IHRA ACDelco Canadian Nationals
Toronto Motorsports Park, Cayuga, Ontario
By Brian Wood; Photos by Chris Simmons, Brian Wood, Bobby Bennett Jr. and Bryan Epps

SUNDAY FINAL - Foley Defends Title in Toronto; Atchison, Spiering and Spiess Also Victorious at Record-Setting Event

(7-31-2005) - Last season Doug Foley won the first of his three rookie year Ironmen at Toronto Motorsports Park. This year he won his first in Toronto again.

Foley (Sewell, N.J.) defeated Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Ind.) in the Top Fuel final to claim his first Hooters IHRA national event victory of the season and fourth of his career at the ACDelco Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. He also passed Litton in the world championship points standings and has his sights set on Drummonds, Tenn. Resident Clay Millican, IHRA Top Fuel’s top gun.

He is 13 points ahead of Litton and 137 behind Millican.

“We don’t give up, we stay focused on winning round by round,” Foley said. “That’s our job. A lot of things have to happen for us to be able to come up on Clay, but we intend to put pressure on him. He has a great team over there and they have a lot of experience. They have eight or nine full-time crew guys and that’s a big advantage over most other pro teams. They are a world-class team.”

Foley was the #1 qualifier at the ACDelco Canadian Nationals, the third time he has claimed the top post this season. He defeated Louie Allison (Denver, Colo.) in the first round and teammate Rick Cooper (Boise, Id.) in the semifinals to advance to the championship. In the run for the Ironman Litton shook his tires at the 330-foot mark and lifted out of the run, enabling Foley to cruise to the championship with a 4.795/299.13 pass.

The weather in Toronto was tricky for Foley’s Crew Chief, Doug Kuch, to figure out.

“When the sun is on the track for 15 hours the first round really tells a lot,” Foley said. “The guy that finds the tune-up to get him down a hot, greasy track means he doesn’t really have to change anything. We didn’t even change the tires, and we have never, ever not changed the tires during a race. But we left the same set of tires on it all day. Doug picked at it here and there with a few little timing changes, but it wasn’t broke. Why fix it?”

Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) was another driver who didn’t tinker much with his set-up or car Sunday, and he took home his second career Torco Race Fuels Pro Mod Ironman as a result. Spiering’s ’63 Corvette ran more like a bracket car through the elimination rounds. He clocked a 6.167 in his first round bye, a 6.222 in the quarterfinals against Harold Martin (West Bloomfield, Mich.), a 6.222 in the semifinals against Ed Hoover (Gilbert, S.C.) and a 6.220 in the final against Shannon Jenkins Tuscaloosa, Ala.).

“We watched what everyone ran and knew we had to go in the low 20’s to win this race,” Spiering said. “We put three .22’s in a row together, and I don’t know if that has ever happened in Pro Modified. I’ve never seen a car run within a few thousandths in three straight rounds…it was like a bracket car.”

Spiering was especially thrilled to take home the victory at his home track, Toronto Motorsports Park in front of a large contingent of his sponsor, Eaton Cutler-Hammer, guests and dignitaries.

“This is my home track and I’ve won a lot of races here,” he said. “This is where I’ve tested and where I began racing in ’86. Here I am, I finally got it here. It was pretty emotional because I have so many fans here that have watched me grow through this sport and get to this level. And with 1,000 Eaton people here…coming through here was a big deal and a big boost for me.”

Rob Atchison can relate. The London, Ontario resident had plenty of fans in attendance as well. Like Spiering, Atchison sent them home happy when he topped Jim Sickles (Caledonia, N.Y.) in the Funny Car final.

“This was fantastic for everyone who was here,” Atchison said. “All the fans and Brent and Connie Erickson, our sponsors, who were here to see it, it really meant a lot to our race team. It’s all about team unity and putting the car on the racetrack. It’s mechanically flawless and the car runs great.”

Atchison ran a 5.892/240.85 in the final to defeat Sickles with the Ironman on the line. He now leads Sickles by 106 points in the IHRA world championship points race.

Steve Spiess (Manhattan, Ill.) dominated the Torco Pro Stock competition all weekend, averaging a 6.41 ET in claiming the #1 qualifying post and easily breezing through the field in his ’05 Chevy Cobalt. Spiess defeated Robert Patrick (Fredericksburg, Va.) in the final to join Daniel Seamon as the only two-time Torco Pro Stock winners on the Hooters IHRA tour this season. He also extended his world championship points lead over Patrick, holding a 635-601 advantage.

“The second round we broke a transmission and had to borrow some parts to get it back together, but other than that I don’t think we made a gram change on the clutch or change anything this whole day,” Spiess said. “I know how seriously Robert takes this and I am, too. I don’t know how many world championship runs we have left, so we’re going to try for this one.”

Final results from the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. The $1.1 million race is the seventh of 12 in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Doug Foley, 4.795 seconds, 299.13 mph def. Bruce Litton, 8.018 seconds, 106.52 mph.

Pro Modified -- Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.220, 231.40 def. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 11.987, 71.18.

Funny Car -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.892, 240.85 def. Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.10 173.72.

Pro Stock -- Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.437, 217.98 def. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 27.192, 26.51.

Pro Stock Snowmobiles -- Jeff Cullen, Polaris, 8.649, 152.66 def. Jeff Farthing, Ski Doo, 9.325, 146.45.

Top Sportsman -- Vito Antonicelli, Chevy Corvette, 7.574, 181.47 def. Frank Teague, Dodge Avenger, 7.438, 184.22.

Top Dragster -- Dave Elrod, 7.587, 177.21 def. Ian St. Pierre, 7.655, 169.34.

Quick Rod -- Todd Burks, Dragster, 8.915, 151.46 def. Jim Cowey, Dragster, 8.844, 170.04.

Super Rod -- Brian Folk, Chevy Cavalier, 9.884, 160.84 def. Barry Crane, Arrow, 9.887, 137.71.

Hot Rod -- Kenneth Jozwiak, Chevy Nova, 10.861, 138.30 def. Sam Lovetro Jr, Nova, 10.855, 135.70.

Stock -- Nick Folk, Chevy Camaro, 11.049, 123.92 def. Bryan Sorce, Chevy Nova, foul.

Super Stock -- Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 9.950, 129.16 def. Gene Emes, Chevy S-10, 9.299, 145.69.

ET Bracket -- Geoff Smith, Dragster, 8.083, 167.68 def. Bob Richards, Chevy Corvette, 10.579, 130.02.

ET Box -- Geoff Smith, Dragster, 8.114, 167.36 def. Tom Watson, Dragster, 8.499, 156.77.

ET No Box -- Bob Richards, Chevy Corvette, 10.654, 124.40 def. Alfie Bradley, Dodge Dart, 10.590, 125.76.

Final round-by-round results from the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the seventh of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Rick Cooper, 5.208, 270.10 def. Chris Karamesines, 8.406, 90.81; Bruce Litton, 4.885, 307.51 def. Paul Athey, 6.668, 133.09; Roger Dean, 4.963, 291.01 def. Clay Millican, 5.068, 272.94; Doug Foley, 4.844, 300.40 def. Louie Allison, 5.203, 213.50;

SEMIFINALS -- Litton, 10.390, 82.12 def. Dean, broke; Foley, 4.767, 300.86 def. Cooper, 6.439, 139.53;

FINAL -- Foley, 4.795, 299.13 def. Litton, 8.018, 106.52.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.167, 231.99 was unopposed; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.295, 228.81 def. John Russo, Chevy Camaro, 6.287, 226.66; Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.302, 228.46 def. Roy Wasko, Camaro, 6.622, 181.98; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.259, 225.48 def. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 8.402, 120.95; Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.559, 220.58 def. Eddie Ware, Willys, 6.773, 222.33; Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.293, 224.28 def. Charles Carpenter, Chevy Bel Air, 6.366, 222.18; Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.301, 221.85 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 9.221, 96.46; Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.226, 229.16 def. Pat Moore, Bel Air, 8.981, 93.89;

