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ACDelco Canadian Nationals, Toronto Motorsports
Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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IHRA ACDelco Canadian Nationals, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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The
latest results from the seventh stop on the 2004 IHRA Hooters Drag
Racing Series
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By Bobby Bennett Photos by Roger Richards, Bryan Epps, Bobby Bennett |
SUNDAY – Foley wins first career Top Fuel title; Janis, Sickles and Patrick also score wins
(8-1-2004) - IHRA Top Fuel rookie Doug Foley became the since driver in the class to win a national event in his first full season since Clay Millican first did it in 2000. The Sewell, NJ.-based driver had hoped for a day like this ever since he made the decision to graduate to Top Fuel from the sportsman ranks. Joining Foley in the winner’s circle was Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Jim Sickles (Funny Car) and Robert Patrick (Sunoco Pro Stock). Top Fuel was anybody’s race as Foley dodged a major bullet in the first round when three of the first top-half qualifiers were eliminated including point leader Clay Millican and second place Bruce Litton. His historic day began with a victory over Bobby Lagana, Jr. and then stopped Canadian Todd Paton. “It was a great accomplishment for our team in only its seventh time out,” said Foley. “To be able to do this kind of stuff is something we are very proud of. We built a good team from watching the good teams like the Millicans and Littons and we have been careful to follow in their footsteps. We want to be a quality team for the IHRA.”
Allison almost made it two in a row. Starting from the seventh spot on the eight-car grid, Allison started the day by taking out #2 qualifier Tim Cullinan and then won a rematch of the Milan finals by taking out Doc Sipple in the semis. In the final round, Foley used a quicker reaction time to build an early lead to take out Allison. His winning lap was a 4.854, 305.22. The Pro Modified final whittled down to a driver that has probably logged as many if not more runs than anyone in the class. Lancaster, New York’s Mike Janis has raced at the track for almost three decades and for the first time in his career, captured a national event victory at Toronto Motorsports Park. “I had to travel a whole hour to win this race,” explained Janis. “This is the shortest distance we’ve ever had to travel for a national event victory. We usually take a flop at the local races for our fans. This weekend it worked out for the best.”
Janis used a quicker reaction time and pulled away from low qualifier Billy Harper in the final round. The Eaton-sponsored Janis snagged .01 out of the gate and pulled away at the finish line with a 6.258, 227.19. Harper slowed to a 6.491, 216.83. Janis entered eliminations as the third quickest entry and stopped such notables as Carl Spiering, point leader Harold Martin and Ed Hoover. On the other side of the ladder, Harper, who recorded the second quickest nitrous run in history with a 6.165 on Saturday evening, opened the day with a win over Mike Stawicki, then moved past defending World Champion Mitch Stott and Quain Stott for the opportunity to meet Janis.
“Thomas and Atchison have had quite a war going on this year,” explained Sickles. “Thomas has been notorious for his holeshots this year so I knew I had to be on my game. We had a good weekend even though we started behind the eight ball.” Sickles, who is tuned by nitro veteran Tom Anderson, entered eliminations as the 11th quickest. The Caledonia, NY.-based driver eliminated Vince Rastelli, Trevor Lebsack and Terry Munroe.
For his part, Thomas eliminated Mike Comella, Neal Parker and Atchison. In Sunoco Pro Stock, Patrick used a holeshot to lead point leader John Montecalvo all the way to the stripe with a slower 6.550, 213.50. Montecalvo absorbed the loss despite a quicker 6.533, 215.03. Patrick’s ninth career victory fell one month shy of an event eighth years. The Purvis Ford/Easy Care-sponsored driver from Fredericksburg, Va., registered his previous IHRA Sunoco Pro Stock national event victory during the 1996 World Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. “It feels really good to come up here and win,” Patrick said. “The IHRA put on a heck of a race this weekend in overcoming all the rain that fell. I couldn’t be happier than I am today. “Jon Kaase and his guys have given me a good car to race with. This Jerry Haas car was working flawless. We worked hard this weekend, my crew did a great job, and we end up being the most consistent car out there. That was the name of the game when it came to winning this weekend.” Patrick methodically worked his way through the finals as he entered eliminations as the 13th quickest qualifier. He took out a quicker qualified Tony Gillig in the first round and Larry O’Brien in the finals. Patrick beat Ron Miller to advance to the finals. Montecalvo was on a tear throughout eliminations. He opened the day by establishing a new Toronto Motorsports Park track record with a 6.518, 214.83 to take out Richard Penland. He then eliminated Pete Berner and Mike Bell. The next event on the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series is in two weeks in Martin, Mich. Sunday's final results from the Third annual ACDelco Canadian
Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. The $1.1 million race is
the seventh of 12 in the 2004 Hooters IHRA
SPORTSMAN FINALS
Final round-by-round results from the Third annual ACDelco
Canadian Nationals at TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- Doug Foley, 4.810, 301.54 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 6.066, 151.41; John Sipple, 4.910, 293.79 def. Bruce Litton, 4.867, 296.24; Louie Allison, 5.012, 232.79 def. Tim Cullinan, 6.288, 153.60; Todd Paton, 5.159, 255.10 def. Clay Millican, 6.830, 124.84; SEMIFINALS -- Allison, 4.874, 292.90 def. Sipple, 5.496,
189.52; Foley, 5.460, 183.29 def. FINAL -- Foley, 4.854, 305.22 def. Allison, 6.125, 148.67.
