IHRA CANADIAN NATIONALS - EVENT NOTEBOOK| IHRA CANADIAN NATIONALS - EVENT NOTEBOOK | ||||
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MONDAY FINAL -
Terry McMillen is getting the hang of this whole Nitro thing. After driving in the Alcohol Funny Car ranks for years without finding the Winner’s Circle, McMillen, Elkhart, Ind. won his second IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam national event of the season in the Top Fuel class with a final round win over national points leader T.J. Zizzo during the Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource.
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SUNDAY - IHRA Canadian Nationals Finals Pushed to
Monday
Sunday eliminations for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource have
been postponed and will be completed Monday.
Rain began early Sunday morning and continued to saturate
the track throughout the day. At 3:30 p.m., IHRA and Toronto Motorsports Park
officials cancelled racing for the day, rescheduling eliminations for
Monday.
After near-perfect conditions Saturday drew a
standing-room-only crowd for the Chevrolet “Night of Fire,” race officials opted
to run three full rounds of sportsman eliminations in anticipation of Sunday’s
rain. That tough call was preceded by Friday’s decision to bump the professