Two World Champions Emerge in Maryland

Millican, Castellana clinch 2005 titles at Torco President's Cup Nationals



The job at hand was very simple for both Clay Millican and Mike Castellana.go a couple of rounds
in Budds Creek and clinch IHRA World Championships. The Ironmen they took home as well, just a
couple of bonuses.

 

Top Fuel

Millican clinched his fifth consecutive IHRA Top Fuel World Championship when
he was able to advance to the final at the President's Cup. Heading into the race he held a
193-point lead over second-place Doug Foley, and only had to put a pair of round victories in
the books to close the mathematical door on Foley this season. Actually, when Foley (Sewell,
N.J.) lost a pedal-fest in the semifinals to Bobby Lagana, Jr., Millican clinched the title.

Millican and Castellana joined Torco Pro Stock driver Steve Spiess, who clinched the World
Championship in Epping, N.H. two weeks ago, in the IHRA record books.

"That was the goal, obviously, at the start of the year.to win the championship," Millican said.
"The thing is, it takes a full year of work to do it and get it done early before going into
Rockingham. I keep hearing the announcer, A.P. (Aaron Polburn) talking about how we're
struggling. And I'm thinking I haven't really run that bad.yeah, we flipped over but after that
we've been doing alright. I think we won Norwalk, I think we went 4.60 in Toronto which is the
track record.anyway, all that aside. We haven't run as quick as we have, but Mike Kloeber took a
new approach to how he was running the car and it is absolutely coming together."

Millican was able to defeat Lagana (Scarsdale, N.Y.) with a 4.702/312.06. Lagana posted a 4.816
at a career-best 317.57 mph.

"It's amazing what that team can do with what it has," Millican said about Lagana's low-budget
Twilight Zone team. "We have a huge trailer with all kinds of equipment and they have a little
trailer with just a car in it. But they are amazing and they're getting closer."

TOP FUEL eliminations

Clay Millican, 4.618, 320.20 def. Roger Dean, 10.746, 71.69

Todd Paton, 4.941, 260.01 def. Louie Allison, 14.535, 78.35;

Doug Foley, 4.734, 306.46 def. Rick Cooper, 4.801, 316.97

Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.817, 312.50 def. Bruce Litton, 4.796, 309.13

Clay Millican, 4.646, 310.77 def. Todd Paton, broke;

Bobby Lagana Jr., 6.644, 259.91 def. Doug Foley, 12.642, 55.25;

Clay Millican, 4.702, 312.06 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.816, 317.57

Fianl qualifying and first round pairings

Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 4.568 seconds, 309.63 mph vs. 8. Roger Dean, 5.247,
200.26; 2. Doug Foley, 4.648, 320.13 vs. 7. Rick Cooper, 5.199, 198.85; 3. Bruce Litton, 4.727,
305.42 vs. 6. Bobby Lagana Jr., 5.087, 287.78; 4. Todd Paton, 4.814, 234.00 vs. 5. Louie
Allison, 4.834, 288.33.

Pro Mod

Castellana ended the Torco Pro Modified points race when teammate Shannon Jenkins (who was
second 79 points behind) and Carl Spiering (third 104 points behind) lost in the first round of
eliminations. The '05 title is Castellana's first career World Championship.


Castellana was able to win his fourth Torco Pro Mod Ironman of the season when Mike Stawicki
broke and could not finish his pass in the final.

"This was a great weekend for us and it really says a lot about the crew," Castellana said.
"They have been awesome this year, getting this car ready. We've had good times and bad times
this year, but we'd always been able to pull through, get things together and get this car down
the track."

Castellana and his crew got the car down the track Saturday night when it was most needed. After
the first two Torco Pro Mod qualifying sessions, Castellana was on the outside of the field. He
had to put a good number on the board to even be able to compete. He got the job done, vaulting
into the #3 qualifying spot.

"That was the most pressure I have ever felt during my racing career," Castellana said of his
Saturday evening run. "I was definitely nervous. We made some changes to the car, when the car
tells you what it needs, you have to respond to it."

ROUND ONE --

Steve Bareman, Corvette, 6.155, 229.86 def. Eddie Ware, Willys, 10.579, 101.52; Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.206, 223.73 def. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 15.392, 71.46; Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.522, 224.55 def. Carl Spiering, Corvette, 6.635, 217.63; John Russo, Camaro, 6.175, 228.46 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.275,
226.01; Scott Cannon, Studebaker, 6.175, 227.61 def. Dennis Radford, Chevy Corvette, 10.025,
87.82; Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.225, 225.97 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.262, 230.02; ; Mike Castellana, Chevy
Cavalier, 6.811, 222.84 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 7.051, 178.87; Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.167,
224.43 def. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 12.684, 64.45;

Round two through finals

Harper, 6.230, 227.96 def. Bareman, foul;

Castellana, 6.161, 230.76 def. Russo, 6.224, 226.62;

Stawicki, 6.189, 224.25 def. Janis, 9.675, 105.99;

Cannon, 6.196, 227.61 def. Halsey, 6.437, 223.91;

Castellana, 6.178, 220.30 def. Harper, 7.863, 121.34;

Stawicki, 6.203, 226.70 def. Cannon, 6.209, 227.23;

Castellana, 6.227, 229.39 def. Stawicki, broke.

