Representing Mo-Kan Dragway, Avondet had a 6.144-second pass at 110.64 mph in the final round to claim the Mod World Championship over Chris Roth representing Mid-Michigan.
Avondet drives a 1969 Dodge Dart which ironically has been the same car that he has raced since he was 17-years-old. He credited the win on Saturday due to the consistent lights he cut, Brian Jones and Wilbanks Auto and Machine for a keeping the car in top shape throughout the year.
The car, which has been updated over the last 21 years, remains incredibly consistent at the track.
Avondet had great lights throughout the day. He started with a .014 in the opening round, had a perfect .000 in the semifinals and followed with .040 in the final round to propel him to the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Championship.
“This win means a lot to my family and me,” Avondet said. “My dad, who has been with me since day one, was with me in Memphis. Having him there to celebrate made it even more special. This is by far the biggest win of my career and it is special to called an IHRA World Champion.”
With the win Avondet won $20,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a seven-night/eight-day vacation for two on the island of Aruba, a golf cart from Darts Carts, a world championship diamond ring, a world championship Ironman Trophy and IHRA Gold Card.
While Avondet said his wife Kim and kids Addison and Kellen couldn’t be there because of prior commitments, they were cheering him on from their home.
“I frankly wasn’t paying a ton of attention to the Summit World Finals,” Avondet said. “The points championship at Mo-Kan Dragway (Asbury, Mo.) was settled the week before the Summit World Finals and I was concentrated on winning the track championship.”
Mo-Kan Draway has 12-14 bracket points race per year and it can be difficult making all the races due to family obligations. Avondet won the second race of the year and at that point, he was committed to running for the championship.
Schuberts chassis shop, Bass Equipment and his mom all rooted him on through the points races at Mo-Kan Dragway.
“Carl Blanton owns Mo-Kan Dragway and the competition there is fierce on weekly basis,” Avondet said. “ You will see 40-60 footbrake racers in the class on average. Every racer who competes a Mo-Kan is tough which helped me in Memphis when I faced so many good racers from around the country.”
The day Avondet won track championship, Blanton asked him if we would be going to Memphis to represent Mo-Kan at the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals. Avondet wasn’t sure it would be possible due to his son having a championship football game and his daughter having an end of season volleyball tournament that same weekend.
“Carl came up to me and said that I need to sell my wife Kim on the trip to Aruba if I win,” he jokingly said. “I am thrilled that I get bring her to Aruba to celebrate this accomplishment.”
After winning, Avondet couldn’t wait to tell his wife and kids what happened. He described winning as a surreal experience, one that seems almost too good to be true.
“I wake up in the morning and have to make sure it wasn’t a dream,” Avondet said. “I can tell it isn’t a dream when I see my kids riding on the Darts Carts golf cart.”
