Final round-by-round results from the Mopar Canadian Nationals
presented by Castrol at Grand Bend Motorplex, the sixth of 11 events in
the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

RAIN-SOAKED QUALIFYING COMPLETE AT SCHUCK'S AUTO SUPPLY NHRA NATIONALS

Top qualifiers at Pacific Raceways are JR Todd, Robert Hight and Dave Connolly

Due to persistent rain in the Seattle area, NHRA officials were
forced to set the elimination fields for the 20th annual Schuck's Auto
Supply NHRA Nationals Saturday evening after just one round of
professional qualifying was completed.

Drivers in the POWERade top 10 who were not qualified after the lone
round were placed in the bottom of the 16-car grids per rule. David
Grubnic replaced Morgan Lucas in Top Fuel, while Jim Head, Cruz
Pedregon, and Gary Scelzi will take the spots of Gary Densham, Tim
Wilkerson, and Jerry Toliver.

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.

The National Hot Rod Association has reported that veteran chassis builder Jerry Haas suffered a heart attack today in Seattle.

Haas, who is teamed with Erica Enders Pro Stock operation in 2007, was transported to Valley Medical Center in Renton, Wash., complaining of chest pains.

The
cause of the problem is believed to be a stint that in place from his
first heart attack had become constricted. It was repaired and Haas is
resting comfortably in the Intensive Care Unit. Haas could be released
as early as this weekend.

J.R. Granatelli got crossed up during qualifying at the 2ND Annual Motive Gear NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing
Presented by Nitto Tire. He heads for the Route 66 Raceway Christmas tree on this errant launch. (Kelly Pelrine Photo)

Gahm Breaks Down 6.20 Barrier


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.

No matter how young you might be you’ve certainly heard the expression
“He wears his heart on his sleeve.” That, in a nutshell, is 18-year
fuel racing veteran Whit Bazemore’s persona.

For whatever
reason, Bazemore has never been able to stifle his emotions. While some
have blistered him for his openness and personal honesty while usually
completely ignoring how beneficial that honesty has been for the sport,
others – apparently in the minority – have rallied to Bazemore’s
defense for those very reasons. Ironically, at a time when even some
within the NHRA management team have decried the complete lack of
personal rivalries within the sport, when an individual like Bazemore
steps to the forefront with a willingness to speak his mind on any
number of subjects there are legions of fans who appear appalled at his
having done so.

Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has heard from several sources
that the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) Board of Directors is
short one man after the sudden resignation of Barry Mano.

Mano came to the PRO from a professional referees
organization, and had the kind of vast union organizing experience that the
racing community was desperate for. His lack of actual drag racing
experience was apparently never a problem, as Mano was able to look at the
issues facing the sport without having any built in attitudes or feelings.

The gold “tribute” Dodge that was unveiled for driver Gary Scelzi last
weekend has generated a lot of talk among the fans, most of whom love
it. They aren’t alone. Scelzi was skeptical about the project, and
actually never saw the finished product prior to Thursday evening’s
Mopar Block Party in downtown Golden (there’s that word again), but he
was instantly sold.

“I
love it,” he said. “I’m not a big fan of gold, but when I saw this
thing unveiled at the block party I was impressed. Everybody out here
has also been impressed with it.”

Scelzi was under the mistaken belief that this would be a one-off
appearance of the car, but tuner Mike “Zippy” Neff informed Torco's
CompetitionPlus.com that the car would also appear at both Seattle and
Sonoma.