CREASY LEADS NITRO FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING IN TORONTO; Foley, Pontieri, Patrick and Thomas
Also No. 1 Qualifiers

Dale Creasy Jr. raced to the top of the Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying Saturday with a 4.946-second run during the IHRA Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. Other No. 1 qualifiers include Doug Foley (Top Fuel), Tony Pontieri (Pro Modified), Robert Patrick (Pro Stock) and Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car).

Creasy Jr. came into this event leading the points in a very tight chase with Jack Wyatt and Bob Gilbertson. Based on qualifying, he’s gained a point over Wyatt, who is qualified second, and six points on Gilbertson, in the 7th spot. In addition, the No. 1 spot will grant Creasy Jr. the first round bye, as the field is set with only seven cars.

For the second night in a row, Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel qualifying was cut short. With four cars yet to go down the track, rain began to fall, showing no signs of stopping in time for proper drying. The night was called and the portion of Top Fuel qualifying that was completed was thrown out.

 Therefore, the fields are set based on round one of qualifying. Foley, the current points leader, who has never lost a round of competition at Toronto Motorsports Park, is No. 1 with a 4.791/318.99. Clay Millican is second with a 4.795, followed by Rick Cooper and Bobby Lagana Jr.

CREASY LEADS NITRO FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING IN TORONTO; Foley, Pontieri, Patrick and Thomas
Also No. 1 Qualifiers

Dale Creasy Jr. raced to the top of the Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying Saturday with a 4.946-second run during the IHRA Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. Other No. 1 qualifiers include Doug Foley (Top Fuel), Tony Pontieri (Pro Modified), Robert Patrick (Pro Stock) and Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car).

Creasy Jr. came into this event leading the points in a very tight chase with Jack Wyatt and Bob Gilbertson. Based on qualifying, he’s gained a point over Wyatt, who is qualified second, and six points on Gilbertson, in the 7th spot. In addition, the No. 1 spot will grant Creasy Jr. the first round bye, as the field is set with only seven cars.

For the second night in a row, Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel qualifying was cut short. With four cars yet to go down the track, rain began to fall, showing no signs of stopping in time for proper drying. The night was called and the portion of Top Fuel qualifying that was completed was thrown out.

Therefore, the fields are set based on round one of qualifying. Foley, the current points leader, who has never lost a round of competition at Toronto Motorsports Park, is No. 1 with a 4.791/318.99. Clay Millican is second with a 4.795, followed by Rick Cooper and Bobby Lagana Jr.

The Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class was highlighted by Toronto’s Pontieri jumping to the No. 1 qualifying position with a track record-setting 6.060/236.38. Tommy D’Aprile is second, followed by Jim Halsey and Danny Rowe. Scott Cannon Jr. is on the bump with a 6.259.

The Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock qualifying changed little from Friday. Patrick, Fredericksburg, Va., sits in the first position with his 6.393/217.11 pass from round one. He’s trailed by Brian Gahm, Lucasville, Ohio, Frank Gugliotta and Steve Spiess. Elijah Morton sits on the bump-spot with a 6.480/214.35.

In Alcohol Funny Car, Thomas, Louisville, Ohio, remained in the No. 1 spot with his Friday night 5.831/244.83 run. Defending world champion and London, Ontario-native Rob Atchison improved on his position, jumping to the No. 2 spot with a 5.854/244.47. Terry Munroe, Tom Carter and Paul Noakes round out the top five.

Professional eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Final round is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.



First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the IHRA Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Foley, 4.791 seconds, 318.99 mph vs. 5. Todd Paton, 4.986, 294.31; 2. Clay Millican, 4.795, 302.55 vs. 6. Kevin Jones, 5.077, 263.00; 3. Rick Cooper, 4.917, 276.97 vs. 7. Chris Karamesines, 5.542, 246.30; 4. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.930, 267.80 vs. 8. Bob Leverich, 6.786, 191.43.

Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.946, 309.56 vs. 5. Vincent Arcadi, Monte Carlo, 6.157, 150.85; 2. Jack Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 5.041, 300.13 vs. 6. Smax Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.355, 232.75; 3. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 5.095, 290.01 vs. 7. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 7.020, 142.88; 4. Paul Lee, Monte Carlo, 5.507, 202.64 vs. Bye.

Pro Modified -- 1. Tony Pontieri, Chevy Bel Air, 6.060, 236.38 vs. 9. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.196, 230.76; 2. Tommy D'Aprile, Chevy Corvette, 6.104, 233.72 vs. 10. Alan Pittman, Bel Air, 6.197, 226.28; 3. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.130, 228.04 vs. 11. John Russo, Camaro, 6.198, 228.85; 4. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.132, 231.56 vs. 12. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.208, 231.16; 5. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 6.146, 232.35 vs. 13. Glen Kerunsky, Bel Air, 6.211, 232.35; 6. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.161, 231.44 vs. 14. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.247, 226.01; 7. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.174, 229.16 vs. 15. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.257, 224.36; 8. Eddie Ware, Camaro, 6.187, 231.99 vs. 16. Scott Cannon, Pontiac GTO, 6.259, 230.10.

Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.831, 244.83 vs. 5. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.935, 240.34; 2. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 5.854, 244.47 vs. 6. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.939, 235.19; 3. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.858, 238.43 vs. 7. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 6.013, 235.80; 4. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.925, 239.02 vs. 8. Vincent Rastelli, Corvette, 6.124, 231.20.

Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Shelby GT 500, 6.393, 217.11 vs. 9. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.444, 213.77; 2. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.401, 217.25 vs. 10. Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.451, 215.48; 3. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.408, 218.12 vs. 11. Richard Penland, Escort, 6.460, 216.41; 4. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.417, 216.27 vs. 12. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.463, 215.31; 5. Rob Mansfield, Cobalt, 6.430, 217.56 vs. 13. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 6.473, 214.55; 6. Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 6.433, 217.04 vs. 14. John Konigshofer, Mercury Cougar, 6.474, 215.68; 7. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.434, 216.27 vs. 15. John Nobile, Escort, 6.476, 214.69; 8. Jerry Haas, GTO, 6.436, 216.00 vs. 16. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.480, 214.35.