ROUND ONE -- Pat Moore, Chevy Bel Air, 6.372, 223.50 def. Rick DiStefano, Chevy Corvette, 6.376, 224.77; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.293, 225.07 def. Al Billes, Corvette, 6.413, 225.41; Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.239, 226.54 def. Steve Vick, Chevy Camaro, 6.316, 223.69; Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.450, 224.32 def. Mike Stawicki, Corvette, 6.907, 219.72; Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.224, 229.12 def. Carl Spiering, Corvette, 6.337, 223.91; Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.296, 227.69 def. Fred Hahn, Corvette, 6.374, 227.15; Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.274, 227.31 def. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.275, 224.32; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.294, 225.00 def. Glen Kerunsky, Bel Air, 6.345, 223.80; QUARTERFINALS -- Q. Stott, 6.354, 226.58 def. Castellana, 9.846, 94.99; Hoover, 6.753, 158.99 def. Moore, foul; Harper, 6.253, 227.57 def. M. Stott, 6.356, 226.62; Janis, 6.212, 229.47 def. Martin, 6.216, 228.54; SEMIFINALS -- Harper, 6.265, 220.44 def. Q. Stott, 6.345,
227.65; Janis, 6.254, 224.55 def. FINAL -- Janis, 6.258, 227.19 def. Harper, 6.491, 216.83.
ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.844, 240.81 def. Mike Etter, Firebird, 6.141, 227.88; George McNeil, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.031, 227.73 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 10.690, 78.07; Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 6.000, 232.91 def. Fred Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 10.870, 79.16; Neal Parker, Camaro, 6.027, 231.83 def. Bunny Burkett, Dodge Avenger, 6.363, 177.39; Mark Thomas, Avenger, 5.866, 240.17 def. Joe Comella, Firebird, 5.981, 235.39; Terry Munroe, Firebird, 5.879, 238.89 def. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.900, 236.67; Terry McMillen, Avenger, 5.950, 237.30 def. Jeff Burnett, Firebird, 5.947, 233.92; Jim Sickles, Avenger, 5.870, 236.13 def. Vincent Rastelli, Corvette, foul; QUARTERFINALS -- Atchison, 5.882, 240.94 def. McMillen, 6.017, 205.82; Thomas, 5.866, 241.15 def. Parker, 13.037, 88.37; Sickles, 5.891, 239.40 def. Lebsack, 6.029, 232.75; Munroe, 12.928, 94.21 def. McNeil, broke; SEMIFINALS -- Thomas, 5.901, 238.55 def. Atchison, 5.884, 241.24; Sickles, 5.934, 238.93 def. Munroe, 5.920, 239.31; FINAL -- Sickles, 5.952, 238.81 def. Thomas, 5.947, 240.04.
ROUND ONE -- Ron Miller, Chevy Cavalier, 6.611, 210.83 def. Chuck DeMory, Ford Escort, 6.570, 212.86; Pete Berner, Ford Mustang, 6.568, 211.96 def. Frank Gugliotta, Escort, foul; John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.575, 211.39 def. Steve Spiess, Cavalier, broke; Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.576, 211.33 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.524, 212.83; Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.528, 213.87 def. Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.651, 208.75; Robert Patrick, Mustang, 6.548, 212.39 def. Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.574, 212.39; Mike Bell, ZX2, 6.564, 212.26 def. Rick Jones, Stratus, 6.566, 212.79; John Montecalvo, Cavalier, 6.518, 214.83 def. Richard Penland, Mustang, foul; QUARTERFINALS -- Bell, 6.549, 213.37 def. Nobile, 6.594, 212.23; Patrick, 6.578, 211.03 def. O'Brien, 6.610, 212.26; Miller, 6.594, 212.16 def. Gahm, foul; Montecalvo, 6.534, 214.42 def. Berner, 6.573, 212.90; SEMIFINALS -- Patrick, 6.547, 212.93 def. Miller, 6.603, 211.73; Montecalvo, 13.044, 80.02 def. Bell, foul; FINAL -- Patrick, 6.550, 213.50 def. Montecalvo, 6.533, 215.03.
