IHRA MOPAR CANADIAN NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY FINAL - Scotty Cannon Finds Winner’s Circle For First Time in Top Fuel
Creasy, Spiess, Commisso and Noakes also claim Wins at Mopar Canadian Nationals
Scotty Cannon made his bones in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class, winning a record 28 national events and taking home six world championships. At the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam event at Grand Bend Motorplex Cannon was able to win another Ironman…but it was unlike any of his previous ones.
Cannon stepped into a Top Fueler this season, driving Evan Knoll’s ’06 Hadman Dragster. Sunday during the Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol he was able to break through and head back to the Winner’s Circle for the first time in 10 years by stopping Jim Cavaleri in the final round. Cannon clocked a 4.967 at 293.92 mph to better Cavaleri’s 5.071 at 256.06.
“I really have to thank the Canadian fans,” Cannon said. “They were just incredible. It’s been 10 years since I’ve won one of these, but this win was just as sweet as the last one.”
Last season Dale Creasy Jr. won his first career national event when he knocked off Bob Gilbertson in the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car final at the Mopar Canadian Nationals. That victory started a journey for Creasy that ended with his capturing the Nitro Funny Car world championship.
One year later Creasy was back in the Winner’s Circle at Grand Bend Motorplex after defeating first-time finals participant Mitch King. It was Creasy’s fifth career national event victory and kept him in the lead in the season championship points chase.
“We’re working as hard as we can,” Creasy said. “This is a great weekend and we’re on a roll. But 
there are a lot of good cars out there who can get on a roll just as quick as we did, so we just have to keep working hard.”
Ray Commisso (Toronto, Ont.) pulled off an upset when he drove his brand new 1967 Camaro to the Winner’s Circle. He was able to get past Mike Janis in the final round to become the second consecutive No. 13 qualifier to end up in the Winner’s Circle on the Nitro Jam tour. Commisso blew up after crossing the finish line, but that didn’t matter as he got to the stripe before Janis.
“We hurt the car, hurt it real bad,” Commisso said. “I’ve never hurt a car that bad but we’ll take it. I’m so happy to have (tuner) Al Billes in my corner, there is no way we would be able to do this without Al’s help.”
Paul Noakes won the battle of local talent when he knocked off Rob Atchison in the Alcohol Funny Car final. Noakes, a school teacher from London, Ontario, defeated the three-time World Champion Atchison by running a clean 5.947 at 241.50 mph. Atchison, also from London, posted a 6.024 at 242.41.
The win came in Noakes’ first IHRA Nitro Jam event of the season and was a bit of redemption for his Crew Chief Les Mellows. Mellows wrenched for Atchison before moving over to Noakes’ team last season.
“Les Mellows, my Crew Chief, has been my friend forever,” Noakes said. “He made all the right calls this weekend and the car responded. We came to this event just hoping to qualify, but we were able to take home the win. I’m very, very happy right now.”
Steve Spiess, the 2005 Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock world champion, won a Nitro Jam national event for the first time since the 2005 Skull Gear World Nationals when he defeated Frank Gugliotta in the final round at the Mopar Canadian Nationals. Spiess, from Manhattan, Ill., carded a 6.389 at 219.22 mph to claim the championship against Gugliotta, who lifted out of the run.
“I’m very pleased with the car,” Spiess said. “We qualified well and were able to go some rounds. We made a few adjustments to the car over the weekend and they seemed to work out for us. I can’t wait for the next race.”
The next event on the $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series is the Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals, August 3 – 5, Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131, south of Grand Rapids, Mich.
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Sunday's final results from the Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol at Grand Bend Motorplex. The race is the fifth of 11 in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Scotty Cannon, 4.967 seconds, 293.92 mph def. Jim Cavalieri, 5.071 seconds, 256.06 mph.
Nitro Funny Car -- Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.233, 263.51 def. Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, 5.382, 272.01.
Alcohol Funny Car -- Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.947, 242.50 def. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.024, 242.41.
Pro Modified -- Raymond Commisso, Chevy Camaro, 6.117, 233.92 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.894, 172.70.
Pro Stock -- Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.389, 219.22 def. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 16.265, 63.72.
