IHRA MOTOR CITY NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY - CREASY JR. CLINCHES KNOLL GAS NITRO JAM FUNNY CAR TITLE
Dale Creasy Jr., Beecher,
Ill., earned his sixth win of the Knoll Gas Nitro Funny Car
season to clinch his second-consecutive IHRA world championship, with two events
remaining in the season. Creasy Jr. defeated Bob Gilbertson in the Suzuki Motor
City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers
final round on a holeshot advantage to win the
race.
Other professional winners include Scotty Cannon (Top Fuel), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Jeff Dobbins (Pro Stock).
Creasy Jr., who prior to 2006 had never even won a race, tied-up his second world championship in two years by running a 4.977 ET, 306.95 mph, to Gilbertson’s better 4.962, 321.12. The difference came at the starting line, as Creasy had the better reaction – 0.081 to 0.145. Gilbertson tried to run him down, but couldn’t catch him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever won on a holeshot,” said Creasy Jr. “I can’t think of a better way to clinch the championship than running a 4.99 and a holeshot, with two races left to go. Last year was fun when it went down to the end and it kept the fans happy, but this way is easier and less stressful.”
Cannon, Lyman, S.C., advanced to his second Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels
Pro Nitro Top Fuel final of the season by defeating points leader T.J. Zizzo in
round one and Canadian Todd Paton in round two. By taking out Zizzo, Cannon, who
came into this race third, opened the door take make up some ground toward the
world championship chase.
His final round opponent was Bruce Litton, who entered the race second behind Zizzo. If Litton won the race, he’d jump to the points lead. He had the reaction time advantage, but Cannon was too quick, covering the track in 4.640 seconds at 320.58 mph to Litton’s 4.692, 315.93.
“The car has been coming around, the crew is doing a good job and I’m trying to drive it as best I can. It just takes some time to put it all together,” said Cannon. “As a whole today, I felt good and the same going into the final. When you race for (team sponsor) Evan Knoll, he has so many good teams and crew chiefs…it helps. It’s good to be part of a team where you have more than one guy doing it all, and it’s definitely helped our team.”
Janis, Lancaster,
N.Y., started the day qualified fourth in Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified and dispatched Mike Stawicki and Pat Stoken in
rounds one and two. His third round opponent was points leader Scott Cannon Jr.
Cannon had a huge reaction time advantage, but Janis stayed in it and covered
the quarter-mile in 6.616 seconds to Cannon’s 6.895 to advance to the finals
against Burton Auxier. Janis was in his third final of the year; Auxier, his
first since 2005. Janis would used a 6.206, 218.97 to take the win, his second
of the season.
“What a great race for this entire team,” said Janis. “We’ve come a long way this season and to put this car into another win, in a field like this that is always so tight and competitive, shows how hard we’ve worked.”
Janis entered the event No. 5 in the points, but, with this win, jumped to second behind Cannon Jr. Stoken would fall to fourth, Ed Hoover third.
Atchison’s road to the final started against first-round opponent
Dale Brand, who used a 5.649 ET Saturday during qualifying to take the No. 1
spot and set the world ET record. However, in round one it was all
Atchison, as he had the reaction time advantage and covered the
track in 5.856 seconds to advance to the semifinals against points leader Mark
Thomas. Atchison, London,
Ontario, again had a slight lead off the line and crossed the
finish in 5.818, 243.33 to take out Thomas.
Atchison met fellow London-resident Paul Noakes in the final. So far this season Noakes was 2-0 against Atchison in final rounds. However, Atchison, himself a former three-time world champion, had the better car today and beat Noakes with a 5.885, 245.45, to take his second race of the year.
“It’s been a crazy season so far, and this is an important win for this team,” said Atchison. “It feels so good to be back in the winner’s circle and cut into the points chase with Mark (Thomas).”
Dobbins, who finished qualifying Saturday night not even in
the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock field but as No. 17 qualifier, was
ready to make the call Sunday as first alternate when Ron Miller withdrew before
round one. Dobbins, Wilmington,
N.C., took out Rob Mansfield in round one, then defeated a
red-lighting John Montecalvo to advance to the semifinals to face John Nobile.
Dobbins, known for quick reaction times, had the race off the line and took the
round with a 6.885.
In the final round, Dobbins faced Brian Gahm, who had set the world speed record in the semifinals with a 222.03. The reaction time went to Dobbins – 0.061 to 0.288 – and he won on a holeshot, covering the quarter-mile in 6.340 seconds to Gahm’s 6.339. Ironically, Gahm bettered the world record at 222.66 in the losing effort.
“This was a great team effort today,” said Dobbins. “To go from not even in the field, to winning a few rounds, and then winning the race? I’m just blown away how it all happened.”
The next event on the $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series is the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals, September 28 – 30, at Maryland International Raceway.