SUNDAY NOTES – More on Lagana’s wing damage, Upsets Galore and Monte’s Haulin’
(8-1-2004) - Seven Year Itch? - When Sunoco Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick made the announcement to return to active competition after running NHRA Pro Stock for six years, he hoped for a return of his glory days. Just one month shy of being eight years since his last IHRA Sunoco Pro Stock victory, Patrick reached the final round of this weekend's event. "I'm enjoying this a lot," explained Patrick. "We wanted to do well in our first season back and this is great for my family and crew. The class has advanced since the last time we ran it actively, and it has taken us a little while to get up to speed." Patrick's last IHRA final round came in 1996 during the IHRA World Nationals in 1986. Twilight Zone Moment (and not Bobby Lagana) - The Top Fuel division can sometimes attract some unique individuals. Case in point, while cleaning a carbon fiber part on the car, a spectator approached one of Bruce Litton's crew, looked him in the eye and uttered, "You know where carbon fiber came from don't you?" The puzzled crewmember looked at race fan, who had a solemn look on his face responded, "The aliens." The crewman did a double take and apparently gave the gentleman a wierd look that elicited a confirmation from the fan. "It was the aliens and it came off of one of their space ships." And just to think, the mono strut wing is considered to be a man-made device. Double-Double-Triple? – Good things come in twos usually for Jack Ostrander’s Top Fuel team. For the third time since 1987, Team Ostrander produced back-to-back final round appearances. Ostrander did it as a driver in 1987 finishing runner-up in Rockingham and then winning Bristol. Team driver Louis Allison in addition to performing the feat in 2004, also did it in 2001 with a pair of runner-ups to Clay Millican.
Upon further review – Bobby Lagana, Jr., and his crew originally diagnosed the damage to their car following the personal best 4.8-second as tire failure, which inevitably led led to their wing strut demise. Further investigation has changed their minds. After sharing the data with other crewchiefs, it is now believed that the wing struts collapsed putting undue stress on the tires and forcing them to blister. Lagana actually lifted early on that run and that’s what some speculate prevented him from experiencing the same fate as Bruce Litton earlier in the season. Top of the ladder blues – That was the tune being sung in the first round of the Sunoco Pro Stock division. Five of the eight first round matches were won by slower qualified cars. Among those first round victims were Tony Gillig (Robert Patrick), Elijah Morton (Larry O’Brien), Frank Gugliotta (Pete Berner), Rick Jones (Mike Bell) and Steve Spiess (John Nobile). Monte Haulin’ – Sunoco Pro Stock racer John Montecalvo had the competition seeing “Bowties” as he shattered the track record on both ends in his first round victory over Richard Penland. Not only did Montecalvo dish out a .004 reaction time, but he also laid down a 6.518 at 214.83. The previous elapsed time mark was held by Brian Gahm with a 6.524. Montecalvo held the speed record mark with a 213.64. As the points leader, Montecalvo gained a few breaks as second place Elijah Morton and third ranked Brian Gahm fell in the early rounds.
Oh Canada – It didn’t take long for Canada to bow out of Pro Modified competition. All three qualified Canadian Pro Modified racers lost in the first round. In two out of three races, the Canadian drivers were the quicker qualified. Rick DiStefano was the first to bow out as Pat Moore snagged the victory. Al Billes shook the tires and that was enough for Ed Hoover to slip by. The only lower qualified driver in the trio was Carl Spiering and he fell to Mike Janis in an all-Eaton battle. A fourth Canadian driver entered the mix when Glen Kerunsky was inserted as an alternate when Mike Lockwood failed to make the first round call. Kerunsky was eliminated by Mike Castellana in the first round. Head-to-head – In three of the four head-to-head first round battles between the nitrous and supercharged cars, the bottle rockets emerged victorious. Ironically, the only loss belonged to Shannon Jenkins, the driver well-known for his nitrous prowess. What the Doc ordered – Who says destiny is one-shot affair? For Top Fuel racer John “Doc” Sipple, he entered this weekend’s ACDelco Canadian Nationals hoping for a bit of the same magic that led him to the final round two weeks ago in Milan, Mich. One of those memorable races was stopping Bruce Litton in the semi-finals. Sipple rekindled those memories in the first round as he outreacted Litton and advanced to the semi-finals. Louie, Louie – Just one race after scoring his first-ever national event in Milan, evidently Denver, Co.-based Top Fuel driver Louie Allison decided that he wasn’t finished with the celebration quite yet. In the first round, Allison stopped the quicker qualified “Turbo” Tim Cullinan. The interesting part of his victory is that is set up a rematch of the final round in Milan against “Doc” Sipple. Milli Cant Today – Just as the underdogs were starting to growl in the first round of Top Fuel, IHRA Top Fuel’s winningest driver Clay Millican is starting to wonder where his bite has gone. Up until two weekends ago, Millican had won six national events in a row. His weekend ended in a flurry of tiresmoke against Canadian Todd Paton in the first round. The Fabulous Paone Boys – One of the Sunoco Pro Stock teams flying under the radar all day weekend was Toronto’s Paone Brothers with driver Ron Miller. After slipping into the field in the eighth spot, Miller methodically took out Chuck DeMory and Brian Gahm in the semi-finals. |
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| Billy Harper put his nitrous Pro Modified deep into the teens. |
(7-31-2004) - Rob Atchison claimed the No. 1 Funny Car qualifying position Saturday during the Third Annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. Atchison, of London, Ontario, covered the quarter-mile in 5.862 seconds at 240.29 mph to claim the top spot for the second consecutive season.