Top Sportsman -- Gary Wojnowski Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.067, 196.22 def. Tom Bene, Pontiac Trans Am, 7.147, 191.43.
Top Dragster -- Dave Elrod, Dragster, 7.340, 182.33 def. Bill Riddle, Dragster, 7.088, 176.81.
Quick Rod -- Brett Nesbitt, Dragster, 8.917, 169.32 def. Dave Klomps, Dragster, 8.906, 160.82.
Super Rod -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.942, 157.19 def. Mark Hazelton, Camaro, 9.944, 137.57.
Hot Rod -- Tim Shuck, Chevy Camaro, 10.885, 125.87 def. Rudy Matthews, Camaro, 10.848, 133.90.
Super Stock -- Kevin Helms, Oldsmobile Achieva, 9.246, 135.02 def. Gianni Cantusci, Pontiac Firebird, 10.343, 126.54.
Stock -- Rick Baehr, Ford Mustang, 12.572, 82.45 def. Myron Piatek, Dodge Dart, 11.833, 109.73.
ET Bracket -- Fred Ellis, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.785, 121.85 def. John Klassen, Pontiac Firebird, 9.259, 145.77.
ET No Box -- Fred Ellis, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.771, 117.77 def. Andrew Stirk, Ford Mustang, 11.014, 120.28.
ET Box -- John Klassen, Pontiac Firebird, 9.213, 141.83 def. Shelley Smith, Dragster, 7.776, 167.86.
ET Motorcycle -- Josie Brooks, Suzuki, 8.971, 126.64 def. Mike Jardine, Honda, 10.283, 125.61.
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING -- Gilbertson Claims Nitro Funny Car No. 1 Qualifier Honors at Mopar Canadian Nationals
Bob Gilbertson gave the standing room only crowd at Grand Bend Motorplex a thrill. Gilbertson (Gastonia, N.C.) shot to the top of the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying sheet when he posted a 5.011 at 258.91 mph in the Saturday evening qualifying session.
“Everyone in Canada is pretty cool,” Gilbertson said of the huge Canadian crowd. “Live Nation does a great job of putting these things on. I hope everyone who came out today comes back tomorrow. We’re planning on putting on a great show. We’re either going to blow it up, put it in the wall or put it in the Winner’s Circle.”
Gilbertson will take on Andy Kelley in the first round while defending 
event champion Dale Creasy Jr., the No. 2 qualifier, will face Jack Wyatt.
T.J. Zizzo (Lincolnshire, Ill.) ended up holding on to the No. 1 qualifying spot in Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, but defending Mopar Canadian Nationals champion Bobby Lagana (Scarsdale, N.Y.) made him sweat it out in the last pair. Zizzo ran a 4.662 at 314.83 mph during Saturday afternoon qualifying to move into the top spot, but Lagana took a shot Saturday night and narrowly missed bumping Zizzo off the pole.
Zizzo will face Bruce Litton in the first round of eliminations while Lagana will square off with Jim Cavaleri.
Scott Cannon Jr.’s astounding 5.997 pass Friday night held on to the pole in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class. Cannon (Lyman, S.C.) set both ends of the track record Friday and will battle Jason Hamstra in the first round. Mike Janis, Kenny Lang, Ed Hoover and Tony Pontieri rounded out the top five on the qualifying sheet.
Mark Thomas (Louisville, Ohio) has advanced to the final round of each of the first four Knoll Gas Nitro Jam events this season. He appears to be well on his way to his fifth. Thomas claimed No. 1 qualifier honors in the Alcohol Funny Car class on the strength of a 5.838 pass at 241.76 mph. Thomas will face Paul Noakes in the first round of eliminations. 
Larry Dobbs was second on the sheet with a 5.841/242.41 pass while Tim Stevens ended up third.
Brian Gahm (Lucasville, Ohio) ran the first 6.20s run in Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock history Friday night. He backed up his record, officially a 6.299, during Saturday afternoon qualifying and the time stood up against the field when all qualifying was complete. He will face Rob Mansfield, the No. 8 qualifier, in the first round. Robert Patrick (Fredericksburg, Va.) ended up second on the qualifying sheet with a 6.318 pass at 220.15 mph. Steve Spiess, Frank Gugliotta and Pete Berner rounded out the top five.
Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 p.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol is the fifth of eleven events on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol at Grand Bend Motorplex, the fifth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. T.J. Zizzo, 4.662 seconds, 314.83 mph vs. 5. Bruce Litton, 4.792, 316.38; 2. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.735, 309.34 vs. 6. Jim Cavalieri, 4.874, 282.60; 3. Scotty Cannon, 4.768, 301.07 vs. 7. Todd Paton, 4.902, 281.01; 4. Terry McMillen, 4.779, 243.94 vs. 8. Mitch King, 4.980, 285.05.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 5.011, 258.91 vs. 5. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 6.175, 157.56; 2. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.062, 300.73 vs. 6. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 6.313, 145.03; 3. Terry Haddock, Stratus, 5.127, 277.72 vs. 7. Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, 6.355, 145.59; 4. John Lawson, Monte Carlo, 5.407, 205.35 vs. 8. Paul Lee, Monte Carlo, 11.315, 62.25.
Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.997, 237.92 vs. 9. Jason Hamstra, Chevy Corvette, 6.130, 231.56; 2. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.038, 237.71 vs. 10. Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.139, 230.33; 3. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.063, 234.49 vs. 11. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.144, 235.19; 4. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.069, 234.86 vs. 12. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.178, 226.24; 5. Tony Pontieri, Chevy Bel Air, 6.073, 239.74 vs. 13. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 6.228, 231.44; 6. John Russo, Camaro, 6.108, 236.96 vs. 14. Joe Mulligan, Camaro, 6.237, 224.02; 7. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.118, 235.06 vs. 15. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.245, 226.70; 8. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.118, 230.65 vs. 16. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.246, 231.95.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.838, 243.19 vs. 5. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.887, 235.47; 2. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.841, 242.41 vs. 6. Scott Wildgust, Monte Carlo, 5.915, 243.85; 3. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.871, 241.89 vs. 7. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 5.917, 243.37; 4. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.882, 242.36 vs. 8. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 6.021, 233.56.
Pro Stock -- 1. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.299, 220.66 vs. 9. Dan Sweeney, Pontiac GTO, 6.390, 217.84; 2. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.318, 220.30 vs. 10. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.393, 217.35; 3. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.321, 219.47 vs. 11. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.397, 218.37; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.354, 219.65 vs. 12. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.401, 218.44; 5. Pete Berner, GTO, 6.356, 219.22 vs. 13. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.409, 218.48; 6. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.356, 218.58 vs. 14. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.426, 217.81; 7. Dean Goforth, GTO, 6.365, 218.87 vs. 15. Anthony Paone, GTO, 6.447, 215.62; 8. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.367, 218.19 vs. 16. Ron Miller, Chevy Cavalier, 6.452, 214.72.
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Runs quickest Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock pass in history during Friday qualifying in Grand Bend
Brian Gahm, of Lucasville, Ohio, has made a habit of doing things first. He became the charter member of the Quarter-Max 6.40s club during the 2004 racing season. He then, after that club was filled up, was the first Pro Stock driver to run in the 6.30s to become the initial member of the Lenco Transmissions 6.30s club.
Friday, at Grand Bend Motorplex during the Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol, the fifth event of the 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series, Gahm did it again. His 6.299 pass at 220.66 mph was the quickest Pro Stock pass in recorded history and made Gahm the first member of the Jerry Haas Race Cars 6.20s Club.
“I like getting some of my money back from Haas,” Gahm, who drives a Jerry Haas-built 2007 Mustang with Jon Kaase power, said.. “This is a brand new race car and it doesn’t get any better than that. I’m tickled to death. We contemplated what to do with the transmission and Cliff made the right call. He said tonight would have the best conditions of the weekend and we went for it.”
As he approached the end of the track Gahm wondered if his car was going to stay together.
“When I hit the high gear the thing was flat carrying the mail,” Gahm said. “When I got to the high side it was banging around and I thought the engine was coming apart. When they first told me I thought I heard them say a 6.39 
because it was banging around so much. We were shooting for a 6.32 and would have been happy with that, but everything came together with the weather and it was a heck of a run.”
T.J. Zizzo slid into the provisional top qualifier spot in Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel with his 4.662 pass at 314.83 mph.
