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April 20-22, 2007
(Team Press releases are on this page, scroll down to see submitted releases) April 22, 2007 Eliminations ROCKINGHAM, N.C. --
It was even more special for Wyatt as he painted a tribute to the Virginia Tech shooting victims on his car for the weekend. "We were driving down here when we heard what happened," Wyatt said. "We were listening to the coverage on XM Radio and every time we stopped at a truck stop would get updates. It's unbelievable something like that could happen. As I found out more what happened I just really knew I had to do something, and when we got here I started looking for a vinyl shop. If us winning this race helped one person I will feel good about it. If we don't get a sponsor we are going to run the Virginia Tech logo on our car for the rest of the season."
"I knew it would be a driver's race today," Zizzo said. "Usually it is 90 percent crew and 10 percent driver, but today I knew I would have to be on my game. And that's what happened.I had to drive the car to win. It feels good when you are able to do that because you know you did your job."
Cannon Jr. drove past Kenny Lang in the final round, carding a 6.020 at 236.17 mph to top Lang's tire shaking 7.669 at 124.66. "My crew gave me a great race car this weekend," Cannon said. "When you have as good a car as I had you just don't want to screw it up. That is the worst feeling, when the crew does a good job and the driver doesn't."
"I really love it here," Thomas said. "It wouldn't bother me if we raced here every weekend. The crowd is always great and the track is always in top condition. We have won four or five times here and have been to a bunch of finals. There is something special about this place." Montecalvo vs Berner "This is a great facility and we love racing here," Montecalvo said. "That's two in a row for us in Rockingham and two finals in a row to open the season. We have to keep the momentum going." The Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam will make its third stop of the season at Tulsa Raceway Park May 25 - 27 for the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals presented by Wolverine and Academy Sports + Outdoors. Sunday's final results from the Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway. The race is the second of 12 in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel -- T.J. Zizzo, 4.772 seconds, 297.16 mph def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.916 seconds, 266.85 mph. Nitro Funny Car -- Jack Wyatt, Dodge Stratus, 5.188, 250.69 def. Jon Capps, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.229, 290.76. Pro Modified -- Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.020, 236.17 def. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 7.669, 124.66. Alcohol Funny Car -- Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.798, 246.39 def. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.852, 239.06. Pro Stock -- John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.388, 218.83 def. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.398, 218.65. Top Sportsman -- Terry Teets, Cavalier, 6.911, 200.92 def. Mike Kaufman, Corvette, 7.257, 184.02. Top Dragster -- Marco Abruzzi, Dragster, 6.965, 190.38 def. Chad Hedgecock, Dragster, 9.810, 86.48. Quick Rod -- Gary Williams, Dragster, 9.145, 138.83 def. Marc Gottlieb, Dragster, 9.159, 161.34. Super Rod -- Jason Ayers, Vega, 9.886, 149.71 def. Rusty Cook, Corvette, 9.873, 158.89. Hot Rod -- Scott Morgan, Camaro, 10.862, 138.20 def. Doug Ramsey, Camaro, 10.854, 135.58. Super Stock -- Steve McCreary, Sunfire, 10.137, 131.06 def. Emily Stott, Camaro, foul. Stock -- W.G. Lankas, Firebird, 10.629, 111.31 def. Mark Lewis, Nova, foul. April 21, Saturday final qualifying ROCKINGHAM, N.C. --
"We needed those bonus points after what happened in San Antonio," Capps, who was assessed a black flag penalty at the season-opening Texas Nationals, said. "The track was great. IHRA and the staff at Rockingham Dragway did a great job of getting this track ready." Capps actually clicked off early on his run but still was able to clock the quickest time of all qualifying sessions. "It started to labor a little bit so I clicked it off early," Capps said. "I didn't want to hurt any parts because we want to go rounds tomorrow."
"That's what we're excited about, that's what matters," Zizzo said of the five bonus points. "Those extra points could end up meaning a whole lot at the end of a tight world championship points race." Foley will face Scott Weis in the first round of eliminations Sunday afternoon. Litton will square off with Bobby Lagana Jr. while Zizzo will do battle with Scotty Cannon. No. 4 qualifier Michael Gunderson will face No. 8 qualifier Mitch King in the remaining first round match-up.
