Keep up with this weekend's IHRA Texas Nationals by reading our behind-the-scenes event notebook. We bring you the stories behind the numbers and win-lights throughout the course of the weekend. Tune in daily for the latest news from the pits.  

		EVENT NEWS POINTS AFTER EVENT ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS FINAL ROUND RESULTS			EVENT GALLERY

 

SUNDAY FINAL - Weis makes splash in IHRA return with Top Fuel win

Russo gets first Pro Mod win; Gugliotta returns to victory lane

A beautiful Texas weekend came to a close Sunday afternoon as Scott Weis (Top Fuel), Chris Russo (Pro Modified) and Frank Gugliotta (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) all claimed victories during championship Sunday at the Amalie Motor Oil Texas Nationals Sunday in Crandall.

For Russo and Weis, Sunday marked their first career Ironman victories, while Gugliotta picked his 11th career Ironman in IHRA Pro Stock competition.

In exhibition action, Gaylen Smith grabbed the win in the Outlaw Pro Modified shootout while Chris Gulitti (Top Sportsman), Russell Marr (Top Dragster), Kevin Helms (Super Stock), Bob Murray (Stock), Doug Miller (Quick Rod), Leonard Greathouse (Super Rod) and Jeremy Hefler (Hot Rod) all took home Ironman victories in sportsman competition.

Coming into this weekend, all the talk surrounded the big three in Top Fuel – Bruce Litton, Del Cox and Bobby Lagana.

Sunday afternoon, Scott Weis threw his name into the conversation.

Weis (Ashland, Va.) made a big splash in his return to IHRA Top Fuel competition this weekend with a victory over veteran Terry McMillen (Elkhart, Ind.) in the Top Fuel final at the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals Sunday in Crandall.

“That was a great run in the heat. Wayne Dupree is an amazing man with these guys,” Weis said. “We were concerned with the race track because of the sun that had been on it all day and we smoked the tires in the first session, but I was able to pedal through it and keep up with it. In the second session I tried to crutch it a little bit and we made a few adjustments and had a good lap.

“Going into the final round my crew chief said I don’t know whether that made the difference or not, but do it again.”

Weis had an absolutely blazing lap in the final on a 4.837 elapsed time at 298.87 miles per hour – the second fastest speed of the weekend – to drive around McMillen who smoked his tires at 1,000 feet leading to a second place finish on a 6.838 E.T. at 120.01 mph.

“Great return. Just to get back in the race car is awesome,” Weis said.

Not only was this weekend Weis’ return to the IHRA – it was his return to racing.

Weis had been on the sideline for over two years after suffering a broken back in Chicago in 2008. Being out for a year, Weis’ operation dwindled and he wasn’t able to bring that car back out due to a lack of funding.

So instead, Weis looked for another avenue to make his return.

“The only choice I had was to get in someone else’s car and this deal came together in about a weeks time,” Weis said. “Wayne called me on Saturday of last week and asked if I want to go to Dallas, can you meet me there and we will go racing.”

And what a return it was.

“Friday qualifying to get in that car and then to make it to tonight is pretty neat. I haven’t bee in a race car in two years. It is amazing,” Weis said. “Once I was in the car it was kind of like riding a bike. Once you get back in the controls are etched in your mind. As many laps as I had made in a fuel car it didn’t take long to get back in the groove.

“I have been trying for a really long time to win in a fuel car and to do it in my first time back after sitting for two years, it is amazing.”

Weis made his return to IHRA drag racing a successful one, driving around Spring Nationals winner Del Cox in the semifinals on a 4.894 E.T. at 286.68 miles per hour to Cox’s 5.013 at 292.58 mph in a great drag race.

Both cars were welded together for most of the run as Weis, driving the the Urs Erbacher backed orange and black dragster, nipped Cox at the line to advance to his first final.

McMillen reached the finals by knocking off No. 1 qualifier Tim Boychuk who lit the tires at about 1,000 feet, allowing McMillen to cruise around him for the win.

McMillen ran a 4.921 at 295.92 mph to Boychuk’s 5.390 at 203.83 mph setting up a McMillen and Weis final.

Sunday marked McMillen’s eighth career Top Fuel final.

And Sunday’s great finish was set up by a tremendous first round.

McMillen started the afternoon session off with a bang with his first round win of the season, edging Bruce Litton at the line by 12 inches with a 4.90 to a 4.91 at nearly 300 miles per hour.

And McMillen picked a great weekend to get his first round win of the year, taking the victory at the race sponsored by his own Amalie Motor Oils.

Cox turned around a relatively unforgettable start in the quarters with a victory over Bobby Lagana Jr. who had a few issues at the line when the car started hopping, while Boychuk drove around a smoking Mitch King for his first round win of the year and Weis dominated from start to finish over Todd Simpson.

Now, with a win under their belts, it is off to Tulsa for the newly formed team.

“We are going to Tulsa now because it is exciting and we like running with the IHRA,” Weis said. “I can’t wait to do it again.”


What a weekend it was for Pro Mod driver Chris Russo.

While everyone was talking about Ed Hoover and Kenny Lang, Russo flew under the radar and quietly climbed the ladder all weekend long, eventually leading to a victory over Lang (Grande Pointe, Manitoba) in the finals of the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals Sunday afternoon in Crandall.

“Flying under the radar, we have been doing that for a long time. This weekend was not like the last few IHRA races that I have been to. We have had nothing but problems breaking parts and even this weekend we broke a camshaft,” Russo said. “But at the end of the day, the people who keep working on it and keep trying and doing to go sleep until 4 a.m., those are the people that succeed in this kind of sport and I am happy that on this day I was able to do that.”

Sunday marked Russo’s (Ashland, Va.) first career Ironman as he drove past a smoking Lang at the line on a 6.223 elapsed time at 230.13 miles per hour. Lang ran a 6.302 at 229.35 mph.

“When I saw him leave and he was next to me I honestly thought we were done because I didn’t think I could drive around him. Not many people can,” Russo said. “He got loose in the middle of the track and our car stuck and we were able to motor right on down there.”

And to get the win over Lang made the victory that much sweeter.

“To be honest, I was really nervous. Anytime you run someone like Lang who is a world championship it is intimidating. I mean they are fast, legitimately one of the fastest out here,” Russo said. “It legitimizes the win. No one shook the tires, no one broke, we went out there and we raced. And for me, that is a lot more satisfying.”

A wild semifinal round set up the Lang-Russo final as Russo shot down Martin’s attempt at making his first final with his new M4.

Both cars got off the line well, but Russo began to lose traction at about the 20 foot mark and Martin started to pull away. Russo tried to get back in the groove, but again spun the tires as Martin continued to hold the advantage.

But Russo did not give up, keeping in the throttle and chattering his way to his first IHRA final as he caught and passed Martin at the line.

Russo posted a 7.451 elapsed time at 216.76 miles per hour to Martin’s 7.674 at 167.41 mph.

Lang received a bye run after defeating Ed Hoover in the first round. He posted a 7.831 at 123.38 mph in his solo run, giving up lane choice to Russo in the final.

Lang also claimed the 2009 Pro Modified points lead when he staged his car in the semifinal round. Hoover moved up to second.

Sunday was Lang’s seventh career Pro Mod final.

In the first round all eyes were on Lang and Hoover.

A few bad runs saw Lang produce the lowest E.T. of the weekend, matching him up with the No. 1 qualifier and Last Man Standing both nights Hoover in the first round.

Hoover already came into the matchup with a few concerns, having to replace the engine Saturday night after discovering a broken piston and also having to deal with the defending world champion in the first round.

And Hoover’s concerns were proven right.

Lang produced a holeshot victory over Hoover in the opening round Sunday afternoon, setting himself up for the eventual victory and points lead.

Martin also had a memorable first round, producing his first round win in IHRA competition in his new 2010 M4, driving around a smoking Dave Pierce while Russo got a bye into the next round after Jason Stock failed to show.


Cary Goforth and Frank Gugliotta have developed a bit of an interesting rivalry.

While Goforth (Holdenville, Okla.) is on quite a streak lately, Gugliotta (Mt. Airy, N.J.) has the experience with 14 final round appearances to Goforth’s two.

Sunday afternoon, Gugliotta used that experience to post his 11th career IHRA Elite Motorsports Pro Stock victory.

“We made an awesome run. For that kind of weather conditions it was awesome,” Gugliotta said. “The track came around each run and the whole crew did a really good job. Everything came together there at the end.”

The two competitors met several times throughout the weekend in head-to-head competition, with Gugliotta taking two out of three on his way to the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock victory Sunday afternoon.

“All weekend long it was back-and-fourth. He has become the nemesis for me here lately,” Gugliotta said with a smile. “He is doing a really awesome job driving and they are doing a good job over there. Hats off to the Goforths, they are doing one hell of a job.

“I also can’t say enough about my own team. My crew, Elite Motorsports, Richard Freeman, J.R. Carr – everybody did one hell of a job.

Gugliotta posted a 6.427 elapsed time at 217.67 miles per hour to turn the win light while Goforth ran a 6.457 at 218.19 mph in the runner-up position.

“We need to work on that (getting more wins). Hopefully this isn’t our last one of the year,” Gugliotta said.

It was the third straight meeting between the two, with Gugliotta nipping Goforth on Friday to claim the Last Man Standing award and Goforth taking down Gugliotta on Saturday to do the same while also holding down the top qualifying spot for the weekend.

But on Sunday it was all Gugliotta.

Gugliotta advanced to his 14th career IHRA final with a victory over teammate J.R. Carr in a great race. Gugliotta posted a solid 6.419 E.T. at 217.21 mph to Carr’s 6.506 at 213.67 mph.

Goforth reached his second consecutive final by knocking off Richard Freeman, preventing an all Elite Motorsports final.

Goforth, the No. 1 qualifier, did what he had to do at the tree, getting a big jump at the line.

And boy did he need it.

Goforth’s advantage at the line was the difference in the drag race as Goforth produced a holeshot victory on a 6.438 E.T. at 218.34 mph to Freeman’s 6.418 at 216.65 mph.

In quarterfinal action it was three Elite Motorsports cars and a Goforth advancing.

Goforth drove past a hard charging Mark Martino in the quarters to advance to his second straight semifinal round, while Elite Motorsports entries Gugliotta, Carr and Freeman all advanced to the semis together for the first time since forming their three-car operation earlier this year.

Freeman defeated Chris Holbrook to advance, while Gugliotta chased down and passed Baton Rouge winner Jason Collins and Carr defeated defending world champion Pete Berner in a holeshot.

In first round action there were a number of upsets that sent a few top contenders home. Leading that list was Collins who motored past John Montecalvo in the first round and No. 11 qualifier Carr who took down a very strong Bob Bertsch.
 


Another great final was produced by the Outlaw Pro Modifieds that were on hand for this weekend’s IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals.

Gaylen Smith (Mansfield, Texas) had a tremendous weekend, saving the best for last with two great laps including a pass of 201 miles per hour during the afternoon session before eliminating Frankie Taylor in the final with a lap of 3.937 at 195.36 mph to Taylor’s 4.076 at 163.18 mph.

Taylor had all he could handle in the final, weaving left and right across the track before calling it quits just before the 1/8 mile.

Taylor and Smith reached the finals of the 1/8 mile shootout with impressive semifinal victories.

Smith made the most noise on his way to the finals with a 201.19 mile per hour run in the 1/8 mile on a 3.908 elapsed time, getting around Ken Thomas to advance. Taylor, who topped qualifying with a spectacular 3.874 lap put down Saturday night, smoked Michael Browning with a 3.970 E.T. at 191.46 mph to Browning’s broken 7.097 at 64.35 mph.

 


Sportsman winners during Sunday’s Amalie Oil Texas Nationals included Gulitti (Spring, Texas) over Monte Weaver in Top Sportsman, Marr (Forney, Texas) over Jacky King in Top Dragster, Greathouse (Lorena, Texas) over Tony Gray in Super Rod, Helms (Schriever, La.) over Tim Herbert in Super Stock, Miller (Porter, Texas) over Scott Turnbough in Quick Rod, Murray (Onalaska, Texas) over Bill Bagley in Stock and Hefler (Kennedale, Texas) over Jeremy Wilson in Hot Rod.

 

---

 

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

 

 

---

SATURDAY FINAL QUALIFYING - GOFORTH SCORES FIRST CAREER NO. 1 QUALIFIER; BOYCHUK, HOOVER REMAIN ATOP RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS

If Friday night was all about firsts, than Saturday night it was time to get down to business.

With several solid laps and plenty of rubber on the track, Dallas Raceway started to develop some bite after two days of competition and the numbers continued to drop as Tim Boychuk (Top Fuel), Ed Hoover (Pro Modified) and Cary Goforth (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) all topped their respective classes during SafeAuto Night of Fire qualifying Saturday night in Crandall.

And nobody found Saturday night sweeter than Cary Goforth.

Goforth ( Holdenville, Okla.) went into Saturday’s final qualifying rounds with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after a dreadful Friday, but turned things around in a big way when it mattered most.

Despite holding down the provisional top spot after two rounds of competition on Friday, Goforth was nipped at the line by competitor Frank Gugliotta (Mt. Airy, Md.) who not only grabbed the second qualifying spot, but also claimed Friday’s Last Man Standing award taking valuable bonus points away from Goforth and his crew.

Saturday night, Goforth got his revenge.

With an absolutely tremendous lap Goforth topped qualifying in Elite Motorsports Pro Stock competition and also claimed Saturday’s Last Man Standing award heading into Sunday’s eliminations with a time of 6.398 at 219.29 miles per hour.

Saturday also marked Goforth’s first No. 1 qualifying spot.

“First time ever. For the first couple years we were just trying to get in then we were lucky to get in the top half of the field and now we are No. 1 which is pretty awesome,” Goforth said. “We aren’t doing anything different. I just think we have a good package.

“We also have a great crew that is in the zone right now. And when I say they are in the zone, I mean they are in the zone. Chris Bell is making great calls. Everything seems to be going right for us right now. I don’t know when it is going to end, but I am going to ride this wave as far as I can.”

Even more rewarding, Goforth defeated Gugliotta Saturday night to claim the five bonus points awarded to the winning car with the lowest E.T. of the night.

“I had to get that back from Frankie. He is pretty tough and he has been harassing me all weekend. I think he is trying to get under my skin a bit, but Frank is a good guy and it was two good clean races,” Goforth said. “I wanted that one bad. I am the one that lost that deal (Friday) so getting that back tonight and getting my points back that is what it is all about.”

Goforth’s lap of 6.366 at 218.72 miles per hour put down Friday night will start him from the Pro Stock “pole” as he tries to remain atop the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock standings after Sunday night.

Gugliotta remains in second with a pass of 6.374 at 220.12 mph, also put down Friday night, while Pete Berner (Crete, Ill.) is third on a lap of 6.399 at 218.80 mph.

Dean Goforth (6.399, 216.48) and Richard Freeman (6.424, 219.40) rounded out the top five heading into Sunday’s eliminations.

“Now we gotta cut lights. We have to let the clutch out,” Goforth said. “This is Pro Stock and everybody is so close and you saw what happened in the Last Man Standing tonight and last night. The top four cars are strong, we just have to keep doing our job.”

Tim Boychuk’s blazing hot lap of 4.811 at 296.96 mph put down Friday night held up even during Saturday’s improved conditions and Boychuk will start from the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifying position Sunday afternoon, a place he hasn’t been in some time.

“We are sure happy with that. We were hoping to get a little quicker on that one, we were hoping to get in the 7s and I think we would have been there, but just before the finish line we shredded the blower belt and knocked all the teeth out so it killed the car,” Boychuk said. “But we are right where we want to be.”

Boychuk held off a hard-charging Scott Weiss who will start second thanks to a solid lap of 4.817 at 296.24 mph and Bobby Lagana Jr. was third.

Lagana was also Saturday’s Top Fuel Last Man Standing thanks to a pass of 4.835 at 289.01 miles per hour. Lagana claimed the five bonus points by producing the lowest winning elapsed time during Saturday’s SafeAuto Night of Fire qualifying.

Terry McMillen, handling the Amalie Motor Oil Top Fuel dragster, is fourth (4.864, 279.21) and Bruce Litton is fifth (4.867, 300.20).

Boychuk ended Del Cox’s No. 1 qualifying streak at two-straight as Cox found himself in sixth heading into Sunday.

In fact, many of the drivers who usually occupy spots in the top half of the field struggled during the first two days of competition including Cox, Litton and Texas native Mitch King who all held down spots in the bottom half of the field entering eliminations.

As for Boychuk, he is ready to return to his winning ways.

“With Jimbo tuning the car we are in pretty good shape. I will do the cutting the lights stuff and you guys make sure to get the tuneup in there and that is what they are doing,” Boychuk said.

Nobody this weekend has been more consistent than Ed Hoover.

Hoover (Gilbert, S.C.), a long-time IHRA veteran, found himself at the top of the Pro Modified charts Friday night after two solid qualifying rounds and backed that up with two more quick runs on Saturday to take the top spot in Pro Mod qualifying and claim Saturday’s Last Man Standing award.

“We got the Last Man Standing both nights and we are pretty happy with that,” Hoover said. “It is running good right now and we can’t wait to see what it will do tomorrow.”

Hoover ran a 6.226 at 227.08 mph on Saturday to claim the Last Man Standing bonus points, but his red-hot 6.040 second time at 236.30 miles per hour put down Friday night puts him at the top of the Pro Mod qualifying charts heading into Sunday, just ahead of Chris Russo (Cedar Grove, N.J.) who will start second on a lap of 6.169 at 233.72 mph.

While many drivers have struggled with the new track, Hoover has had little trouble finding his groove at the “Concrete Palace” and if he continues with the same consistency seen on the first two days of competition he should prove hard to beat Sunday afternoon.

That is, if he can overcome a completely new engine.

After discovering a broken piston following Saturday night’s run, Hoover went to work late into the night putting in an entirely new engine and will have to start from scratch on Sunday if he hopes to walk away with an Ironman.

“It looks like some fatigue, some freak deal I have never had happen before. It doesn’t show anything wrong with the tune-up, but it broke something in the engine and instead of taking it apart and exploring we are just going to put in a new bullet,” Hoover said. “This engine is ready to go so we will work that in and hopefully continue where we left off tomorrow.”

Just behind Hoover and Russo is Claremore, Okla. Native Dave Pierce who ran a 6.276 E.T. at 226.77 mph.

Harold Martin (6.305, 193.29) and Jason Stock (6.758, 166.99) round out the top five in Pro Mod qualifying heading into Sunday’s eliminations.

And when Sunday rolls around, all eyes will be on Hoover and his new engine.

