IHRA ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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MONDAY FINAL - Matt Hagan Finds the Nitro Funny Car Winner’s Circle at IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals despite Heavy Heart
Kevin Jones (Top Fuel), Carl Spiering (Pro Modified), Laurie Cannister (Alcohol Funny Car) and Bob Bertsch (Pro Stock) also claim championships at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton
Matt Hagan knocked off Grant Downing to claim the Nitro Funny Car title at the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, but his visit to the Winner’s Circle was less than joyous. Though his focus was on racing his mind was worlds away, on friend and teammate Dale Creasy Jr. at Royal Alexandria Hospital in downtown Edmonton.
Creasy suffered severe leg trauma following his semifinal round crash Sunday afternoon and was airlifted to the hospital. He was scheduled for surgery Monday with a broken right foot and compound fractures in his left leg. Creasy is the driver responsible for getting Hagan into a competitive Nitro Funny Car this season after he moved up from the Pro Modified ranks, and the win at Castrol Raceway. He considers Creasy his mentor and, after watching the life-flight helicopter take him away from Castrol Raceway, found it virtually impossible to keep his focus.
“That’s the toughest part. You can’t find out any information about what happened because no one knows,” Hagan said. “You watch your friend be taken away in a helicopter, then you have to get re-focused on doing your job. You try to stay focused but all you can do is think about Dale. It was a really tough deal.”
Hagan was able to focus enough to defeat Steven Macklyn in the semifinal. He then, after the rains washed away the final rounds Sunday, made a solo pass for the win Monday morning when racing resumed and Grant Downing, his finals competition, could not answer the call. Hagan made a strong lap for the fans Monday but blew the body off his Monte Carlo, causing a bit of cosmetic body damage. But he couldn’t have cared less about the car when he knew Creasy was scheduled for surgery a couple of hours later.
“Blowing the body off the car didn’t help things, but that was the least of it,” Hagan said. “Now we’re going to go to the hospital to see Dale. I’m giving him the trophy from this race because he deserves it. He’s helped so many people in this class and has been such a big part of my career. This Ironman isn’t mine, it’s his. I just hope he’s okay.”
Hagan is going to stop at chassis-builder Murf McKinney’s shop on the way home. He had to get his wheelie bars repaired after breaking them in the final round, but he has other things on his agenda as well.
“I want to talk to Murf to see if there is something we can come up with to better protect the driver’s legs in these cars,” he said. “These things are dangerous; we know that every time we strap ourselves in. But if we can come up with something to protect the driver better I think we should make every effort to do it. We all have families. I have a year-and-a-half old son and a wife. I want to make sure everything is as safe as possible. I know I’m taking a risk when I get in the car, but I want to eliminate risks that might be unnecessary. Murf is a smart man, hopefully we can come up with something to address this.”
Kevin Jones (Berea, Ky.) claimed his second career Ironman in the Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel class, stopping Budds Creek winner Bobby Lagana Jr. in the final round. Jones is a fan of rain-delayed events…his first career victory came at the rain-delayed Sooner Nationals in Tulsa last season. Jones defeated Spencer Massey in the first round and Tim Boychuk in the semifinals to advance to the final round.
There, against Lagana, neither driver could put together a smooth lap. Both had to pedal their cars, but Jones was able to get his Interstate Batteries rail hooked up sooner and reached the finish line first with a 5.271 pass at 280.84 mph. Lagana clocked a 6.301 at 182.90.
Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ontario) has not been a regular on the IHRA circuit this season, but when he shows up to race he always makes his presence felt. Spiering drove his Eaton-backed Corvette to the Pro Modified championship in Edmonton, defeating Thomas Patterson in the final.
“This is just terrific,” an elated Spiering said after the race. “We tried to stay on our game plan for this deal and it worked. We didn’t put down any big numbers, but neither did anyone else. We remained consistent throughout and it paid off.”