“I tell you what, we had to change a few things in Edmonton a couple of weeks ago and finished as the No. 1 qualifier,” Zizzo said. “We made a few more small changes for this race and things are working out so far. I have such a great crew that always puts me in position to do the best I can.”
Dale Creasy Jr. (Beecher, Ill.) claimed the provisional Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car top qualifying spot with a 5.062 pass at 300.73 mph.
“We were getting a little nervous because it looked like the Funny Cars were having problems getting down the track,” Creasy said. “But we were able to put a clean pass together. We’ll be back at it tomorrow.”
Scott Cannon Jr. (Lyman, S.C.) broke down a barrier as well during Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified qualifying. Cannon ran a career best 5.997 at 237.92 mph to claim both ends of the Grand Bend Motorplex track record and grab the provisional pole.
“My dad and I thought about it all day, thinking if we were going to 
back it down,” Cannon said. “We finally decided not to because the air was so good and you see what happened.”
Mark Thomas (Louisville, Ohio) has been to the Alcohol Funny Car final at each of the first four Nitro Jam national events this season. He qualified Friday like he intends on making it five-for-five, blistering the quarter-mile in 5.838 at 241.76 mph to end up on the provisional pole heading into Saturday.
Racing resumes Saturday at 9 a.m., with professional qualifying rounds at 1 and 7 p.m. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com. The Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol is the fifth of eleven events on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol at Grand Bend Motorplex, sixth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. T.J. Zizzo, 4.662 seconds, 314.83 mph; 2. Scotty Cannon, 4.768, 301.07; 3. Jim Cavalieri, 4.874, 282.60; 4. Mitch King, 5.945, 150.36; 5. Grant Flowers, 8.718, 91.24; 6. Bruce Litton, 10.032, 81.27; 7. Terry McMillen, 10.598, 85.60; 8. Todd Paton, 12.003, 72.43.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.062, 300.73; 2. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 10.028, 100.85; 3. John Lawson, Monte Carlo, 10.378, 88.93; 4. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 11.129, 83.01; 5. Terry Haddock, Stratus, 11.699, 89.12; 6. Paul Lee, Monte Carlo, 13.167, 55.98; 7. Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, 13.376, 73.24.
Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.997, 237.92; 2. Ed Hoover, Chevy Corvette, 6.070, 234.70; 3. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.081, 233.44; 4. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.182, 234.21; 5. Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.208, 226.77; 6. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 6.214, 226.96; 7. Joe Mulligan, Camaro, 6.237, 224.02; 8. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.245, 226.70; 9. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 6.275, 230.41; 10. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.308, 229.04; 11. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.457, 229.90; 12. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.619, 217.56; 13. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.657, 165.70; 14. Mark Nielsen, Camaro, 6.748, 224.55; 15. Carl Spiering, Camaro, 6.920, 151.39; 16. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 8.198, 118.98.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.838, 241.76; 2. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.841, 242.41; 3. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.904, 233.52; 4. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 5.917, 243.37; 5. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.924, 241.45; 6. Scott Wildgust, Monte Carlo, 6.016, 239.44; 7. Trevor Lebsack, Mustang, 6.119, 227.38; 8. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.197, 214.25.
Pro Stock -- 1. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.299, 220.66; 2. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.346, 218.65; 3. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.352, 218.27; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.355, 217.91; 5. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.358, 218.37; 6. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.363, 219.22; 7. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.367, 218.19; 8. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.412, 218.44; 9. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.414, 217.14; 10. Dean Goforth, GTO, 6.496, 213.77; 11. Ron Miller, Chevy Cavalier, 6.541, 212.56; 12. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 7.652, 130.96; 13. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 7.666, 127.75; 14. Anthony Paone, GTO, 11.454, 97.89; 15. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 11.847, 104.49; 16. John Nobile, Mustang, 15.338, 86.03.
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THURSDAY - IT ALL STARTED IN GRAND BEND FOR LAGANA
2006 Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel winner looks forward to return to Grand Bend Motorplex
The 2006 Mopar Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex provided the quintessential moment in IHRA Top Fuel driver Bobby Lagana Jr.’s career. It was one of those magical weekends where everything fell into place and, in the end, a lifetime of hard work paid off in one single run.
