IHRA ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY FINAL - MCMILLEN CLAIMS FIRST CAREER
KNOLL-GAS NITRO JAM
VICTORY
Veteran racer Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., defeated first-time Top Fuel competitor Jeff O’Neill during the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels. Both competitors came to Castrol Raceway seeking their first career Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam event wins.
Other professional winners included Terry Haddock (Nitro Funny Car), Ed Hoover (Pro Modified), Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car) and Robert Patrick (Pro Stock). Sportsman eliminations are still underway after a short rain-delay.
McMillen, who entered Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel eliminations qualified No. 7, ran a 4.953 in round one to take out Mike Strasburg. His semifinal opponent was teammate Doug Foley, who had just dispatched Bruce Litton. Foley was No. 1 qualifier and had event low ET of 4.581. However, in round two, Foley shook the tires at half-track and McMillen took the stripe to advance to the finals.
O’Neill had a tough road to the finals as well. He took out points leader T.J. Zizzo in round one with a 4.678, then Scotty Cannon with a 4.951, both times clocking impressive reaction times.
Again in the final, O’Neill had the advantage off the line, but it wasn’t enough as McMillen took the stripe and won the race with a 4.729, 291.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling to win this race,” said McMillen. “I’ve always said Edmonton is one of my favorite tracks. To come out here and win it is an awesome deal. Perseverance by the Torco team was a major factor today. We went out there and got it done. I just can’t say enough about my team, Evan Knoll (sponsor), Tim Lewis and Doug Foley (team co-owners).”
Haddock used a final round 5.104 ET to take out current Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car points leader Dale Creasy Jr. in the final round. Creasy had a slight starting line advantage but smoked the tires and that was enough for Haddock, of Lynnwood, Wash., to win his first career race.
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified competitor Hoover took out former world champion Mike Castellana, low qualifier Kenny Lang and winner of the last IHRA event Pat Stoken to advance to the finals against Carl Spiering, making his IHRA debut of the season. Hoover left the starting line second, but out-hustled Spiering in a great side-by-side race down the track.
At the stripe it was Hoover, of Gilbert, S.C., winning his second Nitro Jam event of the season.
Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Thomas made it four final rounds in as many races, winning his second event of the season. Entering the race with a 17 point lead, he advanced to the finals defeating Edmonton’s John Evanchuk in round one and Terry Munroe in round two. The Canton, Ohio, native then defeated a red-lighting Roger Bateman for the win, increasing his points lead on the class.
Patrick started eliminations in the second position and dropped Rob Mansfield in round one with a 6.418, 215.79, low ET of the event in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class. He then defeated Cary Goforth and former world champion Brian Gahm to advance to the finals versus defending world champion Pete Berner. Patrick ran another 6.418 to Berner’s 6.419 to take the win.
The next event on the $19.5 million Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series is the MOPAR Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol, July 20-22, Grand Bend (Ontario) Motorplex.
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Sunday's final results from the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway. The race is the fourth of 11 on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Terry McMillen, 4.729 seconds, 291.45 mph def. Jeff O'Neill, 6.043 seconds, 147.29 mph.
Nitro Funny Car -- Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 5.104, 291.45 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.998, 106.24.
Pro Modified -- Ed Hoover, Chevy Corvette, 6.151, 218.09 def. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.198, 232.87.
Alcohol Funny Car -- Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.950, 241.84 def. Roger Bateman, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Pro Stock -- Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.418, 214.79 def. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.419, 216.10.
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SATURDAY FINAL QUALIFYING - LARGEST SINGLE-DAY CROWD IN CASTROL RACEWAY HISTORY PACKS KNOLL-GAS NITRO JAM EVENT
Gilbertson Claims Top Nitro Funny Car
Spot
Bob Gilbertson,
Charlotte, N.C., earned the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car top
qualifying honors before a standing-room only crowd at Castrol Raceway, the site
of this weekend’s CARS RV
& Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing
Fuels. As the last of the fans packed into the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ event, after
backing up traffic for miles in both directions all day long, Gilbertson used a
track record-setting 4.831 elapsed time at 312.13 mph to jump to No. 1 and claim
the Last Man Standing bonus points.
Other No. 1 qualifiers include Doug Foley (Top Fuel), Kenny Lang (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Pete Berner (Pro Stock).