Laurie Cannister (Johnstown, Ohio) claimed the Alcohol Funny Car championship Sunday before the rains came, defeating Paul Noakes in the final round for the second time this season. Canadian Bob Bertsch claimed the Pro Stock Ironman in memory of his fallen crew member, John Weisler, who passed away during the President’s Cup Nationals in Maryland three weeks ago.
Monday's final results from the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway. The race is the fifth of 10 in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Kevin Jones, 5.271 seconds, 280.84 mph def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 6.301 seconds, 182.90 mph.
Nitro Funny Car -- Matt Hagan, Chevy Monte Carlo, 28.891, no speed def. Grant Downing, Monte Carlo, broke.
Pro Modified -- Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.555, 214.25 def. Thomas Patterson, Dodge Charger, 6.848, 192.36.
Alcohol Funny Car -- Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 5.906, 241.37 def. Paul Noakes, Dodge Avenger, 5.950, 238.43.
Pro Stock -- Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.533, 215.07 was unopposed.
Nitro Bikes -- Damien Cownden, 6.707, 211.59 def. John Breckenridge, 7.722, 179.61.
Pro Nostalgia -- Joey Steckler, Chevy Corvette, 7.509, 185.79 def. Brent Harris, Willys Coupe, 7.634, 168.94.
Quick 16 -- Scott Hearn, Dragster, 7.157, 186.54 def. John Childs, Chevy, 7.251, 192.71.
Super Stock -- Rick Paton, Camaro, 9.371, 140.80 def. Casey Setters, Firebird, 10.129, 133.50.
Stock -- Ed Matiejewski, Nova, 12.387, 105.04 def. Tim Richards, Malibu, 11.966, 106.49.
Quick Rod -- Mike Shannon, Dragster, 9.094, 157.72 def. Garth Giroux, Dragster, 9.047, 168.45.
Super Rod -- Tom Patterson, Corvette, 10.119, 137.51 def. Pat McNally, Camaro, 10.053, 148.56.
Hot Rod -- Chad Barclay, Maverick, 11.114, 132.82 def. Scott Hydaman, Chevelle, 11.065, 115.06.
Top ET -- Derek Rose, Acadian, 10.736, 117.82 def. Justin Ronnie, Camaro, 10.588, 128.65.
ET Bracket -- Derek Rose, Acadian, 10.741, 115.99 def. Darren Ursel, Nova, 10.556, 125.26.
Mod ET -- Darren Ursel, Nova, 10.530, 126.86 def. Mario Brun, Camaro, 12.000, 107.65.
ET Bikes & Sleds -- Dave Wiebe, Ninja, 9.423, 106.50 def. Shawn Graham, Kawasaki Z1R, 10.990, 125.80.
Junior Dragster -- Corey Thomas, Dragster, 10.322, 62.51 def. Ian Admiraal, LMH, 8.263, 76.69.
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SUNDAY - Rain enters picture again; Two professional classes completed
Stock answers that we’ve all heard before, for sure, but at Edmonton this weekend, well, you could have written the owner’s manual for unpredictable weather.
Friday and Saturday rapidly developing storm cells disrupted qualifying for the CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals, limiting pro qualifying to no more than two rounds, depending on class.
There was more of the same Sunday, as early morning showers forced officials to roll the track-drying equipment yet again. With the racing surface finally dried and re-groomed, eliminations finally kicked off, only to be halted again by – you guessed it.
In what IHRA President Aaron Polburn called a “heroic effort,” weary crews set to work again, putting their backs, and hearts, into one final push. At 7:30 the order to fire the cars was given, and the last chapter of the saga was about to be written.
Well, almost.
Just after the Alcohol Funny Car final was in the books, and Laurie Cannister had secured her fourth Ironman of the season, the rain returned to Castrol Raceway, and the balance of the program was postponed until Monday at 9 AM.
It was an impressive victory for Cannister, who has dominated the Alcohol Funny Car class this season. The Johnstown, Ohio, native shows showing no sign of curbing her assault on the rejuvenated class.
In the final, Cannister, who qualified in the No. 6 spot on the list, paced her Kalbones Grill’n Sauce-sponsored 1999 Camaro to a winning mark of 5.906, 241.37 over Paul Noakes, who carded a pass of 5.950, 238.43 in a runner-up effort.