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SATURDAY - Litton Maintains Top Fuel No. 1 In Milan
Brand Sets Alcohol Funny Car ET World
Record
Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, covered
the Milan Dragway quarter-mile in 4.581-seconds at 323.50 mph to maintain the
Top Fuel No. 1 qualifying position for this weekend’s Suzuki Motor City
Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage
Newspapers.
Other No. 1 qualifiers include Dale Creasy Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Kenny Lang (Pro Modified), Dale Brand (Alcohol Funny Car) and Pete Berner (Pro Stock).
Litton established a new track ET record en route to his Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier, but wasn’t able to earn the Last Man Standing bonus for the evening. That accolade went to Scotty Cannon, 4.642, 296.50, who ended up crossing the finish line during the final pass of the night before Litton. Cannon ended up No. 2, followed by Litton teammate Jeff O’Neill, Todd Paton, Bobby Lagana Jr. and points leader T.J. Zizzo. Mitch King and Kevin Jones ended up seventh and eighth. Terry McMillen, who won the last Knoll Gas Nitro Jam event in Cayuga, Ontario, failed to make the field.
In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car, points leader Creasy
Jr. topped the qualifying sheet with a 5.007 elapsed time. However for the
second night in a row, Andy Kelley took home the Last Man Standing brought to
you by MetalWood Bat with a 5.010 ET that placed him No. 2. Terry Haddock is
third, followed by Bob Gilbertson, John Lawson, Todd Simpson and Jeff Diehl.
Jack Wyatt qualified on the bump spot.
In Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified, No. 1 qualifier Lang ran
6.031, resetting the Milan Dragway record and earning the Last Man Standing. The
Canadian is followed by points leader Scott Cannon Jr., whose 239.95 mph set the
track speed record, Chip King, defending event winner Mike Janis, Shannon
Jenkins and Ed Hoover. Danny Rowe and Quain Stott round out the field, Nos. 15
and 16 respectively.
Brand, Lynville, Iowa, making his first IHRA Alcohol Funny Car appearance since October 2002, not only took the No. 1 qualifier and Last Man Standing brought to you by MetalWood Bat, he set the elapsed time world record at 5.649. The record was previously held by Rob Atchison, 5.685, set in October 2005. Terry Munroe picked up the second spot, followed by Joe Comella, Paul Noakes and Rob Atchison. Points leader Mark Thomas qualified No. 7. In addition, Brand established new track records with the 5.649, 244.74.
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier Berner, IHRA’s defending world champion, used a track record-setting 6.331 ET to also earn the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge. He’s followed by Brian Gahm, who’s 221.52 mph set the track speed record, John Montecalvo, points leader and defending event champion Robert Patrick and Bob Bertsch.
Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals Presented By GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway, the ninth 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. Bruce Litton, 4.581 seconds, 323.50 mph vs. 5. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.749, 311.05; 2.
Scotty Cannon, 4.642, 320.97 vs. 6. T.J.
Zizzo, 4.803, 254.18; 3. Jeff O'Neill, 4.676, 296.96 vs. 7. Mitch King, 5.018, 292.20; 4. Todd
Paton, 4.712, 280.54 vs. 8. Kevin Jones,
5.159, 220.15.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.007, 295.40 vs. 5. John Lawson, Chevy Camaro, 5.239, 222.03; 2. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 5.010, 305.01 vs. 6. Todd Simpson, Camaro, 5.293, 175.50; 3. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 5.034, 304.32 vs. 7. Jeff Diehl, Firebird, 5.372, 279.21; 4. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 5.198, 240.89 vs. 8. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.392, 197.02.
Pro Modified -- 1. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.031,
238.76 vs. 9. Mike Castellana, Ford
Mustang, 6.164, 231.28; 2. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.041, 239.95
vs. 10. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.184, 232.35; 3. Chip King, Dodge Daytona,
6.052, 235.35 vs. 11.
Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.203, 224.25; 4. Mike Janis, Chevy
Cobalt, 6.053, 238.05 vs. 12. Mike
Stawicki, Chevy Camaro, 6.228, 223.76; 5. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 6.094,
232.15 vs. 13. Mark Nielsen, Camaro,
6.230, 233.12; 6. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.127, 231.48 vs. 14. Harold Martin,
Pontiac Grand Am, 6.351, 225.82; 7. Jason Hamstra, Corvette,
6.131, 230.84 vs. 15. Danny Rowe,
Corvette, 6.401, 231.12; 8. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 6.139, 224.06 vs. 16. Quain Stott, Corvette, 7.736, 134.78.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.649, 244.74 vs. 5. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.888, 242.15; 2. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.789, 242.84 vs. 6. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.920, 238.68; 3. Joe Comella, Monte Carlo, 5.849, 225.94 vs. 7. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.926, 243.33; 4. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.873, 241.71 vs. 8. John Hart, Dodge Avenger, 5.937, 237.75.