Other No. 1 qualifiers include Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn.,
(Top Fuel); Billy Harper,
Paducah, Ky., (Pro Modified); and Brian Gahm, Lucasville, Ohio,
(Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock).
In Funny Car, Atchison, who started the day in the fifth spot,
jumped to No. 1 with a 5.862,
240.29. The reigning world champion is followed by Welland, Ontario's
Larry Dobbs. Fred Tigges is third and Neal Parker fourth. Atchison
was the No. 1 qualifier in 2003, as well as the
defending event winner. Mike Etter qualified on the bump spot with
a 6.121.
Top Fuel points leader Millican used his Friday night 4.633-second
run to hold his No. 1
qualifying position. The three-time reigning world champion is followed
by Tim Cullinan, Bruce
Litton and Doug Foley. Paris, Ontario-native Todd Paton qualified
eighth with a 5.170.
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| Clay Millican's Friday run was enough to conquer both days of qualifying. |
In Pro Modified, Harper took the top spot with a 6.165, 229.00
to break the track ET record. He is trailed by Rick DiStefano, Mike
Janis and defending event winner Mike Castellana. Mike
Stawicki is qualified sixteenth with a 6.324 ET.
Gahm qualified No. 1 with a 6.525, 213.50, resetting the track
ET record. John Montecalvo, of
Center Moriches, N.Y., is second, running a track speed record 213.64.
Rick Jones is third and Tony Gillig fourth. Carl Baker, qualified
No. 16, covered the quartermile in 6.633 seconds.
Ontario's Larry O'Brien qualified twelfth and John Konigshofer missed
the cut.
Eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m. for the ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. Final round is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Third annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the seventh of 12 events in the 2004 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 4.633 seconds,
308.85 mph vs. 8. Todd Paton, 5.170,
276.86; 2. Tim Cullinan, 4.728, 317.05 vs. 7. Louie Allison, 5.097,
263.00; 3. Bruce Litton,
4.792, 296.31 vs. 6. John Sipple, 5.049, 250.37; 4. Doug Foley,
4.807, 304.67 vs. 5. Bobby
Lagana Jr., 4.820, 296.57.
Pro Modified -- 1. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper,
6.165, 229.00 vs. 16. Mike Stawicki,
Chevy Corvette, 6.324, 223.47; 2. Rick DiStefano, Corvette, 6.174,
229.08 vs. 15. Pat Moore,
Chevy Bel Air, 6.320, 223.73; 3. Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.211, 229.00
vs. 14. Carl Spiering,
Corvette, 6.316, 224.77; 4. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 6.212,
227.46 vs. 13. Mike Lockwood, Corvette, 6.303, 220.91; 5. Fred Hahn,
Corvette, 6.218, 228.38 vs. 12. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.303, 226.39;
6. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.221, 225.63 vs. 11. Steve
Vick, Camaro, 6.280, 224.81; 7. Al Billes, Corvette, 6.226, 227.80
vs. 10. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.270, 228.50; 8. Shannon Jenkins,
Camaro, 6.237, 224.73 vs. 9. Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.267, 227.31.
Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird,
5.862, 240.29 vs. 16. Mike Etter,
Firebird, 6.121, 229.00; 2. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.913,
239.19 vs. 15. George McNeil, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.102, 233.52;
3. Fred Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 5.914, 240.42 vs. 14. Trevor Lebsack,
Ford Mustang, 6.076, 233.03; 4. Neal Parker, Camaro, 5.931, 236.67
vs. 13. Bunny Burkett, Dodge Avenger, 6.049, 236.51; 5. Mark Thomas,
Avenger, 5.937, 237.42 vs. 12. Joe Comella, Firebird, 6.028, 229.82;
6. Paul Noakes, Mustang, 5.948, 240.25 vs. 11. Jim Sickles, Avenger,
6.011, 237.59; 7. Terry Munroe, Firebird, 5.967, 239.14 vs. 10.
Dave Ray, Mustang, 6.007, 235.60; 8. Jeff Burnett, Firebird, 5.999,
236.13 vs. 9. Terry McMillen, Avenger, 6.002, 233.92.
Pro Stock -- 1. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.525,
213.50 vs. 16. Carl Baker, Mercury
Cougar, 6.633, 210.31; 2. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.529,
213.64 vs. 15. Richard
Penland, Mustang, 6.632, 211.36; 3. Rick Jones, Dodge Stratus, 6.560,
212.26 vs. 14. Mike Bell, Ford ZX2, 6.614, 211.56; 4. Tony Gillig,
Mustang, 6.568, 211.73 vs. 13. Robert Patrick,
Mustang, 6.599, 211.10; 5. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.571, 212.26
vs. 12. Larry O'Brien,
Stratus, 6.597, 211.20; 6. Steve Spiess, Cavalier, 6.573, 211.76
vs. 11. John Nobile, ZX2,
6.593, 211.33; 7. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.577, 211.99 vs.