It was Cannister’s fourth win in five races, and her second in a row over Noakes. She has lost only once in 15 rounds of competition this season, and that loss came at the hands of Dr. Tom Carter in the final at Milan, Michigan in May.
Final pairings Monday will be:
Top Fuel:
Kevin Jones vs. Bobby Lagana Jr.
Nitro Funny Car:
Grant Downing vs. Matt Hagan
Pro Modified:
Carl Spiering vs.Thomas Patterson
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SUNDAY - CREASY INJURED IN DRIVELINE EXPLOSION
Nitro Funny Car driver Dale Creasy Jr., was seriously injured in an accident on Sunday afternoon during the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alb.
According to a report by Susan Wade at 1320tv.com, Creasy’s car exploded the transmission just shy of the finish line leaving him with shrapnel in his legs.
He was transported to the hospital via helicopter and is listed in stable at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, according to the same report.
CompetitionPlus.com cannot confirm whether Creasy went into surgery last evening, but did receive an email from an IHRA official asking for prayer for the driver as he went into surgery last night. - Bobby Bennett
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING -Mother Nature Has the Last Say at Jam-Packed Castrol Raceway
Kevin Jones (Top Fuel), Dale Creasy Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Thomas Carter (Alcohol Funny Car), and Bob Bertsch (Pro Stock) claim No. 1 qualifying spots after rain brings early end to second day of qualifying
The day which started with a huge crowd enjoying top-notch racing action under clear blue skies ended prematurely when, as Friday, strong winds blew rain into the area. And, as Friday, attempts to dry the track after an initial stoppage proved futile despite the best efforts of Castrol Raceway and IHRA staff.
Pro Stock and Alcohol Funny Car fields were set before the first showers struck, while Pro Mod was in the middle of its session. A revised ladder put Mike Janis, who carded a best pass of 6.173, 232.19, at the top of the list.
In Pro Stock, Bob Bertsch, with his Rislone Engine Treatment-backed team from Willis, Michigan, claimed top qualifying honors as well as the Last Man Standing bonus with a pass of 6.568 at 213.33 mph. Bertsch is the lone Pro Stock driver at Edmonton. His decision to attend the race was twofold. He lost crew member and friend John Weisler during the previous event, at Budds Creek, Maryland, and Weisler's widow urged him to continue racing.
Said Bertsch, "I needed to get back to the racetrack." He said he also had made a commitment to his sponsor, who had been counting heavily on the two Canadian races to promote a product recently introduced north of the border. "My sponsor asked me to go, and that's what I signed up for at the beginning of the year," he said.
He said that "it's weird" to be the only driver "competing" in the class this weekend. "Some moments it feels good, and other moments it feels sad," Bertsch said. Prior to his run tonight a moment of silence was observed in honor of his fallen friend.
Dr. Thomas Carter is the only competitor other than Laurie Cannister to have claimed an Alcohol Funny Car Ironman this season, taking the win at the Motor City Nationals at Milan, Michigan, in May. Carter, of Cuero, Texas, currently sits third in championship points behind Cannister and Rob Atchison.
Saturday evening he claimed both the No. 1 qualifying spot and Last Man Standing honors and the accompanying five bonus points by pacing his “Jawbreaker” 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to an elapsed time mark of 5.849 at 243.28 mph.
“We’ve been working to get this car to run since the beginning of the season and it’s finally performing the way we knew it could,” Carter said. “We have been working real hard and I have to thank my whole crew for their effort. They have done an outstanding job. And I’d also like to thank this great crowd here at Edmonton for coming out to see us.”
The No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel was Kevin Jones, who claimed the spot on the strength of his 4.911, 275.96 pass in the class’ only session.