PRO MODIFIED Final qualifying and first round pairings

Pro Modified -- 1. Steve Bareman, Chevy Corvette, 6.050, 235.64 vs. 16. Eddie Ware,
Willys, 6.331, 221.52; 2. Mike Stawicki, Chevy Camaro, 6.131, 229.59 vs. 15. Burton Auxier,
Corvette, 6.292, 223.28; 3. Scott Cannon, Studebaker, 6.157, 228.19 vs. 14. Dennis Radford,
Corvette, 6.244, 224.88; 4. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.160, 231.00 vs. 13. Ed Hoover,
Corvette, 6.241, 228.81; 5. John Russo, Camaro, 6.166, 229.08 vs. 12. Harold Martin, Pontiac
Grand Am, 6.234, 225.52; 6. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.180, 226.66 vs. 11. Quain Stott, Corvette,
6.224, 230.49; 7. Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.187, 232.55 vs. 10. Carl Spiering, Corvette,
6.191, 231.60; 8. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.188, 230.45 vs. 9. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro,
6.189, 212.49.

Funny Car

Jim Sickles made things very interesting in the IHRA Funny Car World
Championship points race with his victory in Budds Creek. Sickles entered the event trailing Rob
Atchison by 66 points.he left Maryland trailing by just five. Sickles defeated Chris Foster in
the final when Foster lit the red-light.

"We have ourselves a race right down to the wire," Sickles said. "We're hoping we can do the
same thing in Rockingham now. We have a great race team and a great sponsor. Here we are, we've
been consistent and that's what it takes."

 

FUNNY CAR Final qualifying

Funny Car -- 1. Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.724, 247.47 vs. 8. Thomas Carter,
Chevy Camaro, 5.901, 234.41; 2. Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.725, 246.71 vs. 7. Chris
Foster, Dodge Avenger, 5.868, 237.96; 3. Frederick Tigges, Camaro, 5.780, 244.03 vs. 6. Mike
Comella, Chevy Corvette, 5.864, 239.31; 4. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.852, 235.64 vs. 5. Larry
Dobbs, Corvette, 5.858, 238.76.

Pro Stock


Brian Gahm, who has struggled through most of the '05 season, took home the Torco Pro Stock
Ironman when Spiess was unable to fire his car for the final. Gahm (Lucasville, Oh.) took the
solo pass to secure the victory.

"You hate to win that way, but this is a big relief," Gahm said. "It just goes to show what kind
of guys I have helping me. They never give up. We've struggled, but I think we're back on track.
Our performance has turned 180 degrees."



PRO STOCK round one

ROUND ONE -- Daniel Seamon, Ford Escort, 6.438, 215.96 def. Rick Jones, Chevy Cobalt, 6.479,
214.93; Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.489, 213.37 def. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 7.123, 148.41; Bert
Jackson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.508, 212.96 def. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.496, 213.81; Elijah Morton,
Escort, 6.467, 214.14 def. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.441, 215.44; Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.505,
214.55 def. Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.490, 212.79; Ed Machacek, Cavalier, 6.464, 213.98 def.
Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, broke; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.422, 216.17 def. John Konigshofer,
Mercury Cougar, 6.501, 214.96; Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.408, 217.63 def. Larry O'Brien, Dodge
Stratus, 6.507, 211.93;

 

Gugliotta, 6.434, 216.76 def. Seamon, 6.457, 216.27

Gahm, 6.475, 216.17 def. Morton, 6.490, 213.98

Spiess, 6.413, 216.58 def. Gillig, 6.468, 214.01

Machacek, 6.448, 214.93 def. Jackson, 6.519, 212.26

Gahm, 6.474, 215.17 def. Gugliotta, 6.446, 217.84;

Spiess, 6.410, 216.38 def. Machacek, 6.508, 214.04

Gahm, 12.897, 65.60 def. Spiess, broke

Pro Stock Final qualifying numbers and first round pairings.

