because it is the real thing, and we don’t have a big hauler and lots of money behind us,” Goodrich said. “The fans out here really appreciate the older cars.”

Goodrich, who is employed at the Aldi warehouse, took four years to build the Mustang for drag racing. He explained that the car was built painstakingly for safety and durability. Eventually, Robert II will step in and drive the car.
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They reached the fourth round of eliminations earlier this season in Columbus, Ohio. Last season he qualified for the first round of eliminations at all races. Goodrich did not qualify fast enough last week at the Nationals to compete in the first round of Super Gas.

Southside pro drivers Drew Skillman and Billy Glidden were mired in disappointment until their late qualifying runs in Pro Stock and Pro Mod, respectively.

Skillman opened Sunday’s qualifying round outside of the top 12 but bounced into the top 10 and the 16 finalists with a run of 6.626 seconds (208.81 mph) in a 2015 Camaro.

Drew Skillman’s grandfather Ray Skillman and dad Bill Skillman each claimed class championships in Sportsman competition.

Drew qualified 10th in the Ray Skillman Auto Group Camaro but was edged by Allen Johnson in a 2016 Dodge Dart. Skillman went 6.666 seconds (208.65 mph) but Johnson had a better hole shot and won by less than one foot in the first round.

Glidden, son of NHRA legend Bob Glidden, was locked in third gear on his first run Friday and then ripped off a daring career-best Pro Mod run of 5.83 seconds (254.8 mph) in the Precision turbo-T Camaro. The red and black car veered to the left but Glidden corrected for a run that left wife Shannon Springer Glidden dancing in the warm-up lane.

In Monday’s finals, Glidden reached the semifinals against fast qualifier Troy Coughlin but was defeated by forty-five-thousandths of a second. 

Tony Schumacher rewrote history Monday by winning a record 10th championship in Top Fuel, breaking a tie with nine-time Pro Stock winner Bob Glidden. Mello Yello Series winners were: Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Chris McGaha, Pro Stock; Chris McGaha, Pro Stock; and Andrew Hines, motorcycle.

• Funny Car drivers Robert Hight and Ron Capps were involved in separate incidents. Hight’s engine exploded during a run Saturday, and the parachute on Capps’ NAPA Charger did not open at the end of his 325 mph run. Capps’ car hit the runoff sand area and rolled upside-down into the rear mesh fence.
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• Angelle Sampay set Pro Stock motorcycle records Sunday with a run of 6.812 seconds (197.02 mph) in a 2010 Buell. She said the record run was all in her ability to shift gears on a bike that did not have the team’s top engine.
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• Pappa John’s founder/owner John Schnatter was on hand with new sponsorship for second-year Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett. Schnatter revealed that he sought to sponsor a NASCAR Sprint Cup car a few years ago but the cost would be a $15 million to $20 million. Papp John’s had sponsored NASCAR truck driver Ron Hornaday in selected races and was looking to expand but not at that price.