The last stop on the IHRA Nitro Jam tour was anything but memorable for many of the drivers in Elite Motorsports Pro Stock.

For John Montecalvo, however, the race two weeks ago in Grand Bend was more like a dream come true.

With the top three in points all suffering nightmarish first round losses, Montecalvo was able to make up a ton of ground with a trip to the finals as he made the leap from fourth to second in points and now finds himself just six markers back leader Frank Gugliotta.

The last stop on the IHRA Nitro Jam tour was anything but memorable for many of the drivers in Elite Motorsports Pro Stock.

For John Montecalvo, however, the race two weeks ago in Grand Bend was more like a dream come true.

With the top three in points all suffering nightmarish first round losses, Montecalvo was able to make up a ton of ground with a trip to the finals as he made the leap from fourth to second in points and now finds himself just six markers back leader Frank Gugliotta.

“That was absolutely incredible. What are the odds of all those guys going out in the first round? I don’t think I have ever seen that,” Montecalvo said. “We knew going into that race it was an important race for us, we had to make up a lot of ground, but I never dreamed those guys would all go out in the first round like that.”

Now Montecalvo, who was on the cusp of being in the championship hunt with Gugliotta, Pete Berner and Cary Goforth going into Grand Bend, has thrown himself right into the middle of the bunch. In fact, from Gugliotta back to Goforth in fourth, the margin is less than a single round of competition.

“I think what is going to win this thing is not so much how many wins you have, but how many round wins you have. That is what it is all going to come down to,” Montecalvo said.

Montecalvo has been able to propel himself into second thanks to a remarkable three final round appearances in five starts, but he has yet to get a victory this season.

“It has just been one of those years. I am really fortunate to be in so many finals, but I would definitely have liked to have won one,” Montecalvo said. “I can’t complain though, how can you complain with a runner-up? There are 20 other people who would like to be in that position and I am just happy to keep going rounds.”

Now, with only four races remaining on the schedule, it is time to get down to business as each and every pass down the track could be the difference in first or fifth in points.

“From here on in it is crunch time. Sure we would like to get a couple more trophies, but the main thing right now is to go rounds and try to stay in points,” Montecalvo said.

 

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