Pro Stock -- 1. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.403, 218.51 vs. 16. Larry O'Brien,
Dodge Stratus, 6.485, 213.54; 2. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.406, 216.97 vs. 15. John
Konigshofer, Mercury Cougar, 6.475, 215.58; 3. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 6.407, 217.81 vs.
14. Ed Machacek, Chevy Cavalier, 6.470, 215.44; 4. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.433, 215.93 vs.
13. Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.468, 214.04; 5. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.436, 215.82 vs. 12. Elijah
Morton, Escort, 6.467, 214.96; 6. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.438, 215.27 vs. 11. Bert Jackson,
Cavalier, 6.461, 216.27; 7. Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.438, 215.17 vs. 10. Doug Kirk, Mustang,
6.460, 216.79; 8. Daniel Seamon, Escort, 6.453, 216.24 vs. 9. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 6.455,
215.72.


PRO STOCK SHOWDOWN (contested Saturday):

ROUND ONE -- John Nobile, Ford ZX-2, 6.474, 214.72 def. Pete Berner, Ford Mustang, 6.479,
214.04; Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.473, 217.98 def. Rick Jones, Chevy Cobalt, 6.481,
215.72; Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.438, 214.89 def. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 10.435, 85.31;
Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.406, 216.97 def. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.581, 209.46;
SEMIFINALS -- Gillig, 6.448, 215.27 def. Gugliotta, 6.424, 217.91; Spiess, 6.403, 215.86 def.
Nobile, 6.474, 215.31;
FINAL -- Spiess, 6.406, 216.17 def. Gillig, 6.453, 215.17.

Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.702 seconds, 312.06 mph def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.816 seconds,
317.57 mph.

Pro Modified -- Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.227, 229.39 def. Mike Stawicki, Chevy
Camaro, broke.

Funny Car -- Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.781, 244.38 def. Chris Foster, Dodge Avenger,
broke.

Pro Stock -- Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 12.897, 65.60 def. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, broke.

Pro Stock Showdown (contested Saturday) -- Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.406, 216.17 def. Tony
Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.453, 215.17.

Top Stock (contested Saturday) -- Matt Morgan, Camaro, 9.606, 138.12 def. Joseph Aluise Jr,
Belvedere, 9.854, 132.44.

Top Sportsman -- Eric Steffey, Camaro, 7.207, 192.41 def. John Prime, Camaro, 7.012, 193.07.

Top Dragster -- Tony Ward, Dragster, 6.989, 182.43 def. Ricky Adkins, Dragster, 7.180, 160.65.

Quick Rod -- James Albertson, Dragster, 8.900, 167.14 def. Todd Burks, Dragster, 8.894, 156.90.

Super Rod -- Bernard Weaver, Daytona, 9.941, 143.28 def. Mike Bradford, Mustang, 10.160,
130.56.

Hot Rod -- John Dustin, Mustang, 10.868, 133.99 def. Steve Corker, Camaro, 10.850, 130.81.

Super Stock -- Scotty Stillings, Grand Am, 11.531, 77.72 def. Dennis Steward, Daytona, 10.270,
129.27.

Stock -- Scotty Stillings, Camaro, 10.724, 115.60 def. Michael Beard, Dart, 11.181, 113.18.

BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 14th
annual Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, the 11th of
12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 1,359 (clinches 2005 championship); 2. Doug Foley, 1,121; 3. Bruce Litton,
997; 4. Rick Cooper, 829; 5. Louie Allison, 731; 6. Bobby Lagana Jr., 494; 7. Roger Dean,
444; 8. Todd Paton, 372; 9. (tie) Paul Athey, 357; Chris Karamesines, 357.

Pro Modified

1. Mike Castellana, 832 (clinches 2005 championship); 2. Shannon Jenkins, 668; 3. Jim Halsey,
658; 4. Carl Spiering, 642; 5. Mike Janis, 562; 6. Dennis Radford, 529; 7. Ed Hoover, 524;
8. Quain Stott, 523; 9. Burton Auxier, 518; 10. Harold Martin, 496.

Funny Car

1. Rob Atchison, 1,071; 2. Jim Sickles, 1,066; 3. Mark Thomas, 806; 4. Thomas Carter, 676;
5. Chris Foster, 639; 6. Terry McMillen, 604; 7. Terry Munroe, 492; 8. Frederick Tigges,
460; 9. Melinda Green-King, 292; 10. Larry Dobbs, 287.

Pro Stock

1. Steve Spiess, 1,083 (clinches 2005 championship); 2. Frank Gugliotta, 777; 3. Robert
Patrick, 734; 4. (tie) Rick Jones, 694; Daniel Seamon, 694; 6. Tony Gillig, 687; 7. Pete
Berner, 567; 8. Brian Gahm, 556; 9. John Montecalvo, 539; 10. John Nobile, 529.