"We had her jacked up," Cannon said. "We didn't do too good at the last race and we wanted to get the Last Man Standing. We need all the points we can get." Rob Mansfield, Bradenton, Fla., had a very profitable Saturday evening qualifying session. In fact Mansfield didn't do too badly Friday night, either. He qualified at the top of the sheet with a stout 6.333 at 217.98 mph in the Saturday evening session. He also was the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge, claiming five bonus points for the second consecutive night.
Steve Spiess, Manhattan, Ill., posted a 6.342, 219.12 pass Saturday evening to claim the second qualifying spot while Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg, Va., ended up in the third position with a 6.355. Mansfield will face San Antonio finalist John Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., in the first round of eliminations Sunday morning. Jeff Dobbins, Wilmington, N.C., did not qualify for the field, but he did not walk away empty-handed as his 0.016 reaction time earned him the Wayne-Dalton "Turn on the Lights" award. Terry Munroe, Beaver, Pa., came out swinging this season. After his win in San Antonio at the Texas Nationals he said his race team was serious about chasing the world championship this season. He backed up this talk by claiming the Alcohol Funny Car pole at the IHRA Spring Nationals.his second No. 1 qualifying effort in as many attempts this season.
"I love this track," Thomas said. "I have won more at this track than any other on the IHRA tour. I love coming here and it has always been very good to me." Rocky Hummel, Knoxville, Tenn., was the No. 3 qualifier with a 5.860, 229.63 pass. Munroe will square off with Bunny Burkett in the first round of eliminations Sunday morning while Thomas will face Larry Dobbs while Hummel will square off with Rob Atchison. Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 p.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, log onto http://www.ihra.com. The Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol is the second of twelve events on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Top Fuel 1 1301 Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, Attac-TFX 4.552 320.74
320.74 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 315 Terry McMillen, Elkhart IN, McKinney-Hemi 5.404
182.53 182.53 Funny Car 1 702 Jon Capps, Las Vegas NV, '05 Monte Carlo 4.974
289.94 289.94 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 499 Todd Simpson, Ponder TX, '01 Camaro 5.665 213.60
213.60 Pro Mod 1 6 Scott Cannon, Lyman SC, *'68 Firebird 5.992 237.63
237.63 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 77 Shannon Jenkins, Tuscaloosa AL, '06 GTO 6.591
223.62 223.62 Pro Stock 1 5 Rob Mansfield, Winter Park FL, '07 Cobalt 6.333
217.98 218.51 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 335 Bob Bertsch, Willis MI, '07 Mustang 6.435
215.96 215.96 Alcohol Funny Car 1 100 Terry Munroe, Beaver PA, '05 Monte Carlo 5.804
240.04 240.04 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 357 Tim Stevens, Dorr MI, '06 Stratus 5.950 230.65
230.65 Friday qualifying ROCKINGHAM, N.C. --
"The car moved around quite a bit," said Foley. "It was a great run for us. That's what we needed to come out and do. Everyone is running so tough this year that every point is going to count."
Laguna Hills, California-resident Rowe used the final Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified qualifying pass to sneak into the No. 1 spot and earn the "Last Man Standing" prize. Rowe ran the quarter-mile in 6.113, 234.70 and is followed by Mike Castellana, 6.185, Kirk Kuhns, 6.202 and Harold Martin, 6.223. Class points leader Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., is currently not in the field. Alcohol Funny Car points leader Munroe, Beaver, Pa., proved that his dominance in San Antonio last month was no fluke. He covered the track in 5.804-seconds at 240.04 mph to take the top spot and "Last Man Standing." He's trailed by Canadian Larry Dobbs, defending world champion Mark Thomas and Rob Atchison.
Qualifying resumes at 9 a.m., with professional qualifying rounds two and three at 12 noon and 6:30 p.m., respectively. For more information, log onto http://www.ihra.com. The Spring Nationals is the second of twelve events on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Top Fuel 1 1301 Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, Attac-TFX 4.552 320.74
320.74 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 394 Luigi Novelli, Crete IL, McKinney-TFX 12.133
86.73 86.73 Nitro Funny Car 1 121 Terry Haddock, Lynnwood WA, '06 Stratus 4.995
297.16 297.16 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 206 Bob Gilbertson, Charlotte NC, '05 Monte Carlo 10.432 89.55 89.55 Pro Mod 1 38 Danny Rowe, Rossville GA, *'63 Corvette 6.113
234.70 234.70 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 1313 Chip King, Semora NC, *'69 Daytona 13.701
67.66 67.66 Pro Stock 1 5 Rob Mansfield, Margate FL, '07 Cobalt 6.333 217.98
217.98 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 103 Daniel Seamon, Bellevue OH, '04 Mustang 6.457
215.86 215.86 Alcohol Funny Car 1 100 Terry Munroe, Beaver PA, '05 Monte Carlo 5.804
240.04 240.04 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 271 Ronnie Midyette, Virginia Beach VA, '04 Camaro
6.307 229.51 229.51
Rockingham Spring Nationals Event preview (courtesy IHRA)
KNOLL-GAS NITRO JAM™ DRAG RACING HEADS TO ROCKINGHAM
DRAGWAY NORWALK, Ohio (April 17, 2007) – The next stop on the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is the Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol, April 20 – 22 at Rockingham Dragway.
The event dates back to 1971 and includes winners such as Don Garlits (1972 and 1975), Ronnie Sox (1971), Clay Millican (2002 – 2006), Scotty Cannon (1991, 1993 and 1996), Mark Thomas (1991, 2003 – 2005) and Bruce Litton (1999 and 2000). Litton, the current Top Fuel points leader on the Nitro Jam series, always looks forward to racing at Rockingham.
“We’re going to a track I’ve always really liked. It’s the first place I ever won a Top Fuel race at in 1999, so it’s always been a special track to me,” said Litton, who resides in Indianapolis. “(Track owner) Steve Earwood has a great facility and we’re excited to see what we can do there.
“We’re tickled we have the points lead, but that really doesn’t matter until the end of the year,” added Litton. “You still have to take each race one at a time, go out and hope for the best. Right now we’re preparing for the Friday night qualifier.”
Litton has nearly the entire same team members today as he did winning that first event back in 1999. Richard Hartman, Nicky Boninfante and Mike Wolfarth were making the major tuning calls, and, with Boninfante returning in the off-season the “full” team is back together.
“I even have same guy that did the clutch for me back in ‘99,” added Litton. “The team likes this event. Rockingham will make or break you, since there are two races there…in the spring and the final in the fall. We tested in Rockingham back in November, a week before Thanksgiving. The conditions during the race should be similar, which means we should have a lot of data.”
Litton, who suffered a major crash last season in Epping, N.H., finished the 2006 season in fifth place, the first time he’d been out of the top three in the final championship point standings during his IHRA racing career. With a season-opening win under his belt, 2007 could be a banner year.
Standing in his way, and also competing during the Spring Nationals are competitors such as Doug Foley, a six-time career winner, Bobby Lagana Jr., T.J. Zizzo, former Pro Modified standout Scotty Cannon and Terry McMillen.
All professional categories, including Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, will qualify Friday (April 20) at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday (April 21) at 12 noon and 6:30 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday (April 22) at 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and final round at 4 p.m.
The defending Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world champion Dale Creasy Jr. goes into Rockingham as the current points leader, making a huge statement to defend his crown by winning in San Antonio two weeks ago. Creasy Jr., of Beecher, Ill., has made it to one final round at Rockingham but is yet to win.
He’ll be keeping an eye on Jack Wyatt, who won both events at Rockingham in 2006 and nearly stole the championship out from under Creasy Jr.
“We had a good showing at Rockingham last year during the World Finals,” said Creasy Jr. “I think this season every race is going to be a little tougher because the competition is that much better.
“To me, all the races are the same no matter if we’ve won there before or lost, or whatever has happened in the past,” he added. “We take it round-by-round and try to not ever get ahead of ourselves. In San Antonio we made the field on the last qualifying run, so we went from almost not being in the race to winning it.
In addition to Creasy Jr. and Wyatt, other competitors include Charlotte’s Bob Gilbertson, Terry Haddock, Jon Capps, South Carolina’s Andy Kelley and Paul Lee, to name a few.
The Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified field will be stout in Rockingham. Historically drawing some of the biggest fields for this class, fans can expect close to 30 cars trying to qualify for 16 spots.
Gilbert, S.C.’s Ed Hoover is the current Pro Modified points leader, but he has never won an IHRA national event at Rockingham. Danny Rowe and tuner Jimmy Rector are second behind Hoover, followed by Burton Auxier and Columbus, N.C.-resident Quain Stott.