10. Pete Berner, Mustang,
6.586, 210.97; 8. Ron Miller, Cavalier, 6.581, 210.93 vs. 9. Chuck
DeMory, Escort, 6.584,
212.53.
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SATURDAY NOTES - DeMory - the out of work comedian, Lagana goes deep in the 4.80s and Stark holding on at 7th...
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| Sunoco Pro Stock racer Chuck DeMory might want to challenge Mike Tyson sometime soon. |
(7-31-2004) - Oh Man - Nitrous-injected Pro Modified racer Billy Harper displayed a flair for the dramatic. During the final session, the Paducah, Ky.-based driver was in danger of a DNQ until he reeled off the quickest nitrous pass in Toronto Motorsports Park history with a 6.165, 229.00. The run vaulted him to the top of the qualifying order. It also marked the second quickest nitrous run in history.
The Clown Prince – Sunoco Pro Stock racer Chuck DeMory has a storied past or at least that’s the yarn he spins. DeMory, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., admits that one of his past occupations while in college was that of a comedian. How funny were his jokes?
“The fraternities used to pay me $25 and a free meal to come into a party and entertain the crowd,” explained DeMory. “Of course, they’d always point out one person that I was supposed to razz and I’d bring a pair of panties and toss them at the guy and tell them it was his girlfriend’s. I would venture to say that often got me on the bad side of a person or two.”
DeMory’s antics often got him on the bad side of a muscle-sporting jock. He pointed out that he never got beat up.
“There was always that one guy that had the letter jacket and he would invite me outside to discuss things,” admitted DeMory. “Of course, I’d wait until he had his arms tied up in the jacket and I’d work him over.”
While DeMory may have been well-known as a comedian, he rarely pointed out to his clients that he was a proficient boxer that scored many wins before he reached college. He also knocked out a few jocks as well.
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| Bobby Lagana, Jr., ran his quickest-ever Top Fuel pass, but it was suspected that the car chunked the tires so bad that shrapnel broke part of the wing struts. |
Only a mother could love it - “It’s a good thing it is lucky because it sure is ugly.” IHRA announcer Aaron Polburn commenting on Donna Baker’s “lucky hat” that she religiously wears to the starting line every time husband Carl Baker makes a run in the family’s Sunoco Pro Stocker.
Hey Dude, I got a shirt – One of the promotions that the IHRA conducts before each event affords one lucky winner from a local radio station the opportunity to serve as an honorary crewmember and take home the uniform during one day of the event. The ACDelco Canadian Nationals contest was conducted by London, Ontario’s 96 FM and the winner was Laurent Bizier.
When in Egypt, walk like an Egyptian – One of the trademarks for former IHRA Funny Car World Champion Carol “Bunny” Burkett since the September 11th tragedy has been to do a burnout with an American flag affixed to the top of her Funny Car. Since the IHRA is competing north of the border, Burkett replaced her stars and bars with the Canadian flag.
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| Bobby Lagana, Jr.'s slick after only five runs . |
Way to go Bobby – Well known independent Top Fuel racer Bobby Lagana, Jr., continues to ride a wave of personal success. During the second qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, Lagana recorded a personal best with a 4.820, 296.57. Part of his climb up the performance ladder can be attributed to his implementation of an on-board computer just two events ago and the replacing of his cast iron block with a more durable billet block. The scary part of the scenario is that Lagana chunked the tire in the lights and damaged part of the wing. Peter Lehman and the Werner Enterprises team loaned Lagana a wing for Sunday's eliminations.
Fingers crossed – For those fans of the injected-nitro combination with nitrous oxide, Keith Stark stands prepared to possibly make drag racing history. Stark was qualified seventh with a 5.589, 222.22 headed into the final session. He was bumped out in the night session.
A Good Cause - John McIntyre from Hydro Vac was trying to raise money this weekend for Ryan MacPherson. MacPherson, of nearby Selkirk, Ontario has Cystic Fibrosis and is need of a double lung transplant. McIntyre and Hydro Vac, already a Toronto Motorsports Park and local racer sponsor, decided to get behind Ryan when they heard that he was no longer eligible for coverage under his parent’s insurance policy because he had reached 21 years of age. They started by donating $4,000 towards a weekend goal of $15,000 and offered to match all of the other contributions received on a dollar for dollar basis. By the end of the first day the fund already stood at $6,000 collected.
50% - That's not the percentage being contemplated for nitromethane percentage in the Top Fuel cars, but rather the number of cars in the qualified field that has accumulated a black flag penalty after two sessions. In fact, two of those black flags came during Friday's first session in one side-by-side qualifying run.