Steven Macklyn sits second in the Nitro Funny Car class behind Gilbertson. Paul Lee is No. 3, followed by Terry Haddock and points leader Deal Creasy Jr. Edmonton’s Randy Bykowsky qualified No. 8, while Beaumont, Alberta’s Jason Duchene did not make the field.
Knoll Gas Torco
Racing Fuels Pro Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier Foley, of
Sewell, N.J.,
ran a 4.581, 324.90, which also earned him the Last Man Standing. He’s trailed
by T.J. Zizzo, who ran a 4.609 Friday evening, Mike Strasburg and Scotty Cannon.
Bobby Lagana Jr. sits on the bump spot with a 4.856 ET.
Grande Point, Manitoba’s Lang covered the quarter-mile in 6.102 seconds, resetting the Castrol Raceway Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified track record previously held by Scott Cannon Jr. Lang picked up No. 1 qualifier honors as well as Last Man Standing. Ontario-native Carl Spiering is second, followed by current points leader Cannon. Calgary’s Joe Delehay is No. 11 and Dewinton, Alberta’s Gary Mason No. 14.
London, Ontario’s Atchison maintained his No. 1 qualified Alcohol Funny Car spot from Friday with a 5.887, 241.97. Terry Munroe sits No. 2, followed by Calgary’s Roger Bateman, who also earned the Last Man Standing bonus. Defending world champion Mark Thomas is fourth. Trevor Lebsack, of Slave Lake, Alberta, and John Evanchuk, of Edmonton, round out the field seventh and eighth respectively.
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier
Berner, of Crete,
Ill., came into this race one point behind John Montecalvo for
the championship standings lead. By taking the top spot with his 6.424, 217.11,
as well as the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge bonus, he enters Sunday’s
elimination rounds with the lead. Robert Patrick holds the second spot, followed
by two defending world champions, Steve Spiess and Brian Gahm.
Berner’s 6.424 elapsed time and Gahm’s 217.18 mph speed set the Castrol Raceway record.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway, the fourth 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. Doug
Foley, 4.581 seconds, 325.53 mph vs. 5.
Bruce Litton, 4.719, 320.74; 2. T.J. Zizzo, 4.609, 326.16 vs. 6. Jeff O'Neill, 4.766, 304.53; 3. Mike
Strasburg, 4.629, 266.69 vs. 7. Terry
McMillen, 4.846, 261.67; 4. Scotty Cannon, 4.695, 318.32 vs. 8. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.856, 291.95.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.831, 312.13 vs. 5. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.065, 302.62; 2. Steven Macklyn, Pontiac Firebird, 5.041, 296.63 vs. 6. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.374, 228.92; 3. Paul Lee, Monte Carlo, 5.049, 300.86 vs. 7. Andy Kelley, Firebird, 5.472, 205.22; 4. Terry Haddock, Stratus, 5.052, 297.68 vs. 8. Randy Bykowsky, Monte Carlo, 5.988, 237.30.
Pro Modified -- 1. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.102, 234.45 vs. 9. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.209, 230.61; 2. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.103, 234.37 vs. 10. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.221, 229.55; 3. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.128, 233.24 vs. 11. Joe Delehay, Dodge Viper, 6.222, 228.31; 4. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.176, 233.64 vs. 12. Eddie Ware, Camaro, 6.225, 228.54; 5. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.180, 228.31 vs. 13. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.242, 229.66; 6. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.181, 230.29 vs. 14. Gary Mason, Corvette, 6.260, 230.41; 7. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 6.184, 227.34 vs. 15. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.276, 211.13; 8. Matt Hagan, Camaro, 6.187, 230.13 vs. 16. Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 6.277, 226.39.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.887, 241.97 vs. 5. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.965, 233.20; 2. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.907, 238.13 vs. 6. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.968, 237.21; 3. Roger Bateman, Chevy Camaro, 5.908, 236.38 vs. 7. Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 6.052, 230.61; 4. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.931, 241.67 vs. 8. John Evanchuk, Pontiac Firebird, 6.072, 229.47.
Pro Stock -- 1. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.424, 217.11 vs. 8. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.478, 214.79; 2. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.433, 216.48 vs. 9. Rob Mansfield, Chevy Cobalt, 6.482, 215.03; 3. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.438, 215.89 vs. 10. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.483, 215.07; 4. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.441, 217.18 vs. 11. Dean Goforth, GTO, 6.490, 215.00; 5. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.441, 215.44 vs. 12. Cary vs. 13. John Nobile, Mustang, 6.491, 215.37; 7. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.476, 215.27 vs. 14. Ronnie Humphrey, Mustang, 6.607, 210.80. Goforth, Cobalt, 6.490, 215.37; 6. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.469, 216.10
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING -
T.J. Zizzo, Lincolnshire,
Ill., further displayed his hold on the
Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series taking the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro
Top Fuel No. 1 spot after the day of qualifying. Zizzo’s 326.16 mph run set the
Castrol Raceway speed record and put him in good position to win this weekend’s
CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky
Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels.
Other current No. 1 qualifiers include Terry Haddock (Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuel Pro Nitro Funny Car), Scott Cannon Jr. (Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Pete Berner (Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock).
Zizzo took the top spot as well as the Top Fuel Last Man Standing bonus with his 4.609-second pass. Zizzo came into the Rocky Mountain Nationals 13 points ahead of Bruce Litton, who currently sits No. 3 with a 4.725. Doug Foley’s 4.645 puts him into the second position.
In Nitro Funny Car,
Haddock holds the No. 1 position with a 5.052, 287.68. He’s currently fifth in
the point standings and earned the Last Man Standing bonus.
Charlotte,
N.C.’s Bob Gilbertson is second, followed by
Paul Lee and Steven Macklyn. Jason Duchene, of
Beaumont,
Alberta, is currently not in the
field.
Current Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified No. 1 qualifier Cannon Jr., Lyman, S.C., covered the track in 6.128 seconds. He earned the Last Man Standing bonus as well. Ontario’s Carl Spiering sits second followed by Chip King and Jim Halsey. Cannon Jr. entered this event No. 1 in the standings with a 31-point lead over the field.
Ontario-native Atchison, entering this event fresh off a win at the last Nitro Jam race, holds the No. 1 Alcohol Funny Car spot with a 5.887, 241.97. The pass also earned him the Last Man Standing bonus. Terry Munroe sits second, followed by current points leader Mark Thomas. Calgary’s Roger Bateman is fourth and Edmonton’s John Evanchuk is currently No. 8.
Berner, Crete, Ill., jumped to the Pro Stock No. 1 spot with a 6.460, 215.20, which also locked up the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge. He’s trailed by Brian Gahm, Robert Patrick, John Montecalvo and Bob Bertsch, rounding out the top five. Berner came into this event trailing Montecalvo by one point in the standings.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway, fifth 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, 4.609 seconds, 326.16 mph; 2. Doug Foley, 4.645, 325.53; 3. Bruce Litton, 4.725, 312.21; 4. Scotty Cannon, 4.750, 318.32; 5. Terry McMillen, 4.849, 261.67; 6. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.984, 291.95; 7. Mitch King, 5.133, 229.55; 8. Mike Strasburg, 5.347, 173.74.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 5.052, 297.68; 2. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 5.092, 243.28; 3. Paul Lee, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.131, 244.52; 4. Steven Macklyn, Pontiac Firebird, 5.193, 296.63; 5. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.316, 274.22; 6. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.394, 228.92; 7. Andy Kelley, Firebird, 5.472, 205.22; 8. Randy Bykowsky, Monte Carlo, 5.988, 237.30.
Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.128, 232.35; 2. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.141, 231.36; 3. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.176, 232.59; 4. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.181, 230.29; 5. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 6.184, 222.29; 6. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.199, 228.92; 7. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.209, 230.61; 8. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.242, 227.46; 9. Matt Hagan, Camaro, 6.257, 226.20; 10. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.261, 225.26; 11. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.290, 228.54; 12. Joe Delehay, Dodge Viper, 6.299, 225.41; 13. Eddie Ware, Camaro, 6.302, 226.39; 14. Gary Mason, Corvette, 6.332, 227.69; 15. Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 6.383, 218.05; 16. Kip Dupuis, Buick Special, 6.407, 222.25.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.887, 241.97; 2. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.907, 238.13; 3. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.931, 241.67; 4. Roger Bateman, Chevy Camaro, 5.957, 234.45; 5. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.990, 236.22; 6. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 6.023, 233.03; 7. Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 6.052, 228.19; 8. John Evanchuk, Pontiac Firebird, 6.072, 226.47.
Pro Stock -- 1. Pete
Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.460, 216.13; 2. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.460, 214.76;
3. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.472, 213.54; 4. John Montecalvo, Chevy
Cobalt, 6.480, 213.64; 5. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.490, 213.33; 6. Steve Spiess,
Cobalt, 6.494, 213.94; 7. Rob Mansfield, Cobalt, 6.497, 213.94; 8. Rickie Smith,
Cobalt, 6.509, 213.33; 9. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.512, 213.60; 10.
Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.527, 212.36;
11. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.529, 212.09; 12. Dean Goforth, GTO, 6.543,
211.86; 13. Ronnie Humphrey, Mustang, 6.607, 208.20; 14. John Nobile, Mustang,
6.625, 210.87.
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EVENT PREVIEW - ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONALS EXPECTED TO SHATTER PREVIOUS ATTENDANCE MARK
Last season the walk-up crowd at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton made the Rocky Mountain Nationals the most heavily-attended race in the history of the facility. This season the fans are not taking any chances.
The advance ticket sales for the 2007 version of the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam event in Edmonton by far exceeds anything ever seen before. Last year’s successful event, coupled with a star-studded field, combined to make the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels the hottest ticket in town.
“The ticket demand has been unbelievable,” IHRA president Aaron Polburn said of the Rocky Mountain Nationals. “Rob Reeves and his staff have done an outstanding job of keeping up with the phones because, quite honestly, they are ringing non-stop. In fact our next three races, first in Edmonton, then in Grand Bend and finally in Martin, Michigan, are way ahead of last year’s ticket sales numbers. Edmonton should be an exciting weekend and really jump-start the rest of the season.”
Defending world champion Dale Creasy Jr. will look to defend his Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car 2006 victory against the strongest and deepest Nitro Funny Car field Alberta, Canada has ever seen. Jack Wyatt will make the trip to Edmonton to do battle with Creasy while Andy Kelley, the runner up in Tulsa, and Bob Gilbertson will also look to knock Creasy off his perch.
Gilbertson, in fact, will be competing in his “Jungle Jim” tribute body, something extra for the fans in Edmonton to enjoy.
The Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel class is also as strong and as deep than at any other time in IHRA history. T.J. Zizzo will enter Edmonton with the points lead but a number of different drivers are within striking distance. Bruce Litton, who was the runner up in Tulsa, is within a couple rounds of Zizzo heading into Castrol Raceway. Bobby Lagana Jr., Scotty Cannon and Doug Foley are also well within range of the front-running Zizzo.
“It’s early in the season and there is a lot of racing left,” Lagana said. “T.J. is off to a fast start and has a great car with a strong team so the rest of us really have to step up our games so he doesn’t run away with it. Edmonton is going to be a battle because it really is a pivotal race.”
Scott Cannon Jr. has had the strongest car thus far on the 2007 Nitro Jam circuit, but a number of different drivers have Cannon in their sights…including a nitrous car. Pat Stoken proved a nitrous car could compete in what last season was a blower car class, Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified. Stoken claimed the Ironman at the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals, putting a nitrous car in the winner’s circle at a Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam event for the first time since Mike Castellana won in Budds Creek during the 2005 season.
Kenny Lang, Ed Hoover, Danny Rowe and defending world champion Quain Stott also are within 100 points of Cannon in the race for the championship.
In Alcohol Funny Car it looks like it will be, as usual, Mark Thomas and Rob Atchison battling it out for the championship. But Terry Munroe might have something to say about it, in the end, as well. Munroe won the first event of the season in San Antonio before Thomas claimed the Ironman at the Spring Nationals in Rockingham. Atchison held serve with an Ironman victory at Tulsa Raceway Park.
“Three winners in three events, that’s kind of cool,” Atchison said after his victory in Tulsa. “This class is so strong. It’s a battle any time you race Mark, Terry Munroe and his team are running well and there are others who can beat you. This is going to be very exciting all season because every round will be a big round.”
The same can be said for the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class. John Montecalvo will head to Edmonton with the points lead, but that lead is by the slimmest of margins. Defending champion Pete Berner sits just one point behind Montecalvo on the strength of an Ironman victory in Tulsa. Robert Patrick, Brian Gahm, Rob Mansfield and Steve Spiess are also very much alive in the title hunt.
The CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels are scheduled for July 6-8. Pro qualifying will commence Friday, July 6 at 3 p.m. followed by a second pro qualifying session at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will offer two professional qualifying sessions as well, the first at 3 p.m. followed by the Cervus Contractors Equipment JCB Night of Fire beginning at 7:30.
Professional eliminations are slated to begin Sunday, July 8 at 10:30 a.m.