On the Nitro Funny Car front, defending champion and most recent event winner Dale Creasy Jr. laid claim to the top spot with his run of 5.319, 278.17.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - Rain Washes Out Second Friday Qualifying Session at CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals
Scott Cannon Jr. (Pro Modified), Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car) and Bob Bertsch (Pro Stock) claim provisional pole positions at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton; Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car will qualify Saturday
The main attractions of the first day of action at the Rocky Mountain Nationals, the Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car qualifying sessions, were set to go just as an aggressive storm front struck, lashing the area with heavy rain and steady flashes of lightning.
The rain eventually subsided, and for a time officials were optimistic that the day’s qualifying could be salvaged. But a second front blew in and the decision was made to call it a day.
“We consulted all the weather outlets looking for any possible way we could get the program in, but we just could not see any window of opportunity,” said Skooter Peaco, IHRA Vice President of Racing Operations. “In fact, there was more severe weather coming our way, so we unfortunately made the decision to pull the plug.”
Three professional classes made qualifying passes earlier in the day, with Scott Cannon (Pro Modified), Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car), and Bob Bertsch (Pro Stock) claiming provisional No. 1 berths.
Qualifying will resume Saturday at 10, with the professional sessions at 3 and 7:30.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway, fifth of 11 events in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.211, 231.28; 2. Tommy D'Aprile, Chevy Bel Air, 6.235, 230.57; 3. Mike Janis, Firebird, 6.333, 232.15; 4. Joe Delehay, Chevy Camaro, 6.391, 226.70; 5. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.396, 224.58; 6. Ross Hogenson, Corvette, 6.481, 213.43; 7. Jason Stock, Corvette, 6.645, 217.60; 8. Gary Mason, Corvette, 6.809, 209.04; 9. Ed Hoover, Camaro, 7.098, 176.10; 10. Carl Spiering, Corvette, 7.171, 123.49; 11. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 7.944, 118.99; 12. Mike Castellana, Firebird, 8.463, 109.56; 13. Quain Stott, Corvette, 9.296, 96.61; 14. Dan Vogt, Corvette, 10.242, 98.95.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.006, 232.15; 2. Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 6.026, 236.17; 3. Paul Noakes, Dodge Avenger, 6.050, 233.76; 4. Thomas Carter, Monte Carlo, 6.064, 238.38; 5. Nathan Sitko, Pontiac Firebird, 6.182, 217.91; 6. Jordan Pawlick, Avenger, 6.198, 226.28; 7. Cal Tebb, Firebird, 6.320, 222.51; 8. John Evanchuk, Firebird, 6.449, 210.24. Not Qualified: 9. Sean Bellemeur, 6.530, 185.59; 10. Scott McVey, 6.805, 224.51; 11. Trevor Lebsack, 7.026, 219.90; 12. Rob Atchison, 9.364, 93.49.
Pro Stock -- 1. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 10.843, 81.49.
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EVENT PREVIEW - IHRA HEADS TO "FESTIVAL CITY"
While the City of Edmonton has embraced IHRA and the Rocky Mountain Nationals, the drivers have slowly warmed to Castrol Raceway. The longest haul on the circuit for most racers, many drivers have been reticent to make the long trip over the years. Those who have been to the facility, and have experienced the passion and enthusiasm of the drag racing fans in Alberta, would not miss the race for the world.
“I absolutely love that place,” Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel Top Fuel driver Bobby Lagana Jr. said of Castrol Raceway. “The fans are unbelievable. My entire life my one true love has been drag racing and coming to a city like Edmonton, where it seems like the entire town is in love with drag racing, always makes for a special weekend. Every year so many fans thank us for coming out there to race. Heck, we should be thanking them for coming out to watch us. Drivers who complain about the long tow should stop and think for a minute about how rabid and appreciative the fans in Edmonton are. I love it.”
A Scarsdale, N.Y. resident, it is a 2,500 mile trip each way for Lagana and his crew. But after his recent success at the President’s Cup Nationals in Maryland it will probably seem to the race team like a trip to the corner store.
“Yes, we’re having a great time,” Lagana said. “We really needed that win at MIR and the circumstances surrounding it made it that much sweeter. After the race in the winner’s circle I told the media I have everything I could possibly want. And I do.”