Robert Patrick enters the Spring Nationals leading the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class. His win at the Texas Nationals has catapulted the Fredericksburg, Va.-resident to the top of the class. Patrick’s last Spring Nationals win came in 1994. He’s trailed by such big-time Mountain Motor Pro Stock names like John Montecalvo, Rob Mansfield, Rickie Smith (King, N.C.) and Frank Gugliotta. Wilmington, N.C.-resident Jeff Dobbins is seventh.
Alcohol Funny Car could have a different look this year. A class that was rumored off the professional circuit this season has survived and is led by first-time winner Terry Munroe, who picked up his first in San Antonio. The class has been dominated recently by Mark Thomas and Rob Atchison, who are both in the top ten. However, both drivers have a lot to make up to top Munroe. Race Info: ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- WHO: The stars of the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Series, including Doug Foley, Bobby Lagana Jr., Rick Cooper, Bruce Litton, six-time Pro Modified world champion Scotty Cannon and T.J. Zizzo in 320 mph Knoll Gas - Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel dragsters, competing for the $23,000 first place prize of a $131,000 class purse Fans will experience the power of 320 mph Knoll Gas - Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Cars, featuring defending world champion Dale Creasy Jr., Gastonia, N.C.'s Bob Gilbertson, Jack Wyatt, Paul Lee and Terry Haddock, competing for $23,000 to first place of the $131,000 class purse Defending World champion and Columbus, N.C.-resident Quain Stott, former world champion Mike Janis, Danny Rowe, Carl Spiering and Scott Cannon Jr. in nitrous vs. supercharged Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified, competing for the $10,000 first place prize of the $45,000 class purse Six-time and defending world champion Mark Thomas, Rob Atchison, Tom Carter and Terry McMillen in Alcohol Funny Car, competing for the $10,000 first place prize of the $26,000 class purse The world's fastest and quickest Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock Cars, featuring IHRA's version of NASCAR, the 220 mph factory hot rods of world champion Pete Berner (Pontiac GTO), King, N.C.'s Rickie Smith (Chevrolet, Cobalt) former world champions Steve Spiess (Chevrolet Cobalt) and Brian Gahm (Ford Mustang) and Robert Patrick (Ford Mustang) competing for the $10,000 first place prize of the $38,000 class purse Champions will also be crowned in seven Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by Mr. Gasket semi-professional classes: Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod, and Hot Rod WHAT'S AT STAKE: In addition to the individual class purse up for grabs, drivers will be competing for points with the ultimate goal of being crowned world champion at season's end. Each class champion receives: Top Fuel - $150,000, Nitro Funny Car - $150,000, Pro Modified - 50,000, Alcohol Funny Car - $35,000 and Pro Stock - $35,000 "NIGHT OF FIRE": The Saturday "Night of Fire" show, 6:30 p.m., features the final round of professional qualifying under the lights - including two flame-burning Nitro-fueled classes - and the ground-pounding Pepe Urban jet-powered truck
SATURDAY April 21, 2007 SUNDAY April 22, 2007 PRO Sessions will start at times listed above. Schedule subject to
change Team Press releases Quain Stott (Pro Mod) Stott Takes the Long Way Home COLUMBUS, NC (April 17, 2007) - When Quain Stott pulls the LeeBoy Equipment Corvette off of the transporter in Rockingham, North Carolina later this week, he'll have taken the long way to get there. In some ways, that's just appropriate for Stott, even though North Carolina is home for the Torco Race Fuels powered team. Stott has spent most of his drag racing career competing around the Tar Heel state and could probably put the truck on auto pilot and it would find its way to "The Rock" without incident. But, nothing is ever as easy at it seems. Especially for Stott. He left Tuesday morning to make the 175 mile journey to Rockingham Dragway. Stott and his team will make at least one stop before arriving Thursday. Farmington, North Carolina will be the pit stop Stott needs for a little piece of mind before arriving in Rockingham for the IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto on April 21-22. "Farmington is a great place for us to test," Stott said. "It's a little test and tune for us. Heck it's a lot of test and tune for us. We'll put more laps on this car in testing than it will ever see during racing this season." Stott has long been known as one of the hardest working guys in racing. From tuning the car, to driving it in competition, to loading the car up and driving it from race to race, he continues to do it all. "There are a lot of teams out here that will spend a ton of money to come out here and go fast," Stott explained. "I've always had the attitude that we'll just try and outwork them, because I sure don't want to try and outspend them." The hard work has paid off for Stott for more than a decade. Since 1995, Stott remains the only Pro Modified driver to finish every season in the top 10, including the 2006 championship. Six