SATURDAY – Nothing like a memorabilia show on a rainy day
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| This was a fun diversion to the rain on Saturday morning. |
(7-31-2004) - Canadian drag racing photo journalist Rob Potter has more than his share of memories related to Toronto Motorsports Park, formerly known as Cayuga Motorsports Park. With the 50th anniversary of the drag strip alive and well in 2004, Potter decided it was time to share his memories or at least the ones he was able to procure from fellow fans and captured on his trusty camera. The end result was a well-prepared memorabilia show located on Kohler Road, the highway leading into the track.
With rain pelting the racing schedule for much of the morning, we found it to be the opportune time to visit the show. There’s no fee, except a subtle request for donations to help defray expenses.
“We had a longtime track announcer die last year and it hit me like a ton of bricks that we really needed to do something to preserve this history,” explained Potter. “Fifty years is a long time and a lot of people have gone down this track. I eventually worked my way into taking over the historical project and I immediately conferred with the other historians.”
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| Show organizer and promoter Rob Potter. |
Potter took his mission to the Internet and put the word out that he needed memorabilia to complete his project. He also put more than a few miles on his vehicle traveling the province in search of those hard-to-find items.
“I was borrowing things, scanning and returning them,” added Potter. “Finally, I got everything stored on my computer. Everything in our show in computer generated. It’s a hobby out of control.”
Potter has been going to the Cayuga drags since 1969, but assumed the role as track photographer in 1986, a role he still proudly retains. He first began pursuing photography in 1974.
“I’ve got a lot of stuff on my own and a lot of stuff has been graciously generated,” explained Potter.
Potter hopes to bring his show to the tower at Toronto Motorsports Park in the near future. His plan is to highlight one figure of the track each year.
“We want to address the history of the track,” explained Potter. “Fifty years is a long time for anything, especially a drag strip…and, in Canada…nonetheless.”
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| One of the neat displays was the model of the tower and the scale models of the cars that ran at Cayuga. |
FRIDAY - Clay Millican Leads IHRA Top Fuel Qualifying at ACDelco Canadian Nationals
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| Fred Hahn jumped to the top of Pro Modified qualifying . |
(7-30-2004) - Clay Millican holds the No. 1 Top
Fuel qualifying position at the Third Annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals
at Toronto Motorsports Park. Millican, of Drummonds,
Tenn., covered the quarter-mile in 4.633 seconds at 308.85 mph.
Other No. 1 qualifiers include Fred Hahn, Elma, N.Y., (Pro Modified);
Neal Parker, Millville,
N.J., (Funny Car); and Brian Gahm, Lucasville, Ohio, (Sunoco Race
Fuels Pro Stock).
Current Top Fuel points leader and three-time defending world champion Millican looks to begin another win streak after his was broken two weeks ago at Milan Dragway. He had won the first five events of the year. Bruce Litton is second, Tim Cullinan third and "Doc' John Sipple fourth.
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| Neal Parker surprised the Funny Car contingent by claiming the provisional pole. |
Hahn qualified No. 1 with a 6.228 ET at 227.42 mph. He is trailed
by Rick DiStefano, current
points leader Harold Martin and Barrie, Ontario's Al Billes. Quain
Stott sits on the bump spot
with a 6.499.
In Funny Car, Parker ran a 5.931 ET to jump to the No. 1 qualifying position. Terry Munroe is second, Terry McMillen third and current points leader Mark Thomas fourth. Reigning world champion Rob Atchison, London, Ont., is fifth with a 6.087.
Defending Sunoco Pro Stock world champion Gahm holds the No. 1 spot with a 6.554 ET at 212.76 mph. He is followed by current points leader John Montecalvo, whose 212.93 mph pass reset the track speed record. Elijah Morton is third and Chuck DeMory fourth. Ontario competitors Larry O'Brien, of Lakeshore, and John Konigshofer, of Otterville, are eleventh and fifteenth respectively. Chuck Samuel sits at the No. 16 bump spot with a 6.696.
Qualifying for the ACDelco Canadian Nationals resumes Saturday
at 2 p.m. Final eliminations
begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
Results Friday after qualifying for the Third annual ACDelco
Canadian Nationals
at Toronto Motorsports Park, seventh of 12 events in the 2004 Hooters
IHRA Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's
final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 4.633 seconds, 308.85
mph; 2. Bruce Litton, 4.905, 294.37; 3. Tim Cullinan, 4.925, 279.21;
4. John Sipple, 5.049, 250.37; 5. Todd Paton, 5.170, 276.86; 6.
Rick Cooper, 5.857, 167.78; 7. Bobby Lagana Jr., 5.862, 195.85;
8. Chris Karamesines, 6.510, 135.28.
Pro Modified -- 1. Fred Hahn, Chevy Corvette, 6.228,
227.42; 2. Rick DiStefano,
Corvette, 6.230, 228.42; 3. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.251,
224.85; 4. Al Billes,
Corvette, 6.261, 225.67; 5. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 6.272,
226.24; 6. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.288, 222.33; 7. Mike Janis,
Corvette, 6.309, 224.10; 8. Pat Moore, Chevy Bel Air, 6.320, 222.55;
9. Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.333, 226.62; 10. Carl Spiering, Corvette,
6.356, 224.77; 11. Mike Lockwood, Corvette, 6.357, 220.91; 12. Ed
Hoover, Corvette, 6.364, 224.70; 13. Glen Kerunsky, Bel Air, 6.396,
220.19; 14. Paul Athey, Corvette, 6.406, 222.51; 15. Tony Pontieri,
Camaro, 6.464, 221.13; 16. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.499, 224.55.