There are a number of adjectives you could use to describe Lagana’s win in Maryland…inspirational, unexpected, emotional…all applicable. It was the first time his younger brother Dom was officially the Crew Chief on the team’s 2004 Hadman Dragster. He wrenched the team to a Father’s Day win with family patriarch Bob Lagana Sr. looking on. The elder Lagana also got his hands dirty, helping to turn the car over between elimination rounds.
The victory also came at a critical time for the team as it put it right back in the middle of the 2008 Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel points chase. Lagana had a pedestrian 1-3 record in elimination rounds heading into the President’s Cup Nationals. He was in danger of watching his championship hopes slip away. However, after the race at MIR the points standings have tightened up considerably. Defending champion Bruce Litton, who won at the Motor City Nationals, currently leads the points chase with 383 points. Spencer Massey, the Top Fuel rookie who won the first two events on the 2008 schedule, is second with 253 points. Mike Strasburg is third with 296 points while Lagana sits fourth with 295. Scott Palmer rounds out the top five with 222 points.
“We love racing in Canada,” Creasy said. “Our first career win was in Canada at Grand Bend Motorplex and we won later in the season up in Edmonton. We love the track, love the city and really love the fans. The fans at Castrol Raceway create one of the greatest racing atmospheres you will find anywhere.”
Creasy leads Motor City Nationals winner Paul Lee by 45 points heading into Edmonton. Spring Rockingham champion Matt Hagan is third, 56 points back while Terry Haddock (74 points behind) and San Antonio champion Steven Macklyn (108 points behind) round out the top five.
Terry Haddock will enter Edmonton as the defending event champion. He knocked off Creasy in the final round last season to claim his first career Ironman.
The Torco Pro Modified class has been making news this season as true parity between the supercharged and nitrous entries has never been more evident. In 2008 two nitrous-assisted drivers, Jim Halsey in San Antonio and Mike Castellana in Maryland have visited the winner’s circle. The same supercharged driver, points leader Kenny Lang, has won the other two national events on the ’08 IHRA schedule.
Two nitrous drivers in particular have significantly increased their performance this season. Pat Stoken ran the quickest NOS pass in IHRA history when he clocked a 6.022 pass at Milan Dragway during the Motor City Nationals. Mike Castellana set the new speed mark en route to the Ironman in Maryland, blasting through the traps at 239.14 mph.
“Our nitrous guys have really stepped up, but Kenny Lang has been just as amazing this season,” IHRA senior director of race operations Mike Baker said. “Pro Modified has always been about parity, seeing how the supercharged guys measured up to the nitrous guys and vice versa. Everyone always talks about how IHRA is the true home of Pro Modified…well, the racers are the ones who make this true.”
Lang, on the strength of those two national event wins (one in Rockingham and one in Milan) will enter the Rocky Mountain Nationals the 2008 points leader with 322 points. Jim Halsey is second with 256 points, Mike Castellana third with 254 points, defending champion Scott Cannon Jr. fourth with 241 points and Mike Janis fifth with 224 points.
Johnstown, Ohio’s Laurie Cannister has dominated IHRA’s Alcohol Funny Car class this season, rolling up an 11-1 round record in eliminations, qualifying #1 twice and winning three of four national events thus far in 2008. She has to be the odds-on favorite heading into the Rocky Mountain Nationals, but by no means will she have a cakewalk. Tom Carter won in Milan and set the IHRA speed record in the process with a backed-up 249.30 pass. Rob Atchison, a three-time world champion, has been to two final rounds this season. Seven-time world champion Mark Thomas seems to have things figured out after struggling earlier this season while Larry Dobbs had a stunning 254.14 pass at Maryland International Raceway, a number he was not able to back up but still the first AFC pass at over 250 mph in IHRA history.
Jeff Dobbins (Wilmington, N.C.) will enter the Rocky Mountain Nationals as the Torco Pro Stock points leader with 327 points. Elijah Morton (300 points), Frank Gugliotta (292 points), John Montecalvo (284 points) and Pete Berner (239 points) round out the top five.