“Now we have to go to a new engine that is going to treat everything different so I wish we had somebody other than Kenny Lang in the first round,” Hoover said. “We just have to do our job tonight and make sure we beat him tomorrow.”

Also on hand this weekend are 17 of the world’s fastest 1/8 Outlaw Pro Modifieds.

Heading up Outlaw Pro Mod qualifying was Frankie Taylor who ran a 3.874 E.T. at 195.87 miles per hour. Gaylen Smith is second (3.898, 187.83) and Ken Thomas (3.946, 189.39) is third entering tomorrow’s eliminations.

Championship Sunday will get underway at 10 a.m. with sportsman eliminations followed by the first round of professional eliminations at 11 a.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
 

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals brought to you by Wolverine & Academy Sports and Outdoors at Dallas Raceway, the third of 10 events in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tim Boychuk, 4.811 seconds, 296.96 mph  vs. 8. Mitch King, 5.087, 279.32; 2. Scott Weis, 4.817, 296.24  vs. 7. Todd Simpson, 5.020, 285.17; 3. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.835, 289.01  vs. 6. Del Cox Jr, 4.962, 294.63; 4. Terry McMillen, 4.864, 279.21  vs. 5. Bruce Litton, 4.867, 300.20.

Pro Modified -- 1. Ed Hoover, Chevy Camaro, 6.040, 236.30  vs. 6. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.838, 152.78; 2. Chris Russo, Corvette, 6.169, 233.72  vs. 5. Jason Stock, Corvette, 6.758, 166.99; 3. Dave Pierce, Corvette, 6.276, 226.77  vs. 4. Harold Martin, Martin M 4, 6.305, 193.29.

Pro Stock -- 1. Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 6.366, 219.29  vs. Bye; 2. Frank Gugliotta, Pontiac GXP, 6.374, 220.12  vs. 15. Trevor Eman, Ford Escort, 6.593, 216.41; 3. Pete Berner, GXP, 6.399, 218.80  vs. 14. Glen Barrilleaux, Pontiac GTO, 6.546, 212.59; 4. Dean Goforth, GXP, 6.399, 217.95  vs. 13. Chris Holbrook, Ford Mustang, 6.522, 213.06; 5. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.424, 219.40  vs. 12. Scott Hintz, Mustang, 6.506, 213.54; 6. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.427, 217.32  vs. 11. JR Carr, GXP, 6.451, 217.00; 7. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.434, 217.88  vs. 10. Jason Collins, Cobalt, 6.448, 216.55; 8. Mark Martino, Cobalt, 6.439, 217.88  vs. 9. Cale Aronson, Escort, 6.441, 217.00.

Outlaw Pro Modified -- 1. Frankie Taylor, Chevy Corvette, 3.874, 195.87  vs. 8. Steve Wiley, Chevy Camaro, 4.323, 175.41; 2. Gaylen Smith, Plymouth Barracuda, 3.898, 187.83  vs. 7. Rickey Cate, Chevy Nova, 4.189, 173.38; 3. Ken Thomas, Pontiac Firebird, 3.946, 189.39  vs. 6. Heath Harvey, Pontiac Grand Prix, 4.102, 179.59; 4. Michael Browning, Willys, 4.067, 177.91  vs. 5. Gene Hector, Corvette, 4.095, 178.95. 

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK -

BETTER THAN IT HAS TO BE - Just like the slogan of the company sponsoring its national event, Dallas Raceway is “better than it has to be.”

Track owner Kenny Barnes and his staff have dedicated themselves to creating one of the nicest drag racing facilities in the nation and have succeeded in every way possible.

And it is for that reason and many more that long-time IHRA sponsor Amalie Motor Oil is proud to be a part of the inaugural event at Dallas Raceway, the Amalie Motor Oil Texas Nationals.

“It is exciting. Ken and his staff have done a fantastic job with the facility. Honestly, I never thought it was possible to see this much concrete in one space,” said driver of the Amalie Motor Oil Top Fuel dragster Terry McMillen. “What is even more important is that it is the inaugural event for Amalie as the title sponsor of this brand new race and we are excited to be here.

“ Dallas is a really strong area of ours with a tremendous customer base and we look forward to a big weekend for Amalie and Dallas Raceway.”

McMillen is a long-time veteran of the sport driving both Top Fuel and Alcohol Funny Car all while sporting the familiar red, green and black Amalie paint scheme for nearly a decade.

A three-time winner in IHRA Top Fuel competition, McMillen said he was pleasantly surprised with what he saw when he pulled his rig into the Dallas Raceway lot earlier in the week.

“To be honest, I was here a month ago and I told Ken that it is going to take up to the last minute to get this track ready to go and I will tell you, hats of to these guys because when I got here on Sunday they had already got in two races on the track and everything was in pristine condition,” McMillen said. “These guys have been working 24-7 and what a fantastic job they have done. The facility is phenomenal and I can’t wait to go racing.

Along with chasing down his first victory of the season at the “Concrete Palace”, McMillen will also be enjoying a weekend filled with spreading the good news about Amalie Motor Oil in the motorsports heavy Dallas market.

“This weekend we will be entertaining Parts Plus and a few others, so we have a full weekend ahead. We will have guests all weekend coming to visit with us and we will be spreading the word as to what Amalie can do for these companies,” McMillen said. “Amalie’s involvement with this event is really a win-win for everybody.”

DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS - Texas race fans have always been infatuated with their motorsports.

And that goes double for its race drivers.

Many of the drivers – both sportsman and professional – competing at the IHRA Amalie Motor Oil Texas Nationals this weekend are from the Lone Star State and all are proud to be representing their home state in front of the massive Dallas crowds.

“I love racing in Texas. We are based out of Galveston and any chance we have to make a short trip to the races, we will take it,” said IHRA Top Fuel driver and owner Mitch King. “Some of the trips we take can be brutal, especially some of the ones we have coming up in Canada. So to be here close to home we are really excited.”

King is coming off of a great weekend in Rockingham with a semi-final appearance, while his second car, driven by rookie Del Cox, claimed the Ironman.

“The only thing we can do better this weekend is get both of them to the finals. That is the game plan down here,” King added.

And King isn’t the only one.

King’s Top Fuel competitor Todd Simpson is also from Texas, along with Elite Motorsports Pro Stock driver Glen Barrilleaux who is making his IHRA debut this weekend.