of the past 12 season Stott has finished in the top five, racing with both a nitrous injected car and a blower car over that time period. "We've been lucky and blessed," Stott said from his cell phone enroute to Farmington. "LeeBoy has been with us for nine of those season and Evan Knoll and Torco have been with us for 10 of them. With strong partnerships like that it helps us race with consistency." While some say the harder you work the luckier you get, Stott knows that it takes a lot of both to stay competitive. "It took us 12 years to win a Pro Mod championship. I've got to do it at least one more time to prove it wasn't a fluke. We're going to have to work that much harder just to stay anywhere near the top. There are a lot of really good teams out here." LeeBoy and Stott call Rockingham their home track and this race won't be any different. LeeBoy Equipment will have a great hospitality area hosted by Arrow Equipment in the Quain Stott Racing pits. "Saturday is always intense," Stott added. "It's the last chance at qualifying and there are always so many LeeBoy and Arrow Equipment customers that I look forward to seeing." Quain Stott Drag Racing partners with high performance companies like, LeeBoy Equipment, Torco Race Fuels, Richmond Gear, Mickey Thompson Tires, NGK Spark Plugs, Auto Meter, Stroud Safety, Santhuff Shocks, Fulton Race Engines, Stroupe Race Cars and Spartan Crank Shafts. To learn more about Quain Stott and the LeeBoy Pro Modified Corvette, powered by Torco Race Fuels, visit: http://quainstott.com Eddie Ware (Pro Mod) IHRA Spring Nationals next stop for Ware About Disturbed Motorsports: Terry McMillen (Top Fuel) McMillen Sees Rockingham Differently Now Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with Moisture Loc sidelines drag racer Elkhart, Ind. (April 17, 2007) - It was October 2005 when Terry McMillen strapped into Evan Knoll's Top Fuel Dragster for the 2005 IHRA World Finals in Rockingham. Just one month earlier, McMillen had earned his Top Fuel license with Knoll's help. Now he would attempt to qualify for what would become the fastest Top Fuel field in IHRA history. While McMillen would narrowly miss the field (.026), things looked promising for the 2006 season. As McMillen began winter testing in Knoll's Top Fueler in preparation for the 2006 campaign, he began to notice a problem with his eye. After many visits to the doctor, McMillen had been diagnosed with a rare fungal eye infection (Fusarium Keratitis) as a result of using Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with Moisture Loc product. The injury required McMillen to undergo corneal replacement and lens surgery. It would sideline McMillen's Top Fuel hopes for the 2006 season. While McMillen's eye is still a source of pain and uncertainty, he has been cleared to race Top Fuel and his vision is much improved. "Having this eye problem is a whole lot scarier than anything that I have ever experienced in a race car," McMillen said. "It really made me think about my career and how tough it would be to give up something I love so much. The interaction I have with our fans and our marketing partners is priceless. I've certainly learned to appreciate every opportunity I have to be around the race track." For 2007, McMillen has teamed up with Foley and Lewis and races the Torco Nitro Top Fuel Dragster with teammate Doug Foley. "I guess everything happens for a reason," McMillen said. "Having an opportunity to compete on a team like this with Evan's support is unbelievable. Doug and Tim have assembled a great team here. It's not often that a driver can step in and know that they will be in contention for a championship. That's the kind of team that we have." McMillen knows that making the field in Rockingham isn't going to be easy. Four of the top 10 fastest fields in IHRA history were set at Rockingham, including both races at the Rock in 2006 ('06 Spring Nationals #3 and '06 World Finals #7). "Rockingham is an extremely fast track," McMillen said. "Steve Earwood and his staff do a great job at that facility. I expect the field will be as fast and as tight as ever before. I've got the best crew in the business. All I have to do is hit the loud peddle and keep it between the stripes, they'll get us in the show." Qualifying for the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam begins Friday, April 20th and ends during Saturday's Night of Fire. Eliminations begin Sunday. To learn more about Terry McMillen, visit http://hoosierthunder.com
InstiGator Ready to Make Strong Showing in Rockingham