Funny Car -- 1. Neal Parker, Chevy Camaro, 5.931,
236.67; 2. Terry Munroe, Pontiac
Firebird, 5.967, 239.14; 3. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 6.018,
232.47; 4. Mark Thomas,
Avenger, 6.023, 236.51; 5. Rob Atchison, Firebird, 6.087, 235.15;
6. Jeff Burnett, Firebird,
6.102, 231.71; 7. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 6.130, 235.06; 8.
George McNeil, Oldsmobile
Cutlass, 6.135, 229.20; 9. Mike Etter, Firebird, 6.139, 228.58;
10. Fred Tigges, Camaro, 6.196, 229.47; 11. Bunny Burkett, Avenger,
6.252, 231.32; 12. Paul Zgoda, Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.456, 222.99;
13. Dave Ray, Ford Mustang, 6.491, 220.22; 14. Trevor Lebsack, Mustang,
6.509, 225.52; 15. Joe Comella, Firebird, 6.522, 224.51; 16. Jim
Sickles, Avenger, 9.756, 90.56.
Pro Stock -- 1. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.554, 212.76;
2. John Montecalvo, Chevy
Cavalier, 6.557, 212.93; 3. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.572, 211.79;
4. Chuck DeMory, Ford Escort, 6.593, 212.43; 5. Pete Berner, Mustang,
6.596, 209.92; 6. Robert Patrick, Mustang, 6.599, 210.60; 7. Tony
Gillig, Mustang, 6.605, 210.93; 8. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.612,
210.47; 9. Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.613, 211.63; 10. Mike Bell,
ZX2, 6.614, 211.56; 11. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.628, 210.60;
12. Rick Jones, Stratus, 6.632, 210.57; 13. Carl Baker, Mercury
Cougar, 6.633, 209.98; 14. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.637, 210.77; 15.
John Konigshofer, Cougar, 6.684, 210.05; 16. Chuck Samuel, ZX2,
6.696, 208.42.
FRIDAY NOTES – Rain Canadian Style, Real Pit Notes and Burnett’s border-crossing adventure…
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| Rain invaded Friday's qualifying. |
(7-30-2004) - That stinking rain – Just shortly after noon, Toronto Motorsports Park was hit with a rainstorm. While the rain subsided two hours later, much of the time following has been spent trying to dry the top end of the track. In fact, the track dryer ran completely out of fuel (that’s 300 gallons) and officials were forced to use rental cars driving up and down the top end of the track until the dryer returned. Officials are estimating that the action will resume by 6:30 PM, EST.
Pits are tough, but the crapper’s fine – The continual refinements of Toronto Motorsports Park appear to be taking place, but many of the professional racers in the pits are disappointed that paving the pits are listing lower on the importance scale. Last year, many of the teams had problems as their rigs began to literally sink in the pits. The problem is still there.
This year the spectator bathrooms have rated a perfect ten as graded by many of the racers. Their assessments of the professional pits are, well…the pits.
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| The new bathrooms at Toronto Motorsports Park are some of the nicest in all of drag racing. (Bottom) The pit area has drawn the ire of many professional teams. A member of Bobby Lagana's crew tries to level out his pit space. |
“I think the bathrooms are awesome, but they aren’t large enough for everyone to work there,” explained Lagana. “It’s kind of hard to put your $150,000 racecar on the jacks when you are on two and three foot waves of asphalt. You can’t warm it up too safely.”
Lagana and a score of other racers are crossing their fingers that the new management will keep the racers in mind for next year’s event.
“They have done well getting other areas of the track up to speed, but it’s been three years and hopefully they can do something with the pits. I remember Cayuga from twenty years ago when I was a kid. It’s a big improvement over then, but we’ve been coming here and we’ve built up a solid fan base here. Hopefully, they’ll start putting the money into the pits in the future.”
That is certainly the plan according to IHRA President Bill Bader. He feels the problem will be resolved in time for next year's event, but it's going to require a massive undertaking. Bader added that what couldn't be seen is the massive amount of drainage work, better water distribution, improvements to the racing surface and other cosmetic enhancements. The team at Toronto Motorsports Park just ran out of time was Bader's assessment.
Back in the Saddle Again – Pro Modified racer Scott Ray admits that he has a few butterflies about competing in this weekend’s event, and with good reason. In his last outing, an NHRA Pro Modified event in St. Louis, Ray took a wild ride through the sand-trap and it could have left him with some serious injuries.
