2015 IHRA PALM BEACH NATIONALS - EVENT NOTEBOOK
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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK -
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY - Jimmy Keen, of Parrish, Florida, defeated Dina Parise in the first round of Crower Pro Mod eliminations, then topped Bill Lutz in the semi-final to face Bradenton Nitro Jam winner Isaias Rojas. Rojas' 2006 Cobalt suffered mechanical failure at the starting line and Keen singled for the win.
"I want to thank IHRA for bringing Pro Mod back," said Keen. "We appreciate PBIR for having a good track to race on. It was a hot day. Making runs all day, we're happy for the win. The air was not good but there's nothing you can do about it. We just kept making adjustments. We finally got it worked out for the final and it worked pretty good."
"Two for two! It's unbelievable to win back to back," Montecalvo exclaimed. "It's hard enough to win one race, but to win back to back, it just takes a tremendous amount of focus, a tremendous amount of focus from the team. We're gonna ride this thing out."
Montecalvo was asked which was more difficult, winning tonight or capturing the victory last week.
"I think, really, last week. We haven't raced in IHRA since 2009 when we won the world championship. We were still adjusting to running the quarter mile. It just felt so good to get that win. Getting that one out of the way made this one a little bit easier. It built confidence. It built momentum. That goes a long way."
SCARY MOMENT - IHRA Pro Stock racer Cale Aronson crashed his mountain motor Mustang during final eliminations at the IHRA Palm Beach Nationals in W. Palm Beach, Fla.
Aronson drifted toward the centerline at half-track before he lost control and flipped the car. The car then made contact with the retaining wall, lost the driver's side door and slid to a stop while on the roof in the shutdown area.
According to IHRA Public Relations Manager John Bisci, Aronson was alert and responsive as safety personnel extracted him from the car. He was transported via helicopter to nearby St. Mary's Hospital in Palm Beach as a precaution for evaluation.
CompetitionPlus.com will have more information on Aronson's condition as it becomes available.
TWO FOR TWO, PART 2 - Mike McIntire Jr. and his tangerine-hued Camaro have become regular visitors to IHRA Nitro Jam victory lane. McIntire talked about his father, who recently underwent heart surgery and did not make the trip to Palm Beach."My dad wasn't here this weekend but he was watching the live TV feed," said McIntire. "He was pretty jacked up. I called him right away and the emotions were flying and he's getting yelled at by nurses to relax. Everybody's happy. He's very proud. We worked our tails off for him. We said last week was for him but this was 'way more important to get this for him.
"It was nice having more than eight cars. It brings out the competition. It steps everybody's games up. It was a good weekend."
With the next Nitro Jam race nearly a month away, McIntire was asked what he planned to do with his so-called down time.
"We've been through two races and we've got a lot to freshen up," McIntire explained. "We're going to work really hard so we can come out at Cordova and keep this streak going."
BIG DOGGIN' IT - Jay Turner, IHRA's 2014 Nitro Harley champion, defeated Bradenton bike winner Randal Andras in the first round. He took on Alvin Kobernusz in the semi-final and took out fellow North Carolinian Tracy Kile in the final round."It was a good win. We ran good first round and then we struggled. The air got really bad. The track was tight. We're really happy to come down here. We have a lot of friends and family here so it feels like our second home track.
"We're looking for some time off, and getting caught up on some parts. We're going to build another bike. We're gonna build Lucky Seven. "
"It's been a long road for us in the Applied Racing Components Jet Dragster but we finally took our first win here at West Palm. It was a tough weekend and we were worried coming in but Mikey and Brian took apart the entire engine. We've been having trouble all season. We've been qualifying low and we knew with the five-car field that we were going to have to qualify in the top four. We took Kat (Moller) out in the first round with the hole shot and took Elaine with the red light."
FINAL QUALIFYING - Here are the final results from Saturday's Q-3 session.
