UP-TO-THE-MINUTE-RESULTS ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS FINAL ROUND RESULTS			EVENT GALLERY

MONDAY FINAL -

Terry McMillen is getting the hang of this whole Nitro thing. After driving in the Alcohol Funny Car ranks for years without finding the Winner’s Circle, McMillen, Elkhart, Ind. won his second IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam national event of the season in the Top Fuel class with a final round win over national points leader T.J. Zizzo during the Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource.

McMillen posted a 3.106 elapsed time at 270.16 mph to knock off Zizzo, who carded a 3.313, 246.03. The race was contested on an eighth-mile format due to weather conditions and track concerns. After heavy rain moisture was seeping through the track near the guard walls, forcing IHRA officials to shorten the race. This tactic was also used at the season-opening race in San Antonio, Texas. The shorter race worked just fine for McMillen.

“I told Dale (Creasy Jr.) that we were both going to end up in the winner’s circle at this one and get a big picture for Evan Knoll to put up on the wall,” said McMillen. “This is just great for us to both win here in Toronto.”

Though he defeated Zizzo in the final round, McMillen did him a favor by defeating Bruce Litton, the driver right in Zizzo’s rear view mirror in the national points chase, in the semifinals.

Dale Creasy Jr., Beecher, Ill., can pretty much start his world championship victory lap the rest of the season. Creasy had a hammerlock on the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car points chase heading into the IHRA Canadian Nationals, and by defeating Mitch King in the final at Toronto Motorsports Park he padded that lead to monumental proportions. King crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for crossing the center line.

“I didn’t even know I won until I got all the way down to the end of the track and out of the car,” said Creasy. “You have to get lucky a few times, and that’s what happened here. Mitch made a good run, so that has to be tough, but we’ll take the win.”

John Russo captured his first IHRA win when he knocked off Carl Spiering in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified final. Russo clocked a 3.962 at 189.90 mph to defeat Spiering, who could not gain traction in the other lane. Spiering shook his way to a 6.277.

“This is only the second race we’ve taken this car to,” said Russo. “It’s an unbelievable and to take it to my first winner’s circle with IHRA is an unbelievable feeling.”

Former Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock world champion John Nobile defeating defending world champion Pete Berner in the final round to win his first race of the season. Nobile used a 4.126 to Berner’s better 4.117 in a holeshot victory. Nobile had him off the line, 0.025 to 0.042.

“To win the final with a holeshot, and round three, that’s just a really great way to win,” said Nobile. “This feels great. We’ve been in a slump, but don’t know why because the car has been awesome. I’m just so happy…happy for the guys, happy for me, for everybody at home.”

Terry Munroe, Beaver, Pa., claimed his third Ironman of the season by knocking off Paul Noakes in the Alcohol Funny Car final. Munroe was late off the line while Noakes was amazing on the tree (0.009 reaction time for Noakes to a 0.119 for Russo), but the London, Ontario, racer could not keep it in his lane. He crossed the centerline at half-track and was disqualified. Munroe finished with a 3.800 at 191.97 mph.

“It feels great to win here today,” said Munroe. “I’m glad the officials made this an eighth-mile race so we could get it done today, but I still want to win one on the quarter,” he added, referring to his win earlier this year in San Antonio.

The next event on the $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series is the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by Heritage Newspapers and GM Performance Division, September 21 – 23, at Milan Dragway.

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Monday's final results from the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park. The race is the ninth of 11 in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
 
Top Fuel -- Terry McMillen, 3.106 seconds, 270.16 mph  def. T.J. Zizzo, 3.313 seconds, 246.03 mph.
 
Nitro Funny Car -- Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, No Time def. Mitch King, Pontiac Firebird, DQ-centerline.
 
Pro Modified -- John Russo, Chevy Camaro, 3.962, 189.90  def. Carl Spiering, Camaro, 6.277, 91.64.
 
Alcohol Funny Car -- Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo, 3.800, 191.97  def. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, DQ-centerline.
 
Pro Stock -- John Nobile, Ford Mustang, 4.126, 175.75  def. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 4.117, 174.32.
 
Top Dragster -- Jason Lynch, Dragster, 4.741, 142.04  def. Jim Bersani, Dragster, 4.535, 151.77.
 
Top Sportsman -- Mike Sowards, Chevy Beretta, 5.145, 135.91  def. Marco Abruzzi, Chevy Camaro, 4.641, 148.64.
 