QUARTERFINALS -- Spiering, 6.222, 231.44 def. Martin, 8.255, 117.09; Janis, 6.267, 231.16 def. Harper, 6.384, 221.05; Jenkins, 6.277, 226.66 def. Auxier, 6.324, 201.58; Hoover, 14.544, 72.74 def. Castellana, foul;

SEMIFINALS -- Spiering, 6.222, 231.12 def. Hoover, 6.353, 226.54; Jenkins, 6.275, 222.84 def.
Janis, 6.291, 229.82;

FINAL -- Spiering, 6.220, 231.40 def. Jenkins, 11.987, 71.18.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.825, 242.10 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 6.017, 232.11; Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.827, 245.45 def. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.906, 241.20; Terry Munroe, Firebird, 5.910, 241.97 def. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.969, 234.00; Frederick Tigges, Camaro, 5.858, 243.50 def. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.954, 239.95;

SEMIFINALS -- Atchison, 5.831, 241.15 def. Tigges, 5.909, 243.63; Sickles, 5.838, 243.68 def. Munroe, 5.890, 242.71;

FINALS -- Atchison, 5.892, 240.85 def. Sickles, 6.103, 173.72.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.510, 213.16 def. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.533, 216.00; Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.507, 214.04 def. Jerry Haas, Chevy Cavalier, 11.819, 73.26; Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 6.501, 215.75 def. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.539, 214.08; Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.524, 213.33 def. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 12.429, 68.87; Daniel Seamon, Ford Escort, 6.508, 215.44 def. Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.535, 217.18; Richard Penland, Cobra, 6.567, 213.94 def. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 7.536, 169.66; Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.473, 214.38 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.612, 210.77; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.459, 214.93 def. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 18.188, 47.54;

QUARTERFINALS -- Seamon, 6.545, 215.68 def. Berner, 6.548, 213.94; Patrick, 6.508, 215.93 def. Penland, 6.581, 211.83; Gillig, 6.495, 214.28 def. O'Brien, foul; Spiess, 6.456, 216.76 def. Montecalvo, foul;

SEMIFINALS -- Patrick, 6.503, 215.89 def. Gillig, foul; Spiess, 6.457, 217.42 def. Seamon, 6.555, 216.31;

FINAL -- Spiess, 6.437, 217.98 def. Patrick, 27.192, 26.51.


Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the seventh of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 818; 2. Doug Foley, 681; 3. Bruce Litton, 667; 4. Louie Allison, 530; 5. Rick Cooper, 511; 6. Paul Athey, 347; 7. Roger Dean, 340; 8. Todd Paton, 253; 9. Chris Karamesines, 223; 10. Bobby Lagana Jr., 190.

Pro Modified

1. Shannon Jenkins, 496; 2. Jim Halsey, 428; 3. Ed Hoover, 416; 4. Mike Castellana, 387; 5. Mike Janis, 385; 6. Quain Stott, 381; 7. Al Billes, 365; 8. Carl Spiering, 364; 9. Harold Martin, 356; 10. Burton Auxier, 342.

Funny Car

1. Rob Atchison, 732; 2. Jim Sickles, 625; 3. Mark Thomas, 552; 4. Thomas Carter, 494; 5. Terry McMillen, 428; 6. Chris Foster, 395; 7. Terry Munroe, 306; 8. Frederick Tigges, 275; 9. Melinda Green-King, 216; 10. Larry Dobbs, 184.

Pro Stock

1. Steve Spiess, 630; 2. Robert Patrick, 591; 3. Daniel Seamon, 514; 4. Tony Gillig, 458; 5. Frank Gugliotta, 439; 6. Pete Berner, 370; 7. Rick Jones, 348; 8. Jerry Haas, 346; 9. John Montecalvo, 341; 10. John Nobile, 304.

SATURDAY - Sickles, Spiess Back Up Records in Toronto;Foley, Atchison Also Qualifying Leaders

(7-30-2005) - Friday night, in almost perfect weather and track conditions, Steve Spiess (Manhattan, Ill.) and Jim Sickles (Caledonia, N.Y.) each set provisional IHRA world records during the first round of professional qualifying for the ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. Saturday afternoon they both finished the job.

Spiess, campaigning a new '05 Chevy Cobalt, ran both the fastest and quickest Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock passes in IHRA history Friday evening when he clocked a 6.408 pass at 217.81 mph. Both marks topped the standing IHRA world records (Spiess' 6.426 pass at Rockingham in '05 and Brian Gahm's 217.39 run in San Antonio earlier this season), but were not official records until they were backed up. IHRA world records are not official until the driver registers a run within one percent of the provisional record at the same event.

Spiess was looking for a 6.472 elapsed time and a 215.64 mph speed to etch his name in the record book. His 6.444/217.21 pass Saturday afternoon was good enough to turn the trick. But Spiess was not done as he and Crew Chief Jason Been had a little surprise up their sleeves for the fans in the evening qualifying session.

Lenco Transmission started a program this season that will recognize the first 16 Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock drivers who run a sub-6.40 pass in official IHRA qualifying or competition. As of now it is a club with no members, but Spiess came as close as humanly possible during the evening qualifying session as he posted a 6.400 pass to miss entering the club by a thousandth of a second.

"The whole combination is working well," Spiess said. "I felt that the car was lazy and there was more in it. We ran the same tune-up as the night before because all the conditions were the same. So we really didn't step on it because last night was perfect."

Spiess currently leads the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock world championship points race, and has been at or near the top of the Pro Stock heap all season. He has one national event victory this season, at Rockingham Dragway, and has a pair of runner up finishes.

"Everything is working well. Jon Kaase provides good power and Rick Jones builds a great chassis," he said. "I have to give special thanks to Bob Book, our carburetor guy, and Dave Hughes. They are working with some other teams, but we might have just hit on something.I don't know. I love the new Cobalt, it is a great car."

Been is thrilled with the Cobalt as well. "My gosh it's a great car," he said. "Rick Jones built the car and it is the best one I've ever had. We have had six cars in the 10 years we've been doing this, and this one is by far the best."

Sickles also took care of his second matter of business in the Saturday early qualifying session. He needed to at least hit 244.11 miles an hour to back up his Friday 246.57 run and displace Laurie Cannister as the IHRA world speed record holder in the Funny Car class. He easily hit that number, registering a 245.45 pass to seal the deal. Sickles might have secured the world record, but two-time defending IHRA Funny Car World Champion Rob Atchison (London, Ont.) secured the #1 qualifying position.

Atchison's 5.760/243.33 set a new track elapsed time record and nudged Sickles into the #2 slot. Atchison has been the top Funny Car qualifier in six of seven Hooters IHRA national events this season, something he feels has attributed to his world championship points lead.

"There is a definite advantage to being the #1 qualifier," Atchison said. "When you are everyone is taking a shot at you, but that's where you want to be. You are the first person to get a bye and you can get a good shot at the racetrack. Good things happen when you are the #1 guy. We are just trying to earn our way to the finals whether it is through byes or getting to run a slower race car."

Eaton Cutler-Hammer driver Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) found himself on top of the Torco Pro Modified qualifying ladder when all was said and done Saturday evening. Spiering's Friday evening 6.151 pass stood up as the field took shots at it Saturday. Jim Halsey (Street, Md.) claimed the #2 spot at 6.186 while defending Pro Mod World Champion Mike Janis (Lancaster, N.Y.) ended up #3.
Spiering was excited to be on top of the qualifying field for the first time in his career.

"To do it in front of a thousand Cutler fans at my home track was phenomenal," Spiering said. "Having all those people here with Cutler-Hammer was a lot of pressure. We went for the throat on that last run. We gave it everything we had and it was going to either go or it wasn't. And it didn't. We're really happy to have the mile per hour record here.we wanted the ET record as well but it didn't work out."

The Top Fuel battle between four-time defending champion Clay Millican (Drummonds, Tenn.) and Doug Foley (Sewell, N.J.) remained heated as Foley saved his best for last as he knocked Millican from the #1 qualifying position on the final Top Fuel pass of Saturday's qualifying session. Foley, the defending champion at Toronto Motorsports Park, ran a 4.640 to move into the top slot.

