:::::: News ::::::

IHRA - EPPING ROUND BY ROUND

Final round-by-round results from the Amalie Oil North American
Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers at New England
Dragway, the seventh of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas
Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

IHRA - EPPING FINAL RESULTS

Last season Bobby Lagana Jr. won his second career IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Top
Fuel event at New England Dragway, claiming a final round win over his drag
racing mentor and idol, Chris Karamesines. This year the opponent was different,
but Lagana ended up in the same place Sunday afternoon by visiting the winner’s
circle after a finals win over T.J. Zizzo during the Amalie Oil North American
Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers.

 

Other professional
winners include Dale Creasy Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Janis (Pro Modified),
Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car) and Frank Gugliotta (Pro Stock).

 

Lagana, from
Scarsdale,
N.Y. carded a 4.980 at 285.23 mph to secure
the win over Zizzo, who ran a 5.714 at 171.93. Despite losing, Zizzo leaves the
race No. 1 in the points chase over Bruce Litton.

 

“I really just
wanted to qualify so we could come out here and have some fun on Sunday,” said
Lagana Jr. “My dad, he came down to top end crying. He was so happy. Problem is
now he wants to take a lap in the car.”

SATURDAY QUALIFYING FROM BRAINERD

ASHLEY GRABS HIS FIFTH POLE OF 2007 IN BRAINERD;
SCHUMACHER, LINE AND ELLIS ALSO SITTING IN TOP SPOT

 

Mike Ashley had the quickest Funny Car
of all four qualifying sessions to easily secure the No. 1 position in the
elimination field of the 26th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

EPPING SATURDAY QUALIFYING

Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., qualified No. 1 in Knoll Gas Torco
Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car during the Amalie Oil North American
Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers. Gilbertson covered
the New England Dragway quarter-mile in 4.953 seconds at 309.91 mph,
also earning Last Man Standing in front of the capacity crowd.

 

Other professional No. 1 qualifiers include TJ Zizzo (Top Fuel), Mike
Janis (Pro Modified), Terry Munroe (Alcohol Funny Car) and Brian Gahm (Pro
Stock).

 

Trailing Gilbertson in Nitro Funny Car qualifying is Andy Kelley and
Mike Smith, two and three. Points leader Dale Creasy Jr. sits fourth, followed
by Jack Wyatt, Mitch King, Jeff Diehl and Terry
Haddock.

 

Zizzo topped the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top
Fuel class with a 4.610, 320.13, which earned the
Lincolnshire,
Ill., driver Last Man Standing as well. Terry McMillen
qualified second, 4.663, followed by Scotty Cannon and Bobby Lagana Jr. Current
points leader Bruce Litton is fifth. His lead over Zizzo is less than one round,
and the two will meet in the first round of
eliminations.

EPPING FRIDAY QUALIFYING

Friday professional qualifying was cancelled at New England Dragway during the
Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers. Cold
temperature, down-time and the on-set of dew led to the decision.

FRIDAY BRAINERD QUALIFYING

Top Fuel points leader "Hot Rod"
Fuller navigated a sweltering hot Brainerd International Raceway in 4.607
seconds Friday night to take the provisional qualifying lead at the 26th annual
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

FORCE GIRLS TEST A/FD

The march to Top Fuel for the Force girls began earlier this week
with Brittany and Courtney Force testing an A/Fuel Dragster in Las
Vegas. 
 
Courtney drove on Monday and Tuesday while Brittany
got her shot on Tuesday and Wednesday. The largest obstacle the girls
had to overcome was the oppressive heat. At one point during the test
session, the heat reached 110 degrees. With that said, the dragster
just couldn't provide enough performance to get them licensed. 

TWO TF CARS, A DRIVER AND A LAWSUIT?

A controversy is brewing that could come to a head during this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Last week Cory McClenathan announced that he was leaving Scott Griffin
Motorsports and forming his own team with an operation leased from Don
Schumacher Racing. McClenathan also brought backing from FRAM/Autolite,
as well as sponsorship from key associates carried over from the
Carrier Boyz Racing days.

Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has learned through sources that Griffin
was unhappy with McClenathan’s move, considering that when he purchased
the Carrier Boyz operation it was with key sponsor and driver contracts
in place at least through 2008. McClenathan balked at that, citing that
he could not be sold as an asset. Soon afterwards he set the wheels in
motion to leave Griffin and go out on his own.

Griffin’s rig pulled through the gates of Brainerd International
Raceway this morning, and while there is no problem with that, already
parked in the pits is a refrigerator-white race rig emblazoned with the
DSR logo. The rig, and the equipment contained therein, is the basis of
McClenathan’s new operation.

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES

As competitors gear up for the final two events in the NHRA POWERade
“Countdown to 8” to be held in Brainerd, Minn., and Reading, Pa., NHRA
has highlighted rules and policies that will shape the “Countdown to 4”
and “Countdown to 1” during the final months of the inaugural season of
the NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship playoff-style format.

Specifically, NHRA explained tiebreaker methods, oildown policies for
those competitors moving on in the NHRA POWERade Countdown to the
Championship and qualifying for the final six races of the NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Season.

ANOTHER INDEPENDENT TEAM PARKS

Performing well is a double-edged sword.
 
Just ask Top Fuel team owners
Tim and Renee Coghlan and driver Brady Kalivoda.
 
In just four appearances this season, the achieving underdogs made such a
positive impression that several teams showed interest in crew chief Keith
Adams, who had been one of tuning ace Alan Johnson's understudies and has
admired former boss Dale Armstrong.
 
And it appears Don Schumacher Racing has hired Adams to serve as crew chief
for Cory McClenathan's Fram-sponsored dragster.
 
DSR has not announced terms of the final deal, but both Tim Coghlan and
Kalivoda have confirmed that Adams will join the Schumacher fold and that the
Coghlan Motorsports Dragster -- which had the financial backing to run three
more races this season -- will be parked.
 
"This was a dream and a passion," Tim Coghlan said. The former sportsman
racer said he plans for the team to return to the track when he secures proper
funding. He said he is prepared to field the team again for a  full schedule in
2008 if serious sponsorship makes it possible.

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