“Richard Freeman encouraged me to come out and see what is going on. They thought I would like it out here,” Barrilleaux said. “So far it has been a lot of fun. I hope we get down the track and do well this weekend. This is a nice, clean facility and we look forward to this weekend.”

Barrilleaux’s home base is located just 100 miles south in Buffalo, Texas.

 

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

FRIDAY QUALIFYING - RECORDS FALL ON FIRST DAY

Litton first to top 300 on new track, Boychuk top qualifier in Top Fuel

It was a night of firsts at the IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals Friday night in Crandall.

From the first competitive passes of each of IHRA’s 10 racing categories to the first 300 mile per hour run, Dallas Raceway provided plenty of thrills in its opening night.

And highlighting it all was the first round of professional qualifying by the world’s fastest cars – IHRA Top Fuel.

After a bit of a slow start to the season, Edmonton, Alberta native Tim Boychuk showed why he was the hottest driver at the end of last season with the low E.T. Friday night to top Top Fuel qualifying and claim Friday’s Last Man Standing with a 4.811 elapsed time at 296.96 miles per hour.

“Everything went really well tonight – we finally have the car back. In Rockingham we found a few things with the fuel pump that weren’t working correctly and we got them sorted out and of course I redlit so we couldn’t tell how the car is. But tonight, we have the car back,” Boychuk said.

And Boychuk, who won the final two races of last season, is ready to put his slow start behind him and start focusing on climbing back to the top.

“We had a lot of gremlins in the car that we didn’t get rectified from last year, but we have worked through them. We’re back,” Boychuk said.

Scott Weis (Ashland, Va.), driving the Urs Ulrich dragster, was just behind Boychuk in second with a lap of 4.817 at 296.24 mph and Bruce Litton was third with a 4.867 second time.

Even without low E.T., Litton still put down a first in Dallas Raceway history with the first ever 300 mile per hour run at 300.20 mph.

Texas natives Mitch King (5.087, 279.32) and Todd Simpson (5.223, 218.19) rounded out the top five in Top Fuel.

Pro Modified was owned by Gilbert, S.C. native Ed Hoover who posted a solid 6.040 E.T. at 236.30 mph to take the Last Man Standing award and top the Pro Mod qualifying charts.

And he says he isn’t done yet.

“We had it so laid back it wasn’t funny,” Hoover said. “We thought it was going to run a 6.20 with my tuneup in it because in my first run it got loose at 300 feet so naturally to get down the track you back it all the way down.

“Tonight the track turned around and was phenomenal and it was so backed down it ate the clutch out of it. Still, to run that fast we are sure we can get in the 5s tomorrow night if we do the right things.”

Hoover had two solid laps during Friday’s qualifying sessions, making him one to watch for this weekend.

“This place is coming around. Today it didn’t have enough rubber for anybody to show off, but tonight it started getting a nice black groove and it is going to take some running, but by the end of the weekend it may be the fastest place we have been at,” Hoover said.

Cedar Grove, N.J. native Chris Russo was second on a 6.169 E.T. at 233.72 mph while Dave Pierce was third with a 6.276 at 226.77 mph.

Harold Martin (6.305, 193.29) put together one of his finest laps in his new M4 to take fourth while Jason Stock (6.758, 166.99) was fifth.

In Elite Motorsports Pro Stock Cary Goforth (Holdenville, Okla.) picked right up where he left off in Rockingham – at the head of the class.

Goforth, who ran solid numbers even during the slick afternoon session, topped the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock charts in the nightcap as the provisional No. 1 qualifier after one day of competition with a 6.366 elapsed time at 218.72 miles per hour.

We are feeling pretty good. Being No. 1 after two sessions is somewhere I haven’t been so we are always treading new waters out here,” Goforth said. “My crew is in the zone right now, we just have to keep everything going.”

Goforth went head-to-head with Frank Gugliotta (Mt. Airy, Md.) in the evening session, putting down the low E.T. of the two, but it was Gugliotta edging the points leader at the line to pick up Friday’s Quarter-Max Last Man Standing Award.

Gugliotta ran a 6.374 at 220.12 mph.

“We lost the last man standing and we are burnt up about that. I have been working really hard in staging shallow and trying to make sure we hit our shift points right. I guess I haven’t been focusing on the tree,” Goforth said. “We can’t afford to lose those five points. The thing that we want is to walk out of here with the points lead on Sunday. We can’t have any first round losses or things like that.

“It is important that we stay focused and do the things that we have to do to be consistent. Consistency is going to win this championship and consistency is going to win this race.”

Goforth and Gugliotta sit first and second in Elite Motorsports qualifying, while defending world champion Pete Berner is third with a lap of 6.399 at 218.80 mph.

Cary’s father Dean Goforth sits fourth with an identical E.T. as Berner (6.399) and Richard Freeman rounds out the top five (6.424, 218.16).

Saturday’s action will get back underway at 10 a.m. with sportsman qualifying followed by the third round of professional qualifying at 3 p.m. and the SafeAuto Night of Fire beginning at 6 p.m.

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

 

Results Friday afterqualifying for the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals brought to you by Wolverine & Academy Sports and Outdoors at Dallas Raceway, third of 10 events in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.  Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tim Boychuk, 4.811 seconds, 296.96 mph; 2. Scott Weis, 4.817, 296.24; 3. Bruce Litton, 4.867, 300.20; 4. Mitch King, 5.087, 279.32; 5. Todd Simpson, 5.223, 218.19; 6. Del Cox Jr, 5.377, 179.92; 7. Fred Farndon, 5.747, 175.34; 8. Terry McMillen, 6.023, 148.82.  Not Qualified: 9. Bobby Lagana Jr., 6.258, 136.26; 10. Mike Bowers, 7.654, 106.48.

Pro Modified -- 1. Ed Hoover, Chevy Camaro, 6.040, 236.30; 2. Chris Russo, Chevy Corvette, 6.169, 233.72; 3. Dave Pierce, Corvette, 6.276, 226.77; 4. Harold Martin, Martin M 4, 6.305, 193.29; 5. Jason Stock, Corvette, 6.758, 166.99; 6. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 8.399, 108.02.

