There’s something to be said for a driver who after getting a phone call on Tuesday, can hop on an airplane, fly halfway around the world, jump into a foreign race car and win a race.

Michael Gullqvist of Stockholm, Sweden, knows exactly how the experience feels.

Gullqvist was called in to substitute at the NHRA Southern Nationals for Raymond Commisso, whose father Ernesto Commisso passed away Tuesday night in Toronto.

There’s something to be said for a driver who after getting a phone call on Tuesday, can hop on an airplane, fly halfway around the world, jump into a foreign race car and win a race.

Michael Gullqvist of Stockholm, Sweden, knows exactly how the experience feels.

Gullqvist was called in to substitute at the NHRA Southern Nationals for Raymond Commisso, whose father Ernesto Commisso passed away Tuesday night in Toronto.

“Our thoughts go out to Raymond Commisso,” said Gullqvist, who defeated No. 1 qualifier Mike Janis in the final round. “This win is dedicated to his family.”

As impressive as he feat was, in the early going Gullqvist wondered if he was even going to make the trip from Europe because of the uncertainty of air travel due to volcanic ash from Iceland.

“The first thing I had to do is check to see if we could fly around the ash clouds,” Gullqvist explained. “I was able to find some flights and get over here on Thursday. The quickest available flight put me here on Thursday.”

Commerce marked the second time Gullqvist had driven for Roger Burgess and the R2B2 operation. He drove a Roger Burgess car to a runner-up finish at the NHRA GSA Pro Mod season-opener in Gainesville, Fla.

His victory marked the first time a European driver has won an NHRA national event.

This weekend, he drove a totally different car and the first run he made was during Friday’s qualifying session. He ended up as the sixth quickest in the sixteen car field.

There were some adjustments to the 1968 Camaro before the opening run.

“The car I drove in Gainesville was larger and there were some issues,” Gullqvist explained. “With the car I drove this weekend, there were some steering wheel issues. Ray has a small steering wheel and I couldn’t drive it with that wheel. I told them before I got here, they had to change that.”

This weekend’s success marked the third consecutive race final for Gullqvist including an FIA European championship event in 2009 which cost him the title.

“I feel real good making up for the red-light last time,” Gullqvist said. “I always do good over here racing.”

Gullqvist’s next event will be the FIA European Championship in Santa Pod, England.

 

 

Advertisement