"Toronto's great," Foley said. "It's great to come back to the place where you won your first race because there are a lot of memories. After we had a rough weekend in Milan we remembered we had good things happen here last year and we focused on this weekend. We're looking real positive for tomorrow."

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the seventh of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Foley, 4.640 seconds, 308.78 mph vs. 8. Louie Allison, 5.290, 189.20; 2. Clay Millican, 4.651, 315.56 vs. 7. Roger Dean, 5.157, 245.99; 3. Bruce Litton, 4.765, 308.99 vs. 6. Paul Athey, 5.010, 290.76; 4. Rick Cooper, 4.845, 297.42 vs. 5. Chris Karamesines, 4.895, 291.13.

Pro Modified -- 1. Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.151, 232.91 vs. Bye; 2. Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.186, 226.16 vs. 15. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 9.741, 94.49; 3. Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.193, 231.60 vs. 14. Roy Wasko, Camaro, 6.374, 221.27; 4. John Russo, Camaro, 6.194, 228.19 vs. 13. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.329, 227.00; 5. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.206, 230.45 vs. 12. Pat Moore, Chevy Bel Air, 6.288, 222.36; 6. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.228, 230.53 vs. 11. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.284, 222.95; 7. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.236, 225.07 vs. 10. Charles Carpenter, Bel Air, 6.282, 222.84; 8. Eddie Ware, Willys, 6.262, 225.75 vs. 9. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.263, 224.28.

Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.760, 243.33 vs. 8. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.930, 236.34; 2. Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.781, 246.57 vs. 7. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.895, 241.02; 3. Terry Munroe, Firebird, 5.821, 243.33 vs. 6. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.890, 241.02; 4. Frederick Tigges, Camaro, 5.833, 243.46 vs. 5. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.866, 240.89.

Pro Stock -- 1. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.400, 217.81 vs. 16. Chuck DeMory, Ford Escort, 6.569, 213.54; 2. Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.435, 215.03 vs. 15. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.560, 212.59; 3. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 6.441, 216.20 vs. 14. Richard Penland, Ford Cobra, 6.523, 214.55; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.452, 217.35 vs. 13. Daniel Seamon, Escort, 6.513, 216.62; 5. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.456, 215.68 vs. 12. Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.496, 214.79; 6. Robert Patrick, Cobra, 6.466, 215.82 vs. 11. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.496, 215.17; 7. Jerry Haas, Chevy Cavalier, 6.470, 216.83 vs. 10. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.490, 215.27; 8. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.478, 216.51 vs. 9. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.478, 214.96.

SATURDAY - Moore and Steffey Reunite, Billes Returns and Greek Wows 'Em in Toronto

(7-30-2005) - More for Moore – Just a few months after his driving career seemed to be on indefinite hold, Kinsman, Ohio-based Pro Modified competitor Pat Moore surprisingly found himself in the new Jerry Haase-built ’63 Corvette owned by fellow Ohioan and former team owner Ed Steffey.

Moore and Steffey toured North America for nearly 10 years, campaigning a variety of nitrous-injected Pro Mod cars, the last of which was a colorful ’57 Chevy.

Over the winter, however, fellow racer Dennis Radford offered to split expenses with Steffey if he could drive the new ‘Vette he was building, and a deal was struck that unfortunately took Moore out of the seat. “It was strictly a money thing – there were no problems between Ed and I,” said Moore. “It’s an expensive deal anymore, and I didn’t really blame Ed for taking Radford up on his offer.”

All seemed to be going well until this past Monday, when Radford dropped a bombshell on Steffey when he phoned him to say that he had decided to quit. He offered to drive the car until the Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout at the next race in Martin, Michigan, but Steffey declined the offer. Instead, he called Moore and a few days later the pair were back together again.