Pro Stock -- 1. Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 6.366, 219.04; 2. Frank Gugliotta, Pontiac GXP, 6.374, 220.12; 3. Pete Berner, GXP, 6.399, 218.80; 4. Dean Goforth, GXP, 6.399, 217.00; 5. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.424, 218.16; 6. Cale Aronson, Ford Escort, 6.441, 216.45; 7. Jason Collins, Cobalt, 6.448, 216.55; 8. JR Carr, GXP, 6.451, 217.00; 9. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.466, 217.04; 10. Glen Barrilleaux, Pontiac GTO, 6.546, 210.60; 11. Chris Holbrook, Mustang, 6.558, 213.06; 12. Trevor Eman, Escort, 6.593, 216.41; 13. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.701, 204.23; 14. Mark Martino, Cobalt, 6.894, 200.14; 15. Scott Hintz, Mustang, 9.469, 114.55.
 

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

THURSDAY NOTEBOOK - DEFENDING PRO MOD CHAMP LANG READY TO TACKLE NEW TRACK

While much of the focus surrounding the upcoming Nitro Jam race at Dallas Raceway has been about the track itself, it is the drivers

that will walk away from this weekend’s event with the fame and glory that comes with winning a first-time event.

And defending IHRA Pro Modified champion Kenny Lang hopes he is the one hoisting the inaugural Amalie Oil Texas Nationals trophy Sunday night.

“We are really looking forward to the Dallas race. It will be a big race for us and could set the tone for the rest of our season,” Lang said. “It looks like an incredible facility and we can’t wait to get there.”

Lang heads to Dallas Raceway just 39 points out of first and is coming off of a runner-up finish to Tim Tindle at Rockingham Dragway last month. Using that momentum, Lang hopes the long drive from Grande Pointe, Manitoba to Dallas this weekend will pay off in a big way with his first win of the year.

“We are serious about our chances of going for our second straight championship and are going to do whatever we can to achieve that goal,” Lang said. “Hopefully we can show that to everyone there in Dallas.”

With the series entering the third of 10 races on the year, Lang knows that the time to strike is now. It was this time last year that Lang made a move that positioned him for the 2008 championship and he hopes to have similar results this weekend.

“Our start this year has been a little slower than I would have liked, but we also started a little slow last year and then got it going after that at the Rock. This year we had a similar start followed by a runner-up finish last month,” Lang said. “Now we need to get after it and try to put ourselves up there again in the points lead.”

And with the so-called bugs worked out in the early portion of the schedule, Lang feels that he has a great chance to walk away from this weekend’s event as the Pro Mod point leader.

“We think we have our few issues sorted out now and are back on pace,” Lang said. “The new track is going to present a bit of a challenge, but the quality of that track should make our job a lot easier.”

The Amalie Oil Texas Nationals will get underway Friday and run through Sunday at the brand-new Dallas Raceway in Crandall, Texas.

The race will feature an added bonus for fans of Pro Modified racing as over a dozen Texas Outlaw Pro Mods will join the thrilling IHRA Pro Modified show at the inaugural event. 

 

 

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

 

WEDNESDAY NOTEBOOK - GETTING READY FOR THE WEEKEND

TAKING A TEST SPIN - It is an event years in the making, but in just a few short days drivers from all over the world will roll their cars into the staging lanes at the brand new Dallas Raceway for the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals May 29-31 in Crandall, Texas.

And so far the response has been outstanding.

From the track’s all-concrete design to its state-of-the-art facilities, Dallas Raceway has been the talk of drag racing for some time and the track and owner Kenny Barnes will finally get their moment in the spotlight this weekend when Nitro Jam comes to town for the third race of the 2009 IHRA season.

But for some drivers, the chance to try out drag racing’s shiny new toy has already come to pass. One driver in particular, IHRA Top Fuel ace Bobby Lagana, had nothing but praise for the newest facility on the IHRA circuit after making the track’s first four-second pass in his 300 mile per hour dragster Saturday night.

“We ran a pretty darn good lap. The track is just so flat and smooth it is unbelievable,” Lagana said.

During an evening testing session last weekend at the new facility, Lagana made a single pass of 4.87 seconds at 243 miles per hour before shutting it off at roughly 1,000 feet, not a bad lap for the first ever Top Fuel run on a track some believed wouldn’t even be ready for this weekend’s race.

“Kenny has put so much money and effort into this place, it is awesome. This will definitely be the fastest facility in IHRA. It might need a year or so to settle in, get a few cars down the track, but this is going to be a fast track even this weekend,” Lagana said. “It is so flat, the shutdown is so smooth – the guys have put a lot of effort into making it right.”

Leading the charge in getting the track ready for the national stage is a crew of dedicated individuals from IHRA and Dallas Raceway headed by IHRA Director of Field Operations Jim Weinert.

Weinert and his crew have been in Dallas for over three weeks prepping the track for its first national event and from a completely green track to Lagana’s first nitro-fueled pass this weekend, the track has transformed into one of the marquee events on the schedule.

“I really can’t even explain how hard Jim, Russell, Dave, Carrie and Matt have been working. They have been down here for almost three weeks busting their butts, pulling all-nighters and the proof in how hard they have been working was the other night when we ran,” Lagana said. “The track is very green, but we were still able to go 4.87. We shut it off early just too kind of test the track. The place is just amazing and I think will have some awesome racing this weekend.”

And the track isn’t the only thing Lagana enjoyed in his first trip to Dallas.

“The concessions are awesome. They have an unbelievable BBQ sandwich,” Lagana said with a laugh. “Everything about this place is beautiful and nicely done. Even the lights are unbelievable. He had half the lights on when we got here and it is like why did he even put lights on the other side, you don’t even need them it is so bright. Under the lights this place is going to really be amazing.”

Dallas will get its first taste of racing under the lights Friday and Saturday during the SafeAuto Night of Fire, which will also be Lagana’s first competition pass on the new track.

“I can’t wait for Friday, it can’t get here soon enough,” Lagana said. “Kenny is an awesome guy. He is committed to this and has done a great job and hopefully a bunch of fans turn out because it is going to be a great race.”

While Lagana already has the track’s first four-second pass, he hopes to record a few other firsts before the weekend is out.

“We got the first four-second run on the track and whoever gets the first 300 mile per hour run that is a cool thing to have. The first couple of pairs are going to have the first shot at it and hopefully we can be right in the mix,” Lagana said.

Records and wins aside, Lagana said the thing he is most excited about this weekend is an event filled with great racing and lots of fun with friends, family and fans at the newest jewel of the IHRA – the “Concrete Palace” of Dallas Raceway.

“It is going to be a really fun weekend. I can’t wait for all of the racers and fans to get down here, it is going to be a great time,” Lagana said.

