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March 22-24 (Guy Van Syckle photos) Weekend gallery is here. Final eliminations
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 25, 2007) – Over the years Bruce Litton has grown accustomed to the bridesmaid role, but he has never liked it. While Clay Millican was reeling off six consecutive Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel world championships Litton was always right there in his rear view mirror. The Indianapolis-native finished second three times (’02, ’03 and ’04) and third the three other years Millican was dominating the class. Now he is ready for his time in the sun.
Litton knocked off T.J. Zizzo in the final round of the season-opening Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts to claim the early points lead and prove he is ready to go after the championship…a statement he made with the off-season hiring of tuner Nicky Boninfante. Boninfante was with Litton for most of his competitive Top Fuel seasons before leaving to pursue other opportunities while Litton slipped to fifth in the final 2006 championship points standings. Now, with Boninfante back, Litton is looking for big things this season.
“This team has really come together this year around Nicky Boninfante and (crew chief) Richard Hartman,” said Litton. “We’ve worked so hard over the years and especially over the winter. I’m looking forward to this season.”
After knocking off Scott Weis in the first round, Litton had to deal with No. 1 qualifier Doug Foley in the semifinals. Foley shook his tires hard at the hit of the throttle early and clicked it off, leaving Litton to wait to see who he would race for the Ironman. He did not have to wait long as Scotty Cannon could not answer the semifinal bell and Zizzo soloed into the final round.
Litton had lane choice in the final and selected the right lane. Two years ago Litton suffered a horrific crash in that same right lane at the Texas Nationals, but has since put those demons behind him.
“We try to run our own race every time,” added Litton. “I knew he ran well all weekend. He was No. 2 qualifier, we were three. I felt like I needed to be on my game and leave on time. And we had some pretty good power all day. It all worked out for us.“
Dale Creasy Jr., Beecher, Ill., began the defense of his 2006 Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world championship in grand style by knocking off the defending Texas Nationals champion, No. 1 qualifier Gary Densham. Creasy almost was not around to race Sunday as he needed the final qualifying shot Saturday night to bump into the field. He took advantage, knocking off Del Worsham in the first round and Jack Wyatt, who finished a mere five points behind him in the points chase last year, in the semifinals. Creasy then carded a 3.407 in the final round against a lifting Densham.
“We had the new car and we were struggling with it,” said Creasy Jr. “I almost brought out the old car because I knew it could go down the race track. But we have so much invested in it, time and money, and if we want to step forward we have to have this car so we stuck with it and it worked.”
“This is my first win (in the U.S.), so I finally have a trophy that doesn’t need a passport to go home,” added Creasy.
Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., had a successful return to San Antonio Raceway, the site of his 2005 victory over Shannon Jenkins at the Texas Nationals. Hoover finished outside the top ten in IHRA points standings last season, but an early win has him thinking things have turned around a bit. Hoover stopped Danny Rowe in the final with a 4.031 ET.
“This is great. We struggled all year last year, and now we’ve got a new car and this win is really big for us,” said Hoover. “We’re leaving here with a lot of momentum and we’re going to work real hard the rest of the season.
“This winter Al (Billes) spent 300 hours R&D
and dyno time working on the car. He helped make the difference today.
This is a professional class. If you’re not working, you’re
not going to win.” Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg, Va., drove his ’07 Shelby Cobra to the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock Ironman defeating John Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., in the final round. Patrick, one of the preseason favorites to contend for the 2007 championship, proved to be worthy of such attention by carding a 4.156 at 173.29 mph to knock off Montecalvo’s 4.171 at 172.63 mph. Both drivers had identical 0.046 reaction times.
“The biggest thing I wanted to accomplish here was coming out with a win,” said Patrick. “Last year I qualified on the pole a number of times, had the fastest car in eliminations and got beat a few times on hole-shots and that kept me out of the championship chase. So I wanted to kind of redeem myself here.
“We got the win and I just couldn’t be happier for my team,” he added.
Terry Munroe, Beaver, Pa., finally broke through in Alcohol Funny Car, stopping defending world champion Mark Thomas, Louisville, Ohio, in the final round with a 3.893 ET to claim his first-ever Ironman. Munroe finished fourth in the points standings last year, but could not get a win at either of his two finals last season.
“We’ve been doing Funny Car racing for five years. This is my fifth final round and I finally won one,” said Munroe. “This year, we put it in our minds that we are going to be serious about this. We are still looking for sponsors…we could be dangerous with the right funding.”
The Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ will make its second stop of the season in Rockingham Dragway April 20-22 for the IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Sunday's final results from the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts at San Antonio Raceway. The race is the first of 12 in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Bruce Litton, 3.165 seconds, 265.12 mph def. T.J. Zizzo, 5.417 seconds, 76.94 mph.
Nitro Funny Car -- Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 3.407, 246.17 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.130, 142.79.
Pro Modified -- Ed Hoover, Chevy Corvette, 4.031, 183.39 def. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 4.597, 120.17.
Alcohol Funny Car -- Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo, 3.893, 187.11 def. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 3.949, 189.95.
Pro Stock -- Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 4.156, 173.29 def. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 4.171, 172.63.
Top Sportsman -- Harold Snyder, Chevy Camaro, 4.775, 142.29 def. Gary Bingham, Pontiac Grand Am, 4.806, 147.49.
Top Dragster -- Brian Folk, Dragster, 4.683, 137.69 def. Nick Folk, Dragster, 4.735, 138.43.
Quick Rod -- Nancy Greathouse, Dragster, 5.706, 123.96 def. Claude DeBonis, Dragster, 5.784, 121.09.
Super Rod -- Kip Guenzel, Chevy Camaro, 6.418, 119.04 def. Tommy Maedgen, Chevy Corvette, foul.
Hot Rod -- Tony Baxter, Chevy Chevelle, 7.011, 102.98 def. Wayne Hoffmann, Chevy Nova, 7.035, 111.79.
Super Stock -- Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 6.713, 92.61 def. Slate Cummings, Chevy Cavalier, 5.735, 114.14.
ET Bracket -- Dustin Bradford, Chevy Nova, 6.832, 99.34 def. Shaun Neidig, Dragster, 5.070, 134.86.
ET Box -- Shaun Neidig, Dragster, 5.077, 130.97 def. Rae Jean Kilpatrick, Dragster, 5.059, 135.66.
ET No Box -- Dustin Bradford, Chevy Nova, 6.844, 99.35 def. Ryan McDonnell, Chevy Corvette, foul.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts at San Antonio Raceway, the first of 12 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Scotty Cannon, 3.448, 249.81 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 3.883, 170.67; Bruce Litton, 3.211, 261.27 def. Scott Weis, 3.706, 168.28; T.J. Zizzo, 3.172, 262.90 def. Mitch King, broke; Doug Foley, 3.143, 265.27 def. Terry McMillen, 4.748, 94.65; SEMIFINALS -- Zizzo, 5.373, 87.77 def. Cannon, broke; Litton, 3.163, 266.53 def. Foley, 4.888, 93.04; FINAL -- Litton, 3.165, 265.12 def. Zizzo, 5.417, 76.94.
NITRO FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Jack Wyatt, Dodge Stratus, 3.538, 238.64 def. Jon Capps, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.637, 100.28; Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 3.523, 208.36 def. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.580, 150.78; Terry Haddock, Stratus, 3.515, 210.87 def. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 8.734, 80.15; Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 3.287, 259.76 def. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 3.331, 253.09; SEMIFINALS -- Creasy Jr., 3.426, 241.50 def. Wyatt, 3.639, 220.48; Densham, 3.306, 258.12 def. Haddock, 3.427, 244.56; FINAL -- Creasy Jr., 3.407, 246.17 def. Densham, 4.130, 142.79.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 4.075, 183.10 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, broke; Burton Auxier, Corvette, 4.339, 157.25 def. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 5.650, 85.55; Quain Stott, Corvette, 4.106, 182.35 def. John Russo, Chevy Camaro, 6.269, 96.76; Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 4.195, 169.53 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 4.160, 178.45; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 4.045, 181.30 def. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 4.318, 169.08; Pat Stoken, Camaro, 4.067, 181.74 def. Tony Pontieri, Chevy Bel Air, 5.259, 96.42; Jim Halsey, Camaro, 4.058, 182.23 def. Scott Cannon, GTO, 4.207, 176.03; Danny Rowe, Corvette, 4.155, 178.90 def. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 5.012, 105.55;
QUARTERFINALS -- Rowe, 4.062, 183.07 def. Kuhns, 5.856, 80.63; Auxier, 4.242, 172.98 def. Stoken, foul; Stott, 4.057, 183.39 def. Halsey, 4.070, 182.97; Hoover, 4.045, 183.72 def. Lang, 4.113, 180.67; SEMIFINALS -- Rowe, 4.030, 183.64 def. Auxier, 4.239, 173.03; Hoover, 4.040, 184.67 def. Stott, 6.870, 65.94; FINAL -- Hoover, 4.031, 183.39 def. Rowe, 4.597, 120.17.
ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Terry Munroe, Chevy Monte Carlo, 3.946, 187.13 def. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 3.994, 192.03; Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 3.962, 186.77 def. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 4.045, 185.13; Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 3.963, 192.00 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 3.986, 186.51; Tony Bogolo, Ford Mustang, 4.160, 172.36 def. Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 8.265, 61.70;
SEMIFINALS -- Munroe, 3.930, 185.00 def. Stevens, 4.027, 174.98; Thomas, 4.007, 187.81 def. Bogolo, broke; FINAL -- Munroe, 3.893, 187.11 def. Thomas, 3.949, 189.95.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Rickie Smith, Chevy Cobalt, 4.177, 171.79 def. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.091, 77.04; Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 4.158, 172.04 def. Mike Corvo Jr, Cobalt, 4.127, 172.63; Frank Gugliotta, Ford Mustang, 4.203, 171.12 def. Brian Gahm, Mustang, foul; Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 4.231, 170.49 def. John Nobile, Mustang, foul; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 4.131, 174.19 def. Dean Goforth, GTO, broke; Rob Mansfield, Cobalt, 4.169, 172.45 def. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 4.176, 171.45; Dan Sweeney, GTO, 4.972, 105.58 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, foul; Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 4.100, 173.67 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 4.183, 170.86; QUARTERFINALS -- Gugliotta, 4.200, 171.21 def. Sweeney, 4.198, 171.62; Mansfield, 4.234, 164.83 def. Berner, foul; Montecalvo, 4.138, 173.34 def. Smith, 7.546, 59.38; Patrick, 4.133, 173.36 def. Dobbins, 4.192, 170.75; SEMIFINALS -- Montecalvo, 5.102, 152.23 def. Gugliotta, 7.250, 71.05; Patrick, 4.156, 173.94 def. Mansfield, 4.181, 171.97; FINAL -- Patrick, 4.156, 173.29 def. Montecalvo, 4.171, 172.63.
Point standings for IHRA professional categories following the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts at San Antonio Raceway, the first of 12 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Bruce Litton, 114; 2. T.J. Zizzo, 95; 3. Doug Foley, 81; 4. Scotty Cannon, 78; 5. Terry McMillen, 52; 6. Mitch King, 51; 7. Scott Weis, 50; 8. Bobby Lagana Jr., 34; 9. (tie) Jim Cavalieri, 10; Scott Palmer, 10.
Nitro Funny Car
1. Dale Creasy Jr., 111; 2. Gary Densham, 101; 3. Terry Haddock, 74; 4. Jack Wyatt, 69; 5. Del Worsham, 60; 6. Bob Gilbertson, 52; 7. Andy Kelley, 50; 8. Jon Capps, 38; 9. (tie) Mitch King, 10; Cruz Pedregon, 10; Todd Simpson, 10; Mike Smith, 10.
Pro Modified
1. Ed Hoover, 113; 2. Danny Rowe, 88; 3. Burton Auxier, 70; 4. Quain Stott, 63; 5. Kirk Kuhns, 52; 6. Jim Halsey, 47; 7. Pat Stoken, 46; 8. Raymond Commisso, 41; 9. Scott Cannon, 40; 10. (tie) Kenny Lang, 34; Tony Pontieri, 34.
Alcohol Funny Car
1. Terry Munroe, 121; 2. Mark Thomas, 95; 3. Tim Stevens, 74; 4. Tony Bogolo, 69; 5. Laurie Cannister, 58; 6. Rob Atchison, 52; 7. Larry Dobbs, 51; 8. Terry McMillen, 50;
Pro Stock
1. Robert Patrick, 121; 2. John Montecalvo, 93; 3. Rob Mansfield, 74; 4. Rickie Smith, 49; 5. Frank Gugliotta, 48; 6. Dan Sweeney, 47; 7. Jeff Dobbins, 44; 8. Pete Berner, 42; 9. Steve Spiess, 40; 10. John Nobile, 32.
Saturday final qualifying SAN ANTONIO, Texas --
Paul Lee, last season's runner-up, could not move into the field. Also notably absent from Sunday's elimination ladder was NHRA standout Cruz Pedregon, who could not blast into the field on his last pass. Doug Foley, Sewell, N.J., claimed top qualifying honors in the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel class with a strong 3.111 pass at 268.65 mph. T.J. Zizzo had a strong Saturday evening run to climb to second on the sheet with a 3.132. Bobby Lagana Jr., who was second after the first session Saturday, fell all the way to the bump spot when all was said and done with a 3.341 pass. Bruce Litton was third while Scott Cannon, driving in his first-ever Top Fuel event, rounded out the top half of the field with a 3.215 pass.
Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg, Va., seems to have a handle on his '07 Cobra early as he drove to the top of the qualifying ladder with a 4.129, 172.89 hit Saturday evening. Patrick was clear of Steve Spiess, Manhattan, Ill., by almost two hundredths as Spiess claimed second with a 4.184, 173.03 pass in his '07 Cobalt. Spiess' run was only good enough for second on the sheet, but he did grab "Last Man Standing" honors Saturday night. Rob Mansfield, Margate, Fla., was third when final qualifying was complete.
A pair of '05 Monte Carlos finished 1-2 in final Alcohol Funny Car qualifying. Terry Munroe, Beaver, Pa., took top honors with a 3.878 pass at 188.25 mph while defending world champion, Mark Thomas, Louisville, Ohio, was slotted second with a 3.884 pass at 193.57 mph. Laurie Cannister, Johnston, Ohio, claimed "Last Man Standing" honors and ended up fourth in final qualifying. Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Texas Nationals is the first of twelve events on the 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series Top Fuel 1 1301 Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, Attac-TFX 3.111 268.65
273.05 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 508 Jim Cavalieri, Omaha NE, Baungartne-TFX 3.647
152.45 152.45 Funny Car 1 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '05 Monte Carlo
3.322 253.56 253.56 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 71 Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo CA, '05 Monte Carlo
3.499 201.52 201.52 Pro Mod 1 1090 Raymond Commisso, Toronto ON, *'67 Camaro
3.962 188.41 188.41 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 44 Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '07 Mustang 4.136
177.65 177.65 Pro Stock 1 4 Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg VA, '07 Cobra
4.129 172.89 172.89 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 24 Michael Bruno, Frankfort IL, '06 GTO 4.204
172.23 172.23 Alcohol Funny Car 1 100 Terry Munroe, Beaver PA, '05 Monte Carlo 3.878
188.25 188.25 March 23, 2007 The IHRA and the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam gets off to a spectacular start with very big names in the nitro ranks leading the pack after day one. SAN ANTONIO, Texas --
Cannon, of Lyman, S.C., was making his Top Fuel debut. After a storied career winning six Pro Modified world championships and running NHRA Nitro Funny Car, Cannon has committed to chasing the IHRA Top Fuel championship racing an Evan Knoll Seelye-Wright Auto Group dragster. Cannon was the winner of the Top Fuel "Last Man Standing."
In Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car, Densham, of Bellflower, Calif., covered the quarter-mile in 4.863 seconds to take the top spot, as well as the "Last Man Standing." Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., 4.893, is second, followed by Bob Gilbertson, Charlotte, N.C., and Terry Haddock, Lynwood, Wash. Densham is the defending event winner. Defending world champion Dale Creasy Jr. is currently not in the field.
Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Thomas took top honors when the Louisville, Ohio, resident covered the quarter-mile in 5.901 seconds at 243.24 mph. Beaver, Pa.'s Terry Munroe won the Friday "Last Man Standing" prize with a 5.947, putting him second. Tony Bogolo sits on the bump-spot.
"This is exactly where I wanted to be," Patrick said. "My engine builder Bob Ingles worked hard to get us here. He was out of commission with shoulder surgery for two weeks but he jumped right back in there and you see the results of his work. "We were just a little off in the tune-up tonight, so we may have let a little on the table tonight. We'll get back after it tomorrow and hopefully we will get even further than we did tonight. I am pleased with the start we are off to so far." Qualifying resumes at 9 a.m., with professional qualifying rounds three and four at 12 noon and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
Top Fuel 1 2813 Scotty Cannon, Lyman SC, Hadman-BAE 4.851
299.00 299.00 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 508 Jim Cavalieri, Omaha NE, Baungartne-TFX 15.615
59.37 59.37 Funny Car 1 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '05 Monte Carlo
4.863 307.23 307.23 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 1 Dale Creasy Jr., Beecher IL, '07 Monte Carlo
10.164 89.57 89.57 Pro Mod 1 1090 Raymond Commisso, Toronto ON, *'67 Camaro
6.102 233.96 233.96 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 44 Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '07 Mustang 10.371
81.65 81.65 Pro Stock 1 4 Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg VA, '07 Cobra
6.391 216.72 216.72 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 17 1 Pete Berner, Crete IL, '06 GTO 6.553 212.46
212.46 Alcohol Funny Car 1 1 Mark Thomas, Louisville OH, '07 Monte Carlo 5.901
243.20 243.20 |
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