At the same time, the InstiGator completed its winter-long face lift at GO Graphix, undergoing some more modifications once all the graphics were removed. The Amalie Oil InstiGator is arguably the most photographed car in all of drag racing. "We're receiving more emails that ever before," said McMillen. "GO Graphix did a great job. The look of that car helps promote everything we do. From every marketing partner on the car to our Gator Wear." McMillen likes to credit Amalie for continuing the InstiGator theme, especially with the makeover this season. He added, "One thing about Andy and his staff from Amalie, when you put them on a task, they deliver. It's just like the slogan, 'Better than it has to be'. This car is the best appearing car and I'm proud of our association with Amalie on this car." McMillen pulled double duty in San Antonio driving both the Amalie Oil Funny Car and the Torco Nitro Top Fuel team car of Foley and Lewis. "It made for a long day," McMillen said of the double time in two pro classes. He'll occupy both seats again in Rockingham. "We were able to get a little testing done over the winter and we're working on getting my son Andy and Tad some more seat time. The snow and rain have been a huge deterrent for testing and licensing." Rockingham has almost proved to be the track to tough to tame over the past few years for the Indiana based team. "We have had are ups and downs at this track," McMillen added. "However I believe we are ready. Our motor is sealed by Flatout Gaskets, Crane Cams provides the bump stick (cam), MSD fires the Torco Race Fuel, Amalie Oil provides the lubrication and Go Graphix makes us look good with a wrap on the shell (body). Of course NAPA has provides all of the 'Good Stuff', so how could we not be looking forward to the Rock." The InstiGator team partners with high quality and high performance companies like; Amalie Oil, Torco Race Fuels, eRaceFuels, Flatout Gaskets, NGK Spark Plugs, MSD, GO Graphix, eMax, Crane Cams, Freedom Grill and No Limit Custom Coach. To learn more about Terry McMillen and the Amalie Oil InstiGator, visit http://hoosierthunder.com Tony Zizzo (Top Fuel) Team Zizzo Races for "Rock" Solid Consistency
"We're like everybody else - we're ready to go racing again," said Zizzo. Following his final round appearance at the San Antonio Raceway, which was contested on an eight mile format, Zizzo is ready to the race the full 1320 feet again. "It will be exciting to go 300 miles an hour again this weekend," he said. After the season opening success in San Antonio, Zizzo's team realizes they have work to do if they want to improve this weekend. "Fortunate... very fortunate," says Zizzo of his opening performance in San Antonio. "We went to the finals but we only made it down the track a third of the time. We have to be more consistent. We lost our consistency and we have to get that back. It is not always the fastest car that will win a championship - it is the most consistent car that wins." As the Race News Magazine dragster searches for their winning formula, the team gains confidence in their teamwork. "We got through San Antonio because we have a good team, that's our secret," Zizzo said confidently. "We have evaluated a lot of the data from the last race and we'll see if we can apply that in Rockingham." Tony Zizzo agrees, "Mike Kern and Dave Settles have studied the data from last race and I feel the changes they are talking about will give us the performance we are looking for. We will take it one round at a time and see what happens." Zizzo enters the Spring Nationals standing in second place, trailing only Bruce Litton. While the team is excited about their current standings, they know Rockingham is just the second of twelve races to be contested this season. "We are out here to go down the track and gather more data to make us more consistent. We want to win a championship, but first we have to make the car go down the track." Adding to the enthusiasm for Rockingham, Zizzo Racing announced earlier this week that Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels would support the team with his Torco Nitro for the remainder of the season. "We're really excited about having Evan and Torco Race Fuels back with us this season," said Tony Zizzo. "Evan and Torco are synonymous with quality and speed. We're proud of our association with them." While the team is fueling up the dragster with Torco Nitro, T.J. Zizzo remains focused on the task at hand of winning a championship, so does his partner - Race News Magazine. "They get it. They are excited about being in the IHRA and they really want to be an active marketing partner in drag racing," commented Zizzo. "When you come through Charlotte North Carolina and make your way to Rockingham, you can't help but realize that you are in the 'Mecca' of racing. Race News Magazine will have a great opportunity exposing their product to these hard-core race fans." While Race News Magazine is getting a chance to introduce their product to new fans, Team Zizzo didn't waste an opportunity to introduce Race News to a close up view. Tony Zizzo explains, "Our marketing director, Cathie Gallo, showed our marketing partners what IHRA Drag Racing is all about from the starting line. Needless to say they are hooked." Qualifying for the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Spring Nationals begins Friday, April 20 at the Rockingham Dragway, with eliminations on Sunday. To learn more about Race News Magazine and Zizzo Racing visit: http://zizzoracing.com Mike Janis (Pro Mod) Mike Janis Ready To Get Back To The Quarter Mile
SOUTHFIELD, MICH., … After dealing with a shortened track at the IHRA season opener that nearly him from qualifying, Mike Janis is eager to run his Eaton-sponsored Chevrolet Cobalt the full quarter mile at this weekend's Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, North Carolina, April 20 – 22,.