EVERYTHING READY TO GO - After years of planning and countless months of construction, IHRA racers and fans now officially have a fantastic new facility to call home.

Known as the “Concrete Palace,” Dallas Raceway came alive Thursday when the first cars to ever take to the all-concrete track made some impressive eighth-mile runs.

IHRA’s resident track prep guru Jim Weinert and his crew had the brand-new surface in unbelievable condition, as evidenced by the elapsed times and speeds posted by a number of racers who turned up for the track-opening test and tune session.

A prime example of just how good this new track is, Gaylen Smith propelled his “Texas Bounty Hunter” Outlaw Pro Mod Barracuda to passes of 4.03 seconds at 191 mph and 3.98 at 193. That is impressive anywhere, but on a brand new racing surface it’s just amazing.

Photographer Chris Graves, who works on Mitch King’s Top Fuel team as well as being the web master and official photographer for the Texas-based Outlaw Fuel Altereds group, provided these first photos from Dallas Raceway. He was overwhelmed with everything he saw at the sparkling new venue.

“It’s just awesome – the nicest track I have seen in years,” said Graves. “It has everything racers and fans could want. There were no stones left unturned here, I can tell you. People are going to be floored when they see this place. They call it the concrete palace, and that’s exactly what it is. It’s just amazing.

“They’re running Outlaw Pro Mods here Friday and then we’re here with the Outlaw Fuel Altereds Saturday. We’re looking forward to putting on a great show. There will be lots of great action and plenty of nitro in the air!”

FIRST TIME IN 21 YEARS - For track owner Kenny Barnes and his crew, the weekend of May 29-31 can’t get here soon enough.

After years of putting everything he has into a dream, that dream will finally become a reality later this month as his brand new, all-concrete track is set to host its very first national drag racing event when Nitro Jam rolls into town for the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals at Dallas Raceway May 29-31 in Crandall, Texas.

“Kenny Barnes and his team at Dallas Raceway have spared no expense in making his dream a reality in Dallas. I hope that the racers and fans who attend this event get a chance to thank Kenny for building such a wonderful place to not only grow IHRA’s brand of entertainment, but for building a facility that will help grow the sport,” said IHRA Vice President of Racing Operations Skooter Peaco.

Located just a few miles outside of downtown Dallas, the track is in a prime location and Barnes is planning on seeing some big crowds when the world’s fastest cars hit the track for the first time later this month.

“All the tracks around Dallas are close to two hours away and you could get racers there, but you couldn’t get fans there,” Barnes said earlier this month. “People still want entertainment, but they don’t want to drive two hours to and from the track. We are 24 miles from downtown Dallas and 14 miles from the interstate putting us in a great location.”

Highlighting the weekend long event will be the facility itself as the state-of-the-art track prepares for big crowds and its first rounds of nitro-fueled drag racing action.

Along with the well-documented all-concrete design, Dallas Raceway also has a few other unique features, including a 3,600-square foot tower complete with a control room and suites, a massive hospitality center, 13-and-a-half acres of paved concrete pit parking and even a 24 million gallon lake stocked with bass and catfish, adding a little extra incentive for drivers to make an early arrival to the track.

The 112-acre facility also has modern, air-conditioned bathrooms, showers, and even a game room, making Dallas Raceway a perfect destination for families.

“The reality of today is there are far more tracks closing than opening and none that I know of at this level are being constructed from the ground up,” Peaco said. “Kenny has the vision and the passion that a national event track operator needs to be successful and I look forward to watching the Dallas Raceway team develop into one of the premier operations in the country and one of the premier stops on the Nitro Jam tour.”

The Amalie Oil Texas Nationals is the third event on the 10-race 2009 Nitro Jam tour. It will feature three professional classes of racing, including the world’s fastest machines in Top Fuel, IHRA’s own Pro Modified class, and the quickest and fastest Pro Stock cars on the planet competing in Elite Motorsports Pro Stock.

Current professional point leaders coming into the race are: Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Ray Commisso (Pro Modified), and Cary Goforth (Pro Stock).

Sportsman racing will also be featured at the event as drivers from IHRA’s seven sportsman classes will have another chance to punch their ticket to the year-end Tournament of Champions.

Friday and Saturday night’s action will be highlighted by the SafeAuto Night of Fire

The SafeAuto Night of Fire will feature professional qualifying under the lights and the awesome show-stopping spectacle that only Bob Motz’s 20,000- horsepower jet-powered Kenworth can provide.

From the 20-foot flames and earthshaking launch of the “King of Quake” Bob Motz to the eight-foot flames shooting into the night sky from the headers of the 320 mile-per-hour Top Fuel dragsters, the SafeAuto Night of Fire is always the highlight of any IHRA national event.

Championship Sunday will close out the weekend with eliminations set to begin at 11 a.m. and final eliminations taking place at 4 p.m.

The inaugural event at Dallas Raceway is sure to be a spectacular affair, so don’t miss out as one of the most unique race tracks on the planet showcases the fastest cars in the sport next month in Crandall. There’s only one first time, and to be a part of something this historic is a rare opportunity. Don’t miss your chance to say “I was there.”

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

 

IHRA DRAG RACING IN TOWN - FIRST TIME IN 21 YEARS

Typically, the drivers are the stars of the Nitro Jam professional drag racing series.

In a little over a week, however, it is the track that is going to take center stage.

Dallas Raceway and its streets of concrete will provide the backdrop for the third leg of the 2009 Nitro Jam tour as the world’s best drivers descend on Crandall, Texas next week for the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals May 29-31 at the track known in racing circles simply as the “Concrete Palace.”

It is a dream that is years in the making for track owner Kenny Barnes, who wanted to create one of the most modern, top-of-the-line facilities in drag racing.

And after years of blood, sweat and tears, that dream is finally going to become a reality as the track is set to host its first national event next week.

“This has been a big project, but things are finally starting to turn around and I can’t wait to get this event up and running,” Barnes said.

Headlining the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals will be three professional classes of racing including Top Fuel, Pro Modified and Elite Motorsports Pro Stock, along with the always popular sportsman racing.

One name has dominated the headlines early in the 2009 Top Fuel season – Bruce Litton.

With one win and a runner-up finish in the first two races of the year, Litton begins the season with two straight final round appearances for the fifth time in his career, the first since 2002.