After trying for nine years, doing whatever it took to get from race to race, Lagana had an Ironman. All those trips with the dragster pointing skyward on a ramp truck, all those times the checking account dipped into single digits, all those near-misses, DNQ’s and first round losses were wiped away with one single shot down the track against the driver who had done more for Lagana than any other driver on the IHRA circuit, Clay Millican.
Millican, with his Crew Chief Mike Kloeber, took Lagana and his rag-tag team under his wing years before they squared off in the final round in Grand Bend. Lagana and his brother, Dominic, were kind of “honorary” crew members on Millican’s Werner Enterprises Top Fuel team. In fact Lagana had “Werner” on the back of his wing for a number of years…not because Werner gave him sponsorship, but because he destroyed his wing on a pass and had to borrow one from Millican and Co. The Laganas worked the wing off in the Millican pits. Dominic, in fact, would sometimes accompany Millican’s team on the road when it crossed over into NHRA competition.
After Lagana defeated Millican in the final round at Grand Bend to win his first career Ironman, the happiest person on the grounds was Lagana. The second happiest, without a doubt, was Millican, who jumped out of his car at the end of the track and rushed over to congratulate an emotional Lagana.
When Lagana met up with his brother a few minutes later the tears flowed.
“I just looked at him and said ‘this completes us.’ We had been trying for so many years and had been through so much,” Lagana said. “At that point the emotions took over. My team has had its shares of ups and downs, but that feeling in Grand Bend is something I will never forget. I still get a little choked up thinking about what that win meant to me, my family, (Crew Chief) Jay (Lewis) and everyone who had helped us out over the years…especially Clay and Mike Kloeber. We probably would not have been racing if not for them.”
Lagana won again later in the year in Epping, N.H. and currently sits third in the Top Fuel points race this season. Millican is not racing in IHRA competition this season, but the Top Fuel ranks are as strong as ever. T.J. Zizzo, Bruce Litton, Doug Foley and Kevin Jones are all off to quick starts.
“Another win in Grand Bend would be huge for us,” Lagana said. “This season the championship points race is going to come down to the wire and every round is a big round. We have to keep working hard if we hope to be a factor towards the end of the year.”
Lagana was not the only driver to score an emotional first win in Grand Bend last season. Dale Creasy Jr., who had toiled in the Nitro Funny Car ranks for over a decade without finding the Winner’s Circle, broke through for his first career national event victory. Creasy, who went on to win the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world championship, defeated Bob Gilbertson in the final round.
“I got crushed about 25 times,” Creasy said of the top end celebration that followed his win. “Our team and Bobby Lagana’s team were down there high-fiving and hugging. We’re both doing the same thing; for years and years we’ve both been out here just trying to make a go of it. We both got into the final and both won. Amazing.”
Even now, after winning the world championship, Creasy fondly remembers that weekend at Grand Bend Motorplex.
“I don’t think it sunk in for a couple days,” he said. “It was probably the best weekend I ever had racing because everything worked out right.”
Alan Pittman loves going to Grand Bend. The Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified driver from Greenville, S.C. has won two of his three career Ironmen at Grand Bend, the latest coming when he topped Glen Kerunsky in the final round of the ’06 Mopar Canadian Nationals.
“I love Canada,” Pittman said after the win. “Canada has been really good to us. Plus I have Carl Spiering from Canada and he does our engine program for us. We have no gripes with him whatsoever. He’s a good man and has a good race team. We’re lucky to have him on board, that’s what makes all this work.”
Pete Berner agrees with Pittman’s assessment of Canada. After defeating Robert Patrick in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock final, Berner was all smiles when discussing our neighbors to the north.
“I love Canada,” he said after the final in Grand Bend. “This was a big win for us and now I can’t wait for the next one.”
The victory in Grand Bend started Berner on the path that would ultimately win him a world championship.
The same can be said for Alcohol Funny Car driver Mark Thomas. Thomas, who claimed his sixth career world championship in 2006, first won at the season opener in San Antonio. When he knocked off Terry Munroe in the final round in Grand Bend he had a comfortable lead…a lead he would not relinquish the rest of the season.