IHRA NITRO JAM PALM BEACH NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUNOCO RACE FUELS FINAL QUALIFYING RESULTS
CROWER PRO MOD
Isaias Rojas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 2006 Cobalt 5.983 sec./239.06 mph
Jimmy Keen (Parrish, Florida) 1963 Corvette 6.030 sec./236.01 mph
Ruben Tetsoshvili (Wesley Chapel, Florida) 6.177 sec./227.00 mph
Bill Lutz (Canal Winchester, Ohio) Camaro 6.285 sec./233.12 mph
Dina Parise (New Freedom, Pennsylvania) 6.442 sec./213.30 mph
Mike Pruss (West Palm Beach, Florida) 1951 Chevrolet 7.434 sec./132.31 mph
AMSOIL NITRO FUNNY CAR PRESENTED BY AEROMOTIVE
Jason Rupert (Yorba Linda, California) 1969 Camaro "Black Plague" 5.669 sec./258.42 mph
Mike Smith (Boynton Beach, Florida) 1975 Vega "Jungle Jim" (red car) 5.723 sec./249.58 mph
Paul Romine (Fishers, Indiana) 1979 Mustang "Man O' War" 5.741 sec./248.93 mph
Mike McIntire Jr. (Mentor, Ohio) 1970 Camaro "McAttack" 5.753 sec./252.99 mph
Steve Nichols (Newark, Delaware) 1970 Camaro 5.835 sec./241.93 mph
Mark Sanders (Maple Valley, Washington) 1970 Mustang "Mr. Explosive" 5.840 sec./246.71 mph
Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Indiana) 1974 Vega "U.S. Male" 6.057 sec./220.94 mph
Rick Krafft (Chesterton, Indiana) Chesterton, Indiana) 1974 Vega "Jungle Jim" (blue car) 6.927 sec./132.70 mph
Did not qualify:
Tim Boychuk (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) 1977 Trans-Am "Hawaiian"
Jordan Pawlick (Alberta, Canada) Plymouth Duster
U.S. BOUNTY HUNTERS PRO STOCK
John Montecalvo (Speonk, New York) 2013 Camaro 6.252 sec./223.99 mph
Cary Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 2013 Camaro 6.3008 sec./222.29 mph
Dean Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 2014 Camaro 6.342 sec./212.56 mph
Trevor Eman (Pos Chiquito, Aruba) 2011 Mustang 6.343 sec.//221.27 mph
J.R. Carr (Pasco, Washington) 2015 Camaro 6.352 sec./219.04 mph
Cale Aronson (Chillicothe, Missouri) 2010 Mustang 6.356 sec./221.20 mph
Matt Bertsch (Tecumseh, Michigan) 2007 Mustang 6.388 sec./219.90 mph
Kevin Bealko (Bridgeport, West Virginia) 2013 Camaro 6.395 sec./221.23 mph.
Did not qualify:
John Konigshofer (Otterville, Ontario, Canada) 2013 Mustang 6.399 sec./220.73 mph
John Pluchino (Commack, New York) 2006 Escort 6.401 sec./219.12 mph
John DeFlorian Jr. (Arnold, Missouri) 2015 Camaro 6.404 sec./214.01 mph
Scott Hintz (Odessa, Texas) 2013 Mustang 10.118 sec./110.80 mph
NITRO HARLEY
Rickey House (Humble, Texas) 6.334 sec./217.77 mph
Tii Tharpe (East Bend, North Carolina) 6.409 sec./215.48 mph
Tracy Kile (Asheville, North Carolina) 6.434 sec./211.43 mph
Jay Turner (Julian, North Carolina) 6.464 sec./211.46 mph
Randal Andras (Amelia, Louisiana) 6.505 sec./216.76 mph
Jim Fagan (Valley City, Ohio) 6.731 sec./199.40 mph
Larry "Drums" Brancaccio (Nutley, New Jersey) 6.781 sec./206.80 mph
Alvin Kobernusz (Manly, Iowa) 6.782 sec./203.12 mph
Did not qualify:
Lyle Newton (Naniamo, British Columbia, Canada) 7.339 sec./00.00 mph
Chris Streeter (Cleveland, Ohio) 9.041 sec./108.55 mph
JET DRAGSTER
Katarina Moller (Osprey, Florida) 5.719 sec./280.49 mph
Elaine Larsen (West Melbourne, Florida) 5.842 sec./271.30 mph
Allison West (Coral Springs, Florida) 5.877 sec./272.94 mph
Marisha Falk (Port Orange, Florida) 5.991 sec./271.46 mph
Did not qualify:
Shea Holbrook (Groveland, Florida) 6.065 sec./264.23 mph
NEXT UP - May 29-30 -- IHRA Nitro Jam Summer Nationals, Cordova International Raceway - Cordova, Illinois
Nitro Jam classes include: Crower Pro Mod, AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car, U.S. Bounty Hunters Pro Stock, Nitro Harley-Davidson, Jet Dragster.