"We had to deal with a curve ball at the opener last month in
San Antonio," Janis said. "They changed the track from a
quarter mile to and eight mile and we weren't ready for it. It threw
our entire program off and we're looking forward to running the full
quarter mile again at Rockingham." Creasy Brings Torco Race Fuel's Nitro Funny Car to "The Rock" BEECHER, IL (April 17, 2007) - The Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam series is back in action this week with the Spring Nationals held in Rockingham, NC. No one is more excited to get back on the race track than points leader Dale Creasy, Jr.. "It's like waiting all winter to play with your toys," said a laughing Creasy. "I want to get out there and race. I know this is how everyone feels. I just want to put some of Evan Knoll's nitro in this hot rod and race. He's given us such a great team to work with, now it's time to have fun." After opening the season with a victory in San Antonio it look as though the Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny car is picking up where they left off - on top. "It's going to help having momentum. Leaving San Antonio with a win was a surprise. We were still putting things together but on Sunday it came together and we made some pretty good runs," commented Creasy. "But it never hurts to have a little momentum on your side. Your confidence is higher and you just want to keep going." Despite the momentum and confidence in the pits Creasy's crew understands the task at hand is going to be both a challenge and a good time. "It's going to be fun. We ran well there last year in both races. So that's pretty good. The weather is really the only thing that can hold back what we are doing," says the reigning champion. "We making sure we have got everything ready because it is going to be tough. It will be Jack Wyatt, Gilbertson and the rest of the guys. Jack has a pretty good track record in Rockingham so we will see if we can give him a little more competition." Creasy admitted that the season opening victory was a welcome surprise, given the race was on the 1/8th mile, it may raise a few questions entering Rockingham. "This new car hasn't had to run past the eighth mile yet," says Creasy. "It has responded to the adjustments we have made to make it better. Usually by that point (1/8 mile) most of your timers are done by then. I'm pretty sure we are in good shape. We will just have to see what is going to do on the top end. I think it will be as good as last year's car." Even though the car hasn't officially made a 1/4 mile pass it doesn't bother Creasy, they will rely on consistency. "If you look back at last year we qualified well at most of the races but we were not the fastest car there by any means," stated Creasy. "We were working more on getting the car to go down the track. If you get some guys that are running 4.70's they are awfully hard to beat. So, you just have to go out there and run your own race. If we do that we will be fine." Fans will want to make a stop by the pits of the Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny for the unveiling of a new wrap on the car. Not only are the colors brighter and shinier … Creasy and crew will be sporting new uniforms - certainly a site to see! Dale Creasy, Jr. and his championship Torco powered Nitro Funny Car, partner with high quality and performance companies like; Torco Race Fuels, Oakley, Red Line Oil, MSD, Crane Cams, BME, Fram Autolite, Polydyn TX7, TEK PAK, VSI, GM Performance and Beaver Shredding.
Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) Rob and Crew will be heading south with the Erickson Tie Downs and
Tow Straps Monte Carlo to Race # 2 in the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam/IHRA
National Event at Rockingham Dragway. Affectionately know as the "Rock"
the track is where Robbie set the IHRA ET record at 5.685 seconds
becoming the only IHRA Alcohol Funny Car driver ever to run a 5.60.
Rob's 5.685 is also the track record at "The Rock as is his 247.07
miles per hour. The track elevation is 375 feet above sea levels so
the cool spring air could bring new records.
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