Quick Rod -- Kathy Fisher, Dragster, 5.720, 127.56  def. Pat Martin, Dragster, 5.735, 135.81.
 
Super Rod -- Len Oleksy, Chevy Camaro, 6.424, 111.20  def. Dave Morabito, Camaro, 6.396, 115.91.
 
Hot Rod -- Damien Hazelton, Chevy Camaro, 6.982, 102.76  def. Larry Robinson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.935, 96.78.
 
Super Stock -- Craig Marshall, Pontiac Grand Am, 5.850, 117.80  def. Chuck Nagy, GMC Sonoma, 6.404, 104.64.
 
Stock -- Stephen McGrath, Dodge Dart, 7.434, 87.59  def. Wes McCracken, Chevy Camaro, 6.609, 100.72.
 
ET Bracket -- Thomas Fletcher, Chevelle Wagon, 8.428, 80.74  def. Phil Sampson, Opel GT, 5.450, 121.70.
 
ET No Box -- Thomas Fletcher, Chevelle Wagon, 8.431, 80.54  def. Jerry Toal, Plymouth Duster, 7.380, 91.86.
 
ET Box -- Phil Sampson, Opel GT, 5.417, 127.98  def. Steven Pym, Pontiac Firebird, 5.162, 133.62.
 
 

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SUNDAY - IHRA Canadian Nationals Finals Pushed to Monday

 

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RAIN DELAYS FINAL ELIMINATIONS

Sunday eliminations are under rain-delay at Toronto Motorsports Park for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource.

After near-perfect conditions Saturday drew a standing room only crowd for the Chevrolet “Night of Fire,” race officials opted to run two full rounds of Pro-Am eliminations in anticipation of Sunday’s rain.

IHRA officials plan to wait the rain out until mid-afternoon before making a call on finishing the event.

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 SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - ZIZZO TOPS TOP FUEL QUALIFYING IN CAYUGA

T.J. Zizzo jumped to the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifying position with a track record-setting 4.576 elapsed time during the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park.

Other professional No. 1 qualifiers include Dale Creasy Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Scott Cannon Jr. (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Robert Patrick (Pro Stock).

In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, while points leader Zizzo took the top position and Last Man Standing, Bruce Litton, who trails Zizzo by 28 points, qualified second and set the track speed record at 324.20 mph. Scotty Cannon is third, followed by Terry McMillen, Canadian Todd Paton, Jeff O’Neill and Bobby Lagana Jr. Mitch King sits on the bump spot at No. 8.

Nitro Funny Car points leader and defending event champion Creasy covered the quarter-mile in 5.053 seconds to take the No. 1 spot and earn Last Man Standing. He’s followed by Jack Wyatt, second, then Bob Gilbertson and Andy Kelley.

Points leader Cannon Jr. continued his dominance of the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class by setting the track ET record, earning the top qualifying spot and Last Man Standing. Cannon ran a 6.001, 238.89, followed by Mike Janis, who set the track speed record to 241.32 mph. Jordan Station, Ontario’s Carl Spiering qualified third, followed by John Russo and Toronto’s Tony Pontieri.

In Alcohol Funny Car, Atchison, London, Ontario, picked up the top spot and Last Man Standing with a 5.784, 239.27. He’s trailed by fellow Ontario-resident Paul Noakes, then Terry Munroe and Tim Stevens. Points leader Mark Thomas qualified fifth, making for an Atchison-Thomas first-round match-up.

Current Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock points leader Patrick took the No. 1 position and Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge with a 6.343, 218.30. He’s followed by Jeff Dobbins, Brian Gahm and Frank Gugliotta. Gahm reset the track speed record he established Friday night to 220.76 mph. Ontario’s Anthony Paone and Larry O’Brien failed to make the field for Sunday.

Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park, the eighth 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, 4.576 seconds, 321.27 mph  vs. 5. Todd Paton, 4.754, 317.72; 2. Bruce Litton, 4.608, 324.20  vs. 6. Jeff O'Neill, 4.762, 311.41; 3. Scotty Cannon, 4.658, 321.73  vs. 7. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.915, 286.32; 4. Terry McMillen, 4.659, 311.92  vs. 8. Mitch King, 4.968, 281.60.

Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.053, 298.14  vs. 5. John Lawson, Chevy Camaro, 5.113, 251.53; 2. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Stratus, 5.080, 290.51  vs. 6. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 5.290, 222.51; 3. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 5.081, 234.09  vs. 7. Jeff Diehl, Pontiac Firebird, 5.439, 282.36; 4. Andy Kelley, Firebird, 5.093, 295.98  vs. 8. Mitch King, Firebird, 5.491, 200.20.

Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.001, 238.89  vs. 9. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.131, 232.55; 2. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.003, 241.32  vs. 10. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.144, 231.12; 3. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.008, 237.63  vs. 11. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.168, 228.65; 4. John Russo, Camaro, 6.080, 236.09  vs. 12. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.169, 233.72; 5. Tony Pontieri, Chevy Bel Air, 6.101, 234.25  vs. 13. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.172, 231.64; 6. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.103, 233.72  vs. 14. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.179, 231.12; 7. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 6.110, 234.00  vs. 15. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.197, 225.11; 8. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 6.124, 230.10  vs. 16. Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.205, 225.75.

Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.784, 240.94  vs. 5. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.914, 243.99; 2. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.824, 243.37  vs. 6. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.915, 238.13; 3. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.883, 240.81  vs. 7. Scott Wildgust, Monte Carlo, 5.950, 241.41; 4. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.896, 239.53  vs. 8. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.952, 237.96.

Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.343, 218.30  vs. 9. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.393, 219.12; 2. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.350, 220.12  vs. 10. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.406, 216.76; 3. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.359, 220.76  vs. 11. Dean Goforth, Pontiac GTO, 6.407, 219.36; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.366, 218.69  vs. 12. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.410, 218.51; 5. Pete Berner, GTO, 6.369, 217.88  vs. 13. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.421, 218.05; 6. John Nobile, Mustang, 6.370, 218.87  vs. 14. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.427, 216.97; 7. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.379, 218.27  vs. 15. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.437, 217.95; 8. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.387, 218.19  vs. 16. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 6.458, 216.00.

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SATURDAY - HARVEY WALL BANGING

Nitro Funny Car driver, Randy Bykowsky had his hands full during the 2pm qualifying pass on Saturday. His car lost traction and turned left into retaining wall. He was apparently uninjured but was transported to a local facility for observation.

FRIDAY QUALIFYING - McMillen Provisional No. 1 Top Fuel Qualifier At Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource

Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., drove to the provisional No. 1 Top Fuel qualifying position Friday evening during the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource. McMillen covered the quarter-mile at Toronto Motorsports Park in 4.659 seconds at 311.92 mph to take the top spot and Last Man Standing.

Other provisional No. 1 qualifiers include Jack Wyatt (Nitro Funny Car), Scott Cannon Jr. (Pro Modified), Terry Munroe (Alcohol Funny Car) and John Montecalvo (Pro Stock).

In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, McMillen is trailed by Bruce Litton, 4.664, Scotty Cannon, 4.736, Jeff O’Neill, 4.762, and Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.915. Paris, Ontario-native Todd Paton is currently not in the field.

Wyatt took the provisional No. 1 position in Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car with a 5.080, 290.51. He’s followed by Bob Gilbertson and Andy Kelley.

With two Nitro Funny Cars left to run – Dale Creasy Jr. and Terry Haddock, No. 1 and 2 in points – it began to rain on the track and officials were forced to pull the plug. They will run to officially complete round one of Nitro Funny Car qualifying first thing Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Points leader Cannon used a 6.101 ET to jump to No. 1 and take the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified Last Man Standing. He’s followed by Shannon Jenkins and Pat Stoken. Carl Spiering, Jordan Station, Ontario, set the track speed record with a 236.59 and sits fourth.

Alcohol Funny Car driver Munroe used a 5.893, 240.81 to take the provisional No. 1 spot and the Last Man Standing. He’s followed by Waitburg, Ontario’s Scott Wildgust, Terry McMillen and Tim Stevens. Current points leader Mark Thomas is sixth. London, Ontario-residents Rob Atchison and Paul Noakes sit fifth and tenth respectively.

In Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock, Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., ran 6.379, 218.27, to capture the No. 1 spot and the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge. He’s followed by Jeff Dobbins and Steve Spiess. Brian Gahm, who set the track speed record with a 220.37, is currently fourth. Woodbridge, Ontario’s Anthony Paone sits on the No. 16 bump spot.