Fortunately, car builder Haase was on hand at Toronto Motorsports Park, and he helped the team adjust the car for Moore. Proving that a good driver can jump in any car and drive it well, after the second qualifying session, Moore was in the No.10 spot with a best pass of 6.288, 222.36. Just like old times!

Billes Returns – Fans and racers at TMP were pleased to see Canadian Pro Modified veteran Al Billes on the grounds this weekend. Billes, who is recovering from the after-effects of two recent crashes, was on hand to help fellow Canuck Scott Wildgust with his Alcohol Funny Car.

Billes crashed his ’53 Corvette at a match race in Lancaster, New York, the first weekend of July, and then two weeks later he rolled his 2005 Dodge Stratus when the chutes failed in Milan, Michigan. He and Jim Oddy campaign both cars under the Summit Racing Equipment banner.

Billes now finds himself facing an extended healing period, as he explained. “It’s going to take some time. After all, I have to work through the accumulated effects of two pretty serious wrecks. I have a lot of bumps, bruises, pulled muscles, stretched ligiments, and a whole lot of other things. I mean, it’s a day-to-day thing. Just when I think I’m feeling better, I have a bad day – it feels just like having the flu. My doctors told me that my body suffered a lot of trauma, and only time will heal everything.

“In the long term, we don’t really know if I’ll make a complete recovery or not,” Billes added. “Since I’m in pretty good physical condition, though, I have a good chance of healing up over time – I was lucky in that respect. But I have to give my body every possible chance to recover, so that means I won’t be driving for a while. This is just a hobby, after all, and while I take it seriously, it’s not worth jeopardizing my future. One bout of severe tire shake could really set me back, so I’m going to play it smart, take my time, and see what happens down the road.”

Fast Flyin’ Greek – Without a doubt Chris “The Greek” Karamesines is a living legend in the sport of drag racing, and much to the delight of the capacity crowd gathered for the ACDelco Canadian Nationals, the 75-year-old Top Fuel icon is having himself an outstanding weekend in the “Great White North.”

During Friday night’s first qualifying session, Karamesines, of Chicago, claimed the No. 3 spot in the eight-car field with a solid pass of 4.954, 288.77. In Saturday’s early session, he bettered his earlier performance by ripping off another full-track blast of 4.895, 291.13, locking up the No. 5 position.

Confident that he had secured a place in the field, “Greek” chose to sit out the final qualifier, opting to save his parts for his first round match-up with Rick Cooper on Sunday.

Shake-ups in the Shootout - There was a whole lot of shaking going on during the final qualifying session for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout.

The most excitement came in the form of the No. 7 and No. 8 qualifiers in the shootout field, not being present at the race.

Following two back-to-back crashes, Al Billes (No. 7) was advised by doctors to stay out of the car, and Dennis Radford (No. 8) decided to resign from his post behind the wheel of Ed Steffey's ride.

This was all good news for John Russo, Eddie Ware, Mike Janis and Carl Spiering, who were all still vying for a spot in the shootout field.

Thanks to a No. 4 qualifying result for Russo, he was able to slide into the No. 7 spot in the field, while Spiering placed himself within striking distance, as long as Billes does not attempt to return for the shootout.

Janis and Ware will have to wait until next year to participate in the shootout.

The unofficial top ten for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout are as follows:

1. Shannon Jenkins
2. Jim Halsey
3. Mike Castellana
4. Harold Martin
5. Ed Hoover
6. Quain Stott
7. John Russo
8. Al Billes
9. Carl Spiering
10. Dennis Radford

Carl Spiering and Dennis Radford will serve as the first alternates.

The Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout will be contested in Martin, Mich., during the Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals, August 12-14.

FRIDAY - Perfect Conditions, Scorching Runs; Track records fall during the first round of ACDelco Canadian Nationals qualifying

(7-29-2005) - With almost perfect track conditions and cool night air the first qualifying session of the ACDelco Canadian Nationals saw elapsed time numbers lower and mile per hour numbers higher than at any point in the history of Toronto Motorsports Park. The night also marked Clay Millican's first Top Fuel pass following his 200+ mile per hour blowover in Milan, Michigan, two weeks ago.