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK - FIRST DAY IN THE BOOKS AT WEST PALM
THE OBVIOUS - Tim Boychuk entered the weekend leading the points in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car Class Presented By Aeromotive. Earlier this week, Boychuk and crewchief Roland Leong parted ways.
Head into the weekend the Hawaiian team had been the picture of success with a semi-final finish in Tucson, a win in Baton Rouge and a No. 1 qualifier with a runner-up finish at the Bradenton race last weekend.
Friday wasn't as successful as Boychuk shook the tires on the opening run and then oiled down the track on his second, and losing credit for the run. He heads into Saturday unqualified.
JUST ONE OF THE BOYS - Since she was a child Pro Mod racer Dina Parise has wanted to "mix it up. Now she's got her wish while racing in the rough and tumble world of Pro Modified.
“I grew up on Long Island, New York, and from an early age I wanted to mix it up with the boys,” Parise said. “I wanted to play hockey and my mother said, ‘No, not gonna happen.’ I always seemed to be the girl who liked all the boys’ sports. I also was a gymnast, so we decided figure skating was a better way to go.
“I was competitive from age eight through my early 20s. I had a friend who told me the Ice Capades was holding auditions and suggested I try out. I had to lie about my height on my application form. They wanted you to be at least five-feet-five inches, and I am barely five-one. It happened pretty quickly. They let you know if you passed or failed that night. I passed and was chosen to go on tour. My first tour was their 50th anniversary tour, and it lasted eight months.
Parise earned her way into a spot on the revered Ice Capades, and two races into the season finds herself in the mix for the IHRA Pro Modified championship.
Parise followed her husband, and fellow Pro Modified racer Andrew Parise, into drag racing.
“About 10 years ago, Andrew built a 1967 Camaro. At first he was going to show it, then it went from a show car to a race car with a full tub and roll cage. He drove that car for about a year or so and I just fell in love with the sport of drag racing. I had seen it on TV, but I had never been to a drag race. The following year, he decided he was going to build a Pro Mod from the ’67 Camaro. I said, ‘Well, I’d like to drive the ’67,’ so I went to the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School and earned my Super Gas license. I competed in that Camaro for a couple of years. Later, I was looking to step up to a higher class. My husband bought me a ’67 Camaro body. He was thinking Top Sportsman, but I said, ‘I kinda wanna go Pro Mod.’ After I picked him up off the ground we got our marketing partners together and they were able to help us.”
Parise’s decision to try Pro Mod racing was an easy one.
“To me, Pro Mod is one of the best classes,” admitted Parise. “I’ve said it a million times, we can’t thank IHRA enough for bringing the class back. We’ve worked with Scotty Cannon, Carl Spiering – guys who were in the midst of things when it was really happening back in the ‘90s. I love the fact that there are so many body styles and that the fans can relate to the cars. No disrespect to anyone but they’re not cookie-cutter and that’s the best part about it.”
POINT LEADERS EMERGE ON TOP - Pro Mod racer Isiah Rojas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Pro Stock racer John Montecalvo (Center Moriches), New York entered the weekend as the No. 1 ranked drivers in their respective classes. After two qualifying sessions, they head into Saturday's lone session atop their respective divisions.