“We try to do the best we can at every race. The Rock was kind of tough on us, we broke some parts, but we were tickled to get to the final round and be runner-up,” Litton said. “The car is running great, but there are several teams out there that can close the gap on you in a hurry.”

Litton knocked off Bobby Lagana Jr. in the season opener before losing in the championship round of the Spring Nationals last month to rookie Del Cox who closed the gap considerably on the 2007 series champion with his first victory.

With the win and the strength of two straight No. 1 qualifier bonuses, Cox has jumped to second in the Top Fuel point’s battle, two points behind Litton’s series topping 204 markers.

“I knew they were going to be in the hunt all year, but they aren’t the only ones. There are several cars in the thick of things and there are still a lot races left to go,” Litton said.

Baton Rouge runner-up Lagana is third with 132 points, followed by defending Nitro Funny Car champion Terry Haddock (127) and Lagana’s teammate Paul Lee (123).

Dallas’ tricky surface should provide a tough test for the drivers of the fastest cars on the planet and promises to shake things up before the weekend is out.

“It is exactly the same kind of situation as Baton Rouge with having no data on the track, but the only thing this time is that it is brand new,” Litton said. “It kind of makes you foam at the mouth with what we have seen in photos and the racing they have already had down there. It is an awesome track and the person who learns it the fastest is going to win.”

But for a former series champion and longtime veteran of the sport, Litton has plenty of confidence going into next week’s race.

“I have pretty much had the same guys for years, they have always worked well together and this is the same car that won the championship in 2007 and was runner-up last year so we have high expectations for it,” Litton said. “We just have to learn how to run it. It tells you want it wants, you just have to understand it.

“We go to every race looking to do as well as we can. You just have to first qualify and then qualify well then from there you just take it round by round.”

For Pro Modified drivers Ed Hoover and Kenny Lang – the time to strike is now.

With the season about to kick into full gear, Hoover and Lang find themselves second and third in points respectively and the two veterans know that with summer quickly approaching, the time to make a move is now.

“We have never been in a position like this so early in the year and we are definitely excited about our chances this season,” Hoover said.

While Hoover is currently searching for his first championship, Lang is looking for his second straight. And with the talent between the two, it should make for an interesting battle as the season progresses.

“We have got a good hot rod this year. We worked hard over the winter, we tried some stuff that I wanted to try and so far it is working well for us,” Hoover said. “It is a five-second hot rod during the daytime. In Rockingham we had some great numbers in the early rounds and with the new track down in Texas we hope to repeat that or maybe even do a little better.”

And a chance to contend for a title would be especially sweet for Hoover, one of the innovators of the class.

Hoover not only won the very first Pro Modified race back in 1990, but he also holds the distinction of claiming the largest Pro Mod purse in series history last year and has also tasted victory at a dozen different tracks over his 19 year Pro Mod career.

But one thing that has eluded the 15-time national event winner is a championship – and the long-time veteran hopes to put himself in the perfect position to chase down that elusive IHRA crown next weekend in Texas.

Hoover is a two-time national event winner in the state of Texas, taking a pair of victories at San Antonio Raceway in 2005 and 2007.

But to pull off a win Hoover will have to contend with defending series champion Lang who currently sits just 13 points behind Hoover and his team.

“We are definitely excited to have the lead this early in the year, we just have to hang onto it,” Hoover said. “We have the equipment and crew to go after the championship and we really feel this is the year to do it.”

Hoover currently sits in second with 146 points, 26 markers behind Commisso. Lang is third with 133 points while Rockingham winner Tim Tindle (114) and Tommy Gray (105) round out the top five going into Dallas.

“With a new track it is a whole new ballgame. The surface looks great and from a few people I talked to who tested down there it is going to be fast and should provide some great racing,” Hoover said. “If it is prepped right, and the IHRA has always done a stellar job, it will come around. It may take a few rounds to get it broke in, but it will come around.

“We have a fast hot rod and are looking forward to the race. A new track and new fans should make for an exciting weekend.”

Cary Goforth began the season with hopes of contending for a win and maybe even making a late run at the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock championship.

He didn’t know it would all happen so fast.

Goforth stunned the field last month at the IHRA Spring Nationals winning his first career Ironman and in the process found himself atop the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock standings, 32 points ahead of the man he beat at Rockingham, defending series champion Pete Berner.

“I haven’t come down from the clouds yet. And it was a double whammy for us getting the points lead,” Goforth said. “Talking to dad the other day, he has won two championships and we talked about how overwhelming it all is and he was right, being in this new position is a bit overwhelming.”

But it wasn’t until Goforth was on his way home that his accomplishments truly sunk in.

“It clicked when I was at the other end of the track and I got all emotional, but when I was coming home and all the calls started coming in from friends, family and peers – that is when it really sunk in. We realized then how big of a deal it was,” Goforth said.

While Goforth is without a doubt still reveling in the sudden success, he can’t get too comfortable just yet as next week’s Amalie Oil Texas Nationals promise to shake things up in the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock standings as over two dozen cars – including 19 of the top 20 in points – will be on hand to try and master the brand new Dallas Raceway.

“It is hard to explain. No matter what sanction you are running with, when you look at the semis and finals you see the importance of leaving first. If you leave second, you are second at the stripe,” Goforth said. “These drivers are as good as anybody on the planet and everybody is so close and the level of competition is so good in IHRA Pro Stock right now.”

Included in that list is a completely intact top 10 ready to challenge Goforth’s lead.

Goforth reached the Pro Stock summit with a win and a semifinal appearance in Baton Rouge, but defending champion Berner is right on his tail. Mardi Gras Nationals winner Jason Collins is third with 146 points, while the incredibly fast Frank Gugliotta (134) is fourth and long-time veteran John Montecalvo (131) is fifth.

Rounding out the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock top 10 are early surprise Mark Martino (100), teammates Richard Freeman (81) and J.R. Carr (81), Dean Goforth (78) and Bob Bertsch (77).

All of the top drivers will be out in full force next week trying to claim an Ironman at the brand new facility.

“I am excited because it is new and it is another place close enough for family and friends to come to,” Goforth said. “I have no concerns about it being a so-called green track. When you have Jim Weinart prepping the track you don’t have a problem. As far as I am concerned he is the best out there. No, my only concern is if I can let my foot off the clutch.

“The track will be in top shape. It is less than three hours from our house and we are just looking forward to the whole deal. It looks like a top notch place.”