Jim Sickles (Caledonia, N.Y.) highlighted the evening when he ran the fastest Funny Car pass in IHRA history, posting a 246.57 mph run in the second to last pair of cars of the qualifying session. This pass was faster than IHRA record-holder Laurie Cannister's 246.26 run in September of '02 at Budds Creek. Sickles will now have the rest of the weekend to hit 244.11 and back up his pending record.

Sickles sits atop the Funny Car qualifying list with two sessions remaining until elimination rounds start. His 5.781 put him ahead of Terry Munroe (Beaver, Pa.) and Rob Atchison (London, Ont.), who sit #2 and #3 respectively.

Steve Spiess (Manhattan, Ill.) set both ends of the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock track record with his 6.408/217.81 pass in Pro Stock qualifying. Spiess came precariously close to becoming the initial member of the Lenco 6.30's Club, the club that will recognize the first 16 Torco Pro Stock drivers who can run an official IHRA pass in the 6.30's. Spiess ran a 6.37 at over 220 mph during off-season testing, but no one has eclipsed the 6.30's or 220 mph barrier during
competition.

Not only did Spiess set the track record for both elapsed time and miles an hour, he provisionally broke the IHRA world records in both categories as well. Spiess has the rest of the ACDelco Canadian Nationals to hit 6.472 to back up his elapsed time record and 215.64 to back up his speed record.

Tony Gillig (Lake Bluff, Ill.) and Rick Jones (Galesburg, Ill.) sit right behind Spiess on the Torco Pro Stock qualifying list with two sessions to go.

Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) and Quain Stott (Columbus, N.C.) joined the record-setting evening during Torco Pro Mod qualifying. Spiering shattered Billy Harper's track elapsed time record, posting a 6.151 to eclipse Harper's 6.165. Stott improved on his own track speed record, clocking a speed of 230.17 to top his old record of 229.74.

Stott could only claim the #4 qualifying post, however, as both Jim Halsey (Street, Md.) and John Russo (Middleton, Mass.) joined Spiering in registering quicker Torco Pro Mod runs.

Clay Millican (Drummonds, Tenn.) showed no ill effects of his crash in Milan as he vaulted to the top of the provisional Top Fuel qualifying list with a 4.666/305.36. Millican barely edged Doug Foley (Sewell, N.J.), who was running in the other lane. Foley ended up only a thousandth slower than Millican, registering a 4.667/300.93.

75 year-old Chris Karamesines (Chicago, Ill.) rounded out the top three Top Fuelers with a 4.954 pass at 288.77 mph.

The ACDelco Canadian Nationals will continue Saturday morning with sportsman qualifying starting at 10:30 at Toronto Motorsports Park. The second round of professional qualifying is slated to start at 3:00 with the first rounds of sportsman eliminations immediately after.

Results Friday after qualifying for the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, seventh of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 4.666 seconds, 305.36 mph; 2. Doug Foley, 4.667, 300.93; 3. Chris Karamesines, 4.954, 288.77; 4. Roger Dean, 5.157, 245.99; 5. Rick Cooper, 5.559, 177.93; 6. Bruce Litton, 5.819, 158.07; 7. Jack Ostrander, 6.800, 122.41; 8. Paul Athey, 12.806, 64.24.

Pro Modified -- 1. Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.151, 229.51; 2. Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.186, 226.16; 3. John Russo, Camaro, 6.194, 228.19; 4. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.258, 230.17; 5. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.263, 220.73; 6. Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.264, 229.43; 7. Eddie Ware, Willys, 6.280, 224.96; 8. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.284, 223.17; 9. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.329, 227.00; 10. Roy Wasko, Camaro, 6.374, 220.40; 11. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.435, 220.87; 12. Charles Carpenter, Chevy Bel Air, 7.293, 161.27; 13. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 9.741, 85.12; 14. Pat Moore, Bel Air, 11.220, 116.25; 15. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 17.662, 44.28.