CROWER PRO MOD
1. Isaias Rojas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 2006 Cobalt 5.983 sec./239.06 mph
2. Jimmy Keen (Parrish, Florida) 1963 Corvette 6.030 sec./236.01 mph
3. Bill Lutz (Canal Winchester, Ohio) Camaro 7.024 sec./167.57 mph
4. Mike Pruss (West Palm Beach, Florida) 1951 Chevrolet 7.434 sec./132.31 mph
5. Ruben Tetsoshvili (Wesley Chapel, Florida) 8.957 sec./99.94 mph
6. Dina Parise (New Freedom, Pennsylvania) 11.655 sec./83.58 mph
AMSOIL NITRO FUNNY CAR PRESENTED BY AEROMOTIVE
1. Jason Rupert (Yorba Linda, California) 1969 Camaro “Black Plague” 5.669 sec./258.42 mph
2. Mike Smith (Boynton Beach, Florida) 1975 Vega “Jungle Jim” (red car) 5.723 sec./249.58 mph
3. Paul Romine (Fishers, Indiana) 1979 Mustang “Man O’ War” 5.741 sec./248.93 mph
4. Mike McIntire Jr. (Mentor, Ohio) 1970 Camaro “McAttack” 5.753 sec./252.99 mph
5. Steve Nichols (Newark, Delaware) 1970 Camaro 5.835 sec./241.93 mph
6. Mark Sanders (Maple Valley, Washington) 1970 Mustang “Mr. Explosive” 5.840 sec./246.71 mph
7. Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Indiana) 1974 Vega “U.S. Male” 6.057 sec./220.94 mph
8. Rick Krafft (Chesterton, Indiana) Chesterton, Indiana) 1974 Vega “Jungle Jim” (blue car) 6.927 sec./132.70 mph
Did not qualify:
Tim Boychuk (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) 1977 Trans-Am “Hawaiian”
U.S. BOUNTY HUNTERS PRO STOCK
1. John Montecalvo (Speonk, New York) 2013 Camaro 6.252 sec./223.99 mph
2. Cary Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 2013 Camaro 6.3008 sec./222.29 mph
3. Dean Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 2014 Camaro 6.342 sec./212.56 mph
4. Trevor Eman (Pos Chiquito, Aruba) 2011 Mustang 6.343 sec.//221.27 mph
5. J.R. Carr (Pasco, Washington) 2015 Camaro 6.352 sec./219.04 mph
6. Cale Aronson (Chillicothe, Missouri) 2010 Mustang 6.356 sec./221.20 mph
7. Matt Bertsch (Tecumseh, Michigan) 2007 Mustang 6.388 sec./219.90 mph
8. John Konigshofer (Otterville, Ontario, Canada) 2013 Mustang 6.399 sec./220.73 mph
Not qualified:
John DeFlorian Jr. (Arnold, Missouri) 2015 Camaro 6.404 sec./214.01 mph
Kevin Bealko (Bridgeport, West Virginia) 2013 Camaro 6.414 sec./220.94 mph
John Pluchino (Commack, New York) 2006 Escort 6.597 sec./195.25 mph
Scott Hintz (Odessa, Texas) 2013 Mustang 10.118 sec./110.80 mph
NITRO HARLEY
1. Rickey House (Humble, Texas) 6.334 sec./217.77 mph
2. Tii Tharpe (East Bend, North Carolina) 6.409 sec./215.48 mph
3. Tracy Kile (Asheville, North Carolina) 6.434 sec./211.43 mph
4. Jay Turner (Julian, North Carolina) 6.464 sec./211.46 mph
5. Randal Andras (Amelia, Louisiana) 6.505 sec./216.76 mph
6. Jim Fagan (Valley City, Ohio) 6.731 sec./199.40 mph
7. Larry “Drums” Brancaccio (Nutley, New Jersey) 6.781 sec./206.80 mph
8. Alvin Kobernusz (Manly, Iowa) 6.782 sec./203.12 mph
Not qualified:
Lyle Newton (Naniamo, British Columbia, Canada) 7.339 sec./00.00 mph
JET DRAGSTER
1. Katarina Moller (Osprey, Florida) 5.719 sec./280.49 mph
2. Elaine Larsen (West Melbourne, Florida) 5.842 sec./271.30 mph
3. Allison West (Coral Springs, Florida) 5.877 sec./272.94 mph
4. Marisha Falk (Port Orange, Florida) 5.991 sec./271.46 mph
Did not qualify:
Shea Holbrook (Groveland, Florida) 6.065 sec./264.23 mph