Results Friday after qualifying for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park, 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. Terry McMillen, 4.659 seconds, 311.92 mph; 2. Bruce Litton, 4.664, 312.93; 3. Scotty Cannon, 4.736, 313.58; 4. Jeff O'Neill, 4.762, 311.41; 5. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.915, 286.32; 6. Mitch King, 4.968, 281.60; 7. T.J. Zizzo, 5.013, 291.38; 8. Fred K Farndon, 6.404, 211.99.

Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.101, 236.26; 2. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 6.110, 234.00; 3. Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.124, 230.10; 4. Carl Spiering, Camaro, 6.137, 236.59; 5. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.201, 229.86; 6. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.212, 233.72; 7. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.214, 230.06; 8. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.226, 231.48; 9. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.260, 200.98; 10. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.284, 225.11; 11. Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 6.308, 225.30; 12. Mark Nielsen, Camaro, 6.310, 230.41; 13. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.313, 233.72; 14. John Russo, Camaro, 6.315, 236.09; 15. Scott Wildgust, Chevy Bel Air, 6.328, 223.39; 16. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.352, 228.65.

Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.893, 240.81; 2. Scott Wildgust, Monte Carlo, 5.950, 241.41; 3. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.967, 237.96; 4. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.975, 238.89; 5. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 5.996, 240.94; 6. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 6.000, 243.99; 7. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 6.059, 236.59; 8. Dylan Hache, Pontiac Firebird, 6.101, 236.75.

Pro Stock -- 1. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.379, 218.27; 2. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.393, 220.04; 3. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.393, 219.12; 4. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.401, 220.37; 5. Dean Goforth, Pontiac GTO, 6.407, 219.36; 6. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.413, 218.69; 7. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.420, 217.77; 8. John Nobile, Mustang, 6.429, 218.19; 9. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.431, 217.11; 10. Pete Berner, GTO, 6.434, 217.74; 11. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.444, 217.95; 12. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.457, 218.51; 13. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.501, 216.97; 14. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.503, 217.70; 15. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 6.507, 213.03; 16. Anthony Paone, GTO, 6.691, 178.83. 

FRIDAY EVENT NOTEBOOK – Strong Fuel field, The Real Diehl and Some Things Never Change About TMP

STRONG FUEL – There are currently 22 nitro cars on the grounds at Toronto Motorsports Park, with another two reportedly on the way.

DOUBLE DIPPING - Scotty Wildgust will be doing double duty this weekend. Wildgust will drive the ‘57 Chevy Pro Mod that he has campaigned in the PMRA Series in Canada. In addition, he will also pilot the Alcohol Funny Car owned by Spiro Kontos.

THE REAL DIEHL - Jeff Diehl, Nitro Funny Car driver, will be having a tough time in Canada this weekend. The rig arrived with only him and one crewman, Justin Sturgill. Andy Kelly's crew asked that the Diehl team be parked close to their pit so that they could offer any help possible. Regardless of the help provided by other teams, it will be the Double J team in the Deihl pit this weekend.

HEY, I REMEMBER YOU – Sixty-nine year old Fred Farndon is in the house this weekend.

Farndon goes back many years in the sport and holds the dubious honor of being the only Top Fuel driver to fire a car in Brazil.  As part of a tour for the NHRA in 1996, he visited Japan and Brazil. In Brazil, they had never seen a Top Fuel car and were unaware of the noise and vibrations. As he was attempting to fire the car, the spectators and press people were crowding around so close that they were actually touching the car. After starting the car on alcohol and losing a couple of fans to that noise, the engine was switched over to nitro. He lost the rest of them in a panic. Including the local newspaper cameraman who fell over backwards and the TV cameraman who threw his equipment and ran away.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE – TMP's standards haven’t changed since 2002.

The repair work to the track that was promised after last year’s event appears to only have been started Monday or Tuesday of this week. IHRA officials, while not commenting, do not appear amused at all.

MOOVING EXPERIENCE - Bruce Litton's Lucas Cattle Car will be running for the last time this weekend in Cayuga. After the race the Circle L car (Lucas Cattle Brand) will be mooving to the Litton Mooseum in Indianapolis.

OUT OF HIS ELEMENT - Tom Lee is driving a second car for Elijah Morton this weekend. Morton is using the Top Sportsman class as a test session for his 2005 Mustang.

Lee, who normally wrenches in the NHRA Cagnazzi camp, took the mountain motor to the top of the pack with a 6.473 elapsed time at 213.81 mph. He is two-tenths ahead of the nearest regular Top Sportsman competitor and a half-second over the majority of the field. - Roger Richards

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