Pro Stock -- 1. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.331, 217.18 vs. 9. John Nobile, Ford Mustang, 6.363, 220.33; 2. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.336, 221.52 vs. 10. Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 6.385, 220.15; 3. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.339, 221.34 vs. 11. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.385, 219.69; 4. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.345, 219.12 vs. 12. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.394, 219.61; 5. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.347, 220.33 vs. 13. Chuck DeMory, Ford Escort, 6.434, 217.07; 6. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.354, 219.29 vs. 14. Anthony Paone, GTO, 6.448, 213.67; 7. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.355, 219.72 vs. 15. Ron Miller, Chevy Cavalier, 6.653, 200.29; 8. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.362, 220.37 vs. 16. Sylvester Barnes, Cavalier, 6.668, 210.77.
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SATURDAY - Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock Showdown Finalists Confirmed
The finalists for the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock Showdown have been confirmed. The Showdown will take place next weekend at Maryland International Raceway during the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals.
Heading into this weekend’s race at Milan Dragway, the only driver with a mathematical chance to get into the Showdown was Rickie Smith. However, when John Nobile qualified No. 9 for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals, he shut the door on Smith’s chances.
The pairings:
#1 - Robert Patrick vs. #8 - John Nobile
#2 - Pete Berner vs. #7 – Rob Mansfield
#3 - Steve Spiess vs. #6 – Frank Gugliotta
#4 - John Montecalvo vs. #5 – Brian
Gahm
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FRIDAY - Litton Top Fuel No. 1 Qualifier at Milan
Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, jumped to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel Friday during the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers. Litton covered the quarter-mile in a career-best 4.604 seconds at 316.82 mph.
Other provisional No. 1 qualifiers include Terry Haddock (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Terry Munroe (Alcohol Funny Car) and John Montecalvo (Pro Stock).
In Top Fuel, Litton’s 4.604 was also good enough to earn him the Last Man Standing, giving him five bonus points to cut into the 54 separating him and leader T.J. Zizzo. Zizzo currently sits outside the field, putting on some pressure to put down a good run Saturday. Todd Paton sits second, 4.712, Bobby Lagana Jr. third, 4.781, Jeff O’Neill fourth, 4.918.
Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car provisional No. 1 qualifier Haddock ran a 5.034, 304.32 to take the top spot. However, it was No. 2 qualifier Andy Kelley, 5.055, who took home the Last Man Standing prize. Points leader Dale Creasy Jr. sits third, followed by John Lawson and Todd Simpson. Bob Gilbertson, Jack Wyatt and Jeff Diehl round out the field.
Janis, Lancaster, N.Y., the defending event Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified winner, currently holds the top qualified position with a track record-setting 6.053, 238.05, which also earned him the Last Man Standing. Chip King sits second, followed by Ed Hoover and Pat Stoken. Points leader Scott Cannon Jr. sits No. 11.
In Alcohol Funny Car, Munroe used a 5.802, 242.58 to take the provisional No. 1 spot and the Last Man Standing. He’s trailed by Paul Noakes, Tim Stevens and Mark Thomas. Noakes, who has won two events this season, is the defending event champion.
Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., is No. 1 in Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock with a track record-setting 6.372 ET, which also earned him the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge for the night. He’s trailed by Pete Berner and Robert Patrick, the current points leader and defending event champion. Frank Gugliotta is currently fourth, followed by Steve Spiess and Brian Gahm. John Nobile, who won the last Nitro Jam event in Toronto, is currently not in the field.
Racing will resume Saturday at 9 a.m. Professional qualifying is scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals Presented By GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway, ninth 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. Bruce Litton, 4.604 seconds, 316.82 mph; 2. Todd Paton, 4.712, 280.54; 3. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.781, 72.73; 4. Jeff O'Neill, 4.918, 296.96; 5. Mitch King, 5.018, 292.20; 6. Scotty Cannon, 5.036, 208.07; 7. Terry McMillen, 5.838, 150.36; 8. Chris Karamesines, 6.413, 131.28.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Terry Haddock, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.034, 304.32; 2. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 5.055, no speed; 3. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.081, 295.40; 4. John Lawson, Chevy Camaro, 5.239, 222.03; 5. Todd Simpson, Camaro, 5.729, 175.50; 6. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 9.112, 102.45; 7. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 9.194, 92.98; 8. Jeff Diehl, Firebird, 15.874, 58.66.
Pro Modified -- 1. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.053, 238.05; 2. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.078, 234.74; 3. Ed Hoover, Chevy Corvette, 6.127, 231.48; 4. Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.148, 224.06; 5. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.193, 226.54; 6. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.224, 224.25; 7. Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.228, 223.76; 8. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.261, 230.84; 9. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.351, 225.82; 10. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 7.184, 217.04; 11. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 8.032, 143.43; 12. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 9.915, 90.06; 13. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 10.960, 78.57; 14. Quain Stott, Corvette, 12.644, 66.73; 15. Mark Nielsen, Camaro, 13.203, 112.16; 16. Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 13.296, 69.64.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.802, 242.58; 2. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.916, 241.63; 3. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.920, 238.68; 4. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.964, 243.06; 5. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.981, 236.22; 6. John Hart, Avenger, 5.993, 237.75; 7. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 5.994, 238.68; 8. Tony Bogolo, Mustang, 6.022, 231.08.
Pro Stock -- 1. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.372, 218.30; 2. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.383, 217.18; 3. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.386, 217.00; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.399, 216.20; 5. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.405, 218.44; 6. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.413, 218.94; 7. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.421, 218.58; 8. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.433, 216.34; 9. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.440, 216.03; 10. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.464, 216.79; 11. Chuck DeMory, Ford Escort, 6.464, 216.48; 12. Anthony Paone, GTO, 6.505, 213.67; 13. Ron Miller, Chevy Cavalier, 6.653, 200.29; 14. Sylvester Barnes, Cavalier, 6.668, 210.77; 15. Dean Goforth, GTO, 7.826, 128.35; 16. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 7.918, 129.69.
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SATURDAY - Suzuki Motor City Nationals Postponed
Seventh stop on 2007 Nitro Jam schedule moved to late
September
The Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway has tentatively been moved to Sept. 21-23 due to weather concerns.
Heavy rain in Southeast Michigan Friday night dropped over an inch of rain on the Milan area. In addition, the region has experienced nearly 12 inches of rain in the past six days. IHRA was able to get the track dried Saturday morning and racing began at 9:30 a.m., but the rains came again at noon and continued until 3:00 p.m. when IHRA officials finally decided to pull the plug on the event.
The steady rain completely saturated the track surface, leading to the determination by IHRA track guru Jim Weinert that it would not be possible to offer a safe race track to the racers until late Sunday or early Monday at the earliest.
“The real issue is not the weather, the issue is the fact that there has been so much rain over the last few days that there was nowhere for the runoff to go,” IHRA vice president of operations Skooter Peaco said. “They had over 10 inches of rain over the last five days and the storm sewers and drains in the area were full. The rain sitting beneath the race track was just percolating up when the sun came out, causing unsafe racing conditions. Racer safety is always our primary concern and we could not guarantee our racers a safe race track.
All tickets purchased for the original date will be honored at the rescheduled event.
The next event on the 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series is
the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource, September 7 – 9, at Toronto
Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario.
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FRIDAY - Suzuki
Motor
City Nationals
Friday Pro Qualifying Cancelled
Friday professional qualifying at Milan Dragway was cancelled due to rain.
The Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers will resume Saturday at 9 a.m. Professional qualifying will run as scheduled at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday.
Friday tickets will be honored Sunday as an even trade. Friday tickets can be used against the cost of a Saturday ticket, with spectators asked to cover the additional $10 difference.
EVENT PREVIEW - IT'S MOTOR CITY TIME FOR THE IHRA
In the past two weeks, competitors on the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series
have set three world records. Milan Dragway will host the next event, the Suzuki
Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage
Newspapers, August 24-26.
If the month of August continues like it has, Michigan drag racing fans could see even more records fall. The first world record of the month was set by Melanie Troxel when she reached 327.19 mph in her Top Fuel dragster during the Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals, in Martin, Mich. Then in New Hampshire, Mike Janis set the Pro Modified speed record to 240.21 and Brian Gahm the Pro Stock speed record to 221.42. Gahm also set the Pro Stock elapsed time world record at 6.299 seconds in July, becoming the first in the class to break into the 6.20-range.
“We haven’t held a record in a few years…we used to have one in 2001,” said Janis, reflecting on when he held the ET record at 6.112. At that time, the speed record was 231.20. “To go 240 in one of these cars, a couple years ago, it was just a dream. We never thought we’d hit 235. It’s running 240 pretty consistent now.
“If you get some good air, you might see a 245. Air wasn’t all that great (in Epping), but you get some of that good air and these things will haul,” he added.
As records continue to fall, the championship chases are heating up as well. In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, T.J. Zizzo and Bruce Litton have each led the points twice this year. Litton took it back from Zizzo two weeks ago during the Northern Nationals, only to give it back the very next weekend in New Hampshire. Zizzo currently leads Litton by a mere 28 points.
Other tight points chases to watch:
• Dale Creasy Jr. leads the Knoll Gas
Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car class over Terry Haddock
• Scott
Cannon Jr. leads the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class over veteran
Ed Hoover
• Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Mark Thomas leads
three-time former world champ Rob Atchison
• Robert Patrick leads the Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class by less than 50 points over Frank
Gugliotta