Funny Car -- 1. Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.781, 246.57; 2. Terry Munroe, Pontiac Firebird, 5.882, 241.84; 3. Rob Atchison, Firebird, 5.886, 240.08; 4. Frederick Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 5.887, 242.63; 5. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.930, 236.34; 6. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.949, 241.02; 7. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.956, 238.93; 8. Scott Wildgust, Firebird, 5.996, 239.19.

Pro Stock -- 1. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.408, 217.81; 2. Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.450, 214.83; 3. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 6.457, 216.20; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.460, 216.65; 5. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 6.480, 215.31; 6. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.482, 214.62; 7. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.486, 215.93; 8. Jerry Haas, Chevy Cavalier, 6.498, 216.10; 9. Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.499, 214.28; 10. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.511, 214.45; 11. Daniel Seamon, Escort, 6.514, 215.37; 12. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.541, 213.81; 13. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.560, 212.59; 14. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.575, 213.16; 15. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 6.596, 213.43; 16. Ron Miller, Cavalier, 6.617, 209.62.

FRIDAY - Disappearing Rigs, Back In The Saddle and Bad-Ass Bugs

“I was watching the trailer sink before my eyes” - Top Fuel driver Doug Foley was not very happy with the parking assignment he was given when he arrived at Toronto Motorsports Park this morning. The undulating, rut-strewn asphalt in his designated area looked treacherous, and it was.

“We tried to maneuver the rig into the spot, but it was impossible," said Foley. “I was watching the trailer sink before my eyes. There was no way we could even lower the back door. I wasn’t about to put my guys through trying to work in those conditions.”

As a result, Foley and teammate Rick Cooper moved their rigs to an isolated area away from the rest of the Top Fuel teams and set up shop. “We’ll probably be accused of being anti-social now, but to tell you the truth the paving here is just as smooth as my driveway at home, so we made the right decision. Next year this will likely be Top Fuel Row once everyone else sees where we are.

“They promised us last year that they were going to fix the paving in the pits before this year’s event, but it didn’t get done. It’s a real problem and they need to do something about it.”

Full Speed Ahead – Perennial Top Fuel champion Clay Millican is anxious to strap himself into his Werner Enterprises rail and get on with his quest for a fifth consecutive title. In the aftermath of the spectacular blow-over accident he experienced at the previous race in Milan, Michigan, however, would getting behind the wheel again present any additional challenges?

“No – not really,” said Millican. “I’ve always known that sooner or later something would happen – eventually the law of averages will catch up to you. I mean, we know what caused the car to go over, and to tell you the truth, if you’re going to crash a Top Fuel car, I think we did it the most harmless way possible. The car landed very softly and as a result I wasn’t hurt and the car survived intact. In fact, we’re running it here this weekend. Brad Hadman flew in and spent half a day with us and by the time he left the car was as good as new. He’s an incredible guy. We have a new front end on the car now and we’re ready to go.

“As far as me getting back into the car, I have no problems with that at all – as far as I’m concerned I have a job to do and I’m going to do it exactly the same way I always have.”

Don’t let the bad bugs bite! – One of the coolest hot rods on the grounds at this weekend’s 4th annual ACDelco IHRA Canadian Nationals is the 2005 Volkswagon Beetle driven by Windsor, Ontario’s Ken Hebert. This rather innocent-looking bug is not your typical grocery getter, however, as under the hood lurks a big block Chevy powerplant capable of producing 900 thundering horsepower when a generous injection of “Beetle Juice” is administered.

The car started out life as a Chevy Monza, which Hebert campaigned for over 15 years. When he decided he wanted something new and just a little different, he began measuring up his wife’s Beetle and discovered the body would fit right on the Monza chassis. He eventually purchased one of his own and the transformation took place last winter.

The wheelstanding bug has run a best of 9.90 at 135 on motor alone, and will run in the eights with spray. The slippery little “Z/Bug” needs some help with downforce at this level of performance, however, so Hebert is working on a way to attach a wing without ruining the car’s appearance. Once he has that situation under control, watch out for this bad little machine on a track, or a street, near you.

Oh yeah – it’s completely street legal, right down to power windows and a six-disc CD changer! Everyone should have one of these.

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