As Ray hit the catch-net, the safety device ripped the injector hat from the Ohio Crankshaft-sponsored entry and sent it flying through the windshield of his Corvette.
“I am somewhat apprehensive about getting back out there,” admitted Ray. “But, we have done a lot of work and replaced a lot of parts. We have a new supercharger, hat and a little different tune-up. Hopefully, we can get back to where we need to be.
“It did quite a bit of damage to the car, especially on the front end. This weekend, we essentially have a new fuel system except for the pump. It knocked all the bracings out of the windshield. It required a lot of parts.”
How much damage did it do to the driver?
“It hurt my ego, and that’s about it,” Ray responded.
Captain Calamity - Steve Spiess has experienced more problems in the last two events than he would ever hope for. Just two weeks ago, Spiess brushed the wall at Milan Dragway when his steering wheel came off just shortly after shifting his Sunoco Pro Stocker into second. On his first qualifying attempt in Cayuga, Spiess had the misfortune of shearing the wheel studs on the starting line. He believes this was caused by parts fatigue brought on by possibly overtightening too many times. Spiess pointed out that he now has a new policy that all must now be tightened by hand.
Leverich Leverage - Two weeks ago, injected-nitro racer Keith Stark made exhibition runs with his Top Fueler lobbying for the legalization of nitrous oxide. The IHRA approved the use of nitrous oxide and on this weekend Stark was joined by Bob Leverich in running the laughing gas.
 |
| There's nothing like showing off your new potato gun to your friends. |
The word gets around – Walking through the checkout line at the local A&P supermarket the cashier noticed the shirt of Sunoco Pro Stock racer Pete Berner and inquired, “You’re not with that Nobile team are you?”
Don’t laugh, true story – IHRA Funny Car racer Jeff Burnett loves the idea of winning national events in Canada, it is just the getting home part that kills him. The native Australian, who is in the United States on a work visa, found out the hard way what happens when one's work visa expires and the necessary paperwork is not properly fulfilled.
Burnett admits that if the story wasn’t true that he’d roll in the floor laughing. He would probably laugh even harder if the story wasn’t about him. Burnett, the winner of the IHRA event in Edmonton, was denied re-entry into the U.S. following the event due to an expired work visa.
“My visa had expired on the 30th of June and I had been talking to immigration attorneys about getting it renewed,” explained Burnett. “I was led to believe before I left for the event that everything had been taken care of. I was told that my receipts would be enough to get me through.”
Burnett had reportedly already spent $10,000 in application and attorney fees before he left the United States. When Burnett attempted to cross the border to return to the U.S., the red flags went up. Burnett was then instructed that he could apply for a premium application, which would speed up the process to just 15 days. It also cost an extra $1000.
Burnett’s lawyers, one working at $150 per hour and another at $260, fumbled the ball on the ensuing process. When the applications were filed, they were filed under McKinney Corp., the company that Burnett originally partnered with another individual. Burnett now runs a composite company named Composite Specialties.
“In the Toronto interview, the officials wanted to know who McKinney was,” Burnett added. “That started another comedy of errors. Needless to say, they refused me again in Toronto.”
Burnett had to pay another $1000 fee to get a meeting in the consulate. Initially, his meeting wasn’t going to take place until August. Burnett had to retain another attorney that visits the consulate every day.
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| Top Sportsman racer Randy Primozic got out of shape on the starting line during the first round of qualifying . |
“We did that because he knows a lot of people and hoped that we could get a meeting there soon,” added Burnett. “They wanted to initially send me back to Australia on the 30th because when I initially crossed the border the Canadians failed to stamp my passport. I had to get my attorney to call the proper officials to get it all straightened out.
“After they got all the paper work on my trailer and a hotel invoice in Edmonton taken care of, I finally got my meeting in the consulate,” Burnett continued. “I walked up to the window and the lady stamped my pass and in 30 seconds I was on my way.”
Lightning Strikes Twice? – The old adage may suggest that, but one might rethink that if they were watching first round qualifying for Super Stock. Michael Beard, driving his Loctite-sponsored SS/BX Camaro, and Billy Leber, behind the wheel of a SS/AM Chevrolet S-10, both recorded perfect .000 reaction times. According to Scooter Peaco, IHRA’s race director, this is the first time he can recall this happening in the Super Stock division. During Sunday's elimination, Beard reeled off another perfect reaction in Sundays eliminations behind the wheel of his Stocker.
What Comes Around – Earlier in the year, team owner Steve Thodos was prepared to withdraw from competition when he and drive Frank Gugliotta hurt their only motor. That’s when fellow Sunoco Pro Stock racer Pete Berner stepped forward and offered his spare motor.
Two weeks ago in Milan, Mich., when John Nobile wounded his engine, it was Thodos that stepped forward with his spare.
“I hate to see anyone down,” Thodos added. “He’s got his engine back, but if he needs it again, we have it in our trailer.”
