Kevin Jones, the fourth alternate after final qualifying, completes storybook weekend with Top Fuel Ironman victory at Tulsa Raceway Park

Kevin Jones, a barber from Berea, Ky., will probably be sending Doug Foley a gift card good for a lifetime of free haircuts. When Foley decided to pull out of the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals presented by Wolverine and Academy Sports + Outdoors to compete in the NHRA race in Englishtown, Jones and Sipple Family Racing were contacted by IHRA to see if they were interested in filling out the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro NitroTop Fuel field by competing at the Nitro Jam event in Tulsa.

They had three days to get ready and head to Oklahoma, but the trip was more than worthwhile.

Jones drove past Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, to claim the first career Ironman for Sipple Family Racing. He carded a 5.138 at 260.71 mph to defeat Litton, who lost traction at half-track and lifted out of the run. Jones and crew chief Mike Sipple were thrilled with the victory, but they wish John “Doc” Sipple, the patriarch of Sipple Family Racing, could have been there to enjoy it with them.

“Doc” recently had a stint put in his heart and was back home in Kentucky recovering, unable to make the trip to Tulsa.

“This was the first time a Top Fuel team has ever pulled out of Berea without him in the rig,” Jones said. “It was kind of an emotional thing, but we knew we had to do what we had to do. If the Lord lays the way out for you, doggone it, that’s just the way it has to be. We may not understand it or like it, but if the grass is green the grass is green. You just have to follow that path.”

AN ALTERNATE TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Kevin Jones, the fourth alternate after final qualifying, completes storybook weekend with Top Fuel Ironman victory at Tulsa Raceway Park

Kevin Jones, a barber from Berea, Ky., will probably be sending Doug Foley a gift card good for a lifetime of free haircuts. When Foley decided to pull out of the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals presented by Wolverine and Academy Sports + Outdoors to compete in the NHRA race in Englishtown, Jones and Sipple Family Racing were contacted by IHRA to see if they were interested in filling out the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro NitroTop Fuel field by competing at the Nitro Jam event in Tulsa.

They had three days to get ready and head to Oklahoma, but the trip was more than worthwhile.

Jones drove past Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, to claim the first career Ironman for Sipple Family Racing. He carded a 5.138 at 260.71 mph to defeat Litton, who lost traction at half-track and lifted out of the run. Jones and crew chief Mike Sipple were thrilled with the victory, but they wish John “Doc” Sipple, the patriarch of Sipple Family Racing, could have been there to enjoy it with them.

“Doc” recently had a stint put in his heart and was back home in Kentucky recovering, unable to make the trip to Tulsa.

“This was the first time a Top Fuel team has ever pulled out of Berea without him in the rig,” Jones said. “It was kind of an emotional thing, but we knew we had to do what we had to do. If the Lord lays the way out for you, doggone it, that’s just the way it has to be. We may not understand it or like it, but if the grass is green the grass is green. You just have to follow that path.”

Dale Creasy Jr., the defending Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world champion from Beecher, Ill., continued his early-season success by stopping Andy Kelley in the final round. Creasy entered the event with a slim three-point lead over Jack Wyatt in the championship points standings, but he topped Wyatt in the semifinals before a 5.078/289.14 pass in the final round gave him the Ironman.

“The only thing that could have ruined this thing today was the driver,” Creasy said. “My crew did a tremendous job. After the first run we didn’t like the way the motor looked. We didn’t hurt it but the crew didn’t like something about it. They changed it and 40 minutes later it was running great. These guys are the best. My crew and Evan Knoll. I just got off the phone with him and he’s ecstatic. I love the guy and he has done everything for me.”

Rob Atchison, London, Ont., tightened up the championship points race with a victory over defending world champion Mark Thomas in the final round. Atchison, who had the quickest car all day, put together a 5.846 at 241.89 mph to claim the Alcohol Funny Car Ironman.

“This is getting fun,” Atchison said. “I still think the car has more to give, but we’ve figured out how to consistently get down the track and that’s half the battle. This class is getting really exciting. Terry Munroe is running well early and you know Mark and I are going to be there all year. Any time you can beat Mark in a round, whether it’s the final round or whatever, it’s a big deal.”

Pat Stoken, Eureka, Mont., won his first career national event when he defeated defending world champion Quain Stott in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified final.

Stoken was the first nitrous-powered Pro Modified to claim an IHRA national event victory since Mike Castellana captured the Ironman at the President’s Cup Nationals in Budds Creek during the 2005 season.

“This is great, it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Stoken said. “I don’t know if there was ever a time during the race where I thought “you know, I could win this thing’ but the car was incredibly consistent and I was able to go rounds. I guess a nitrous car can win.”

Defending Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock world champion Pete Berner took an early step towards a successful title defense when he knocked off Brian Gahm in the final round. Berner posted a 6.419 at 216.27 mph with a .070 reaction time to top Gahm’s 6.414/216.03 with a .077 reaction time. Berner’s margin of victory was a scant .002 of a second.

“I knew I would have to be on my game because Brian is a two-time world champion,” Berner said. “That was the best drag race I have ever participated in. I actually had no idea who had won it and, truthfully, if Brian would have pulled it out I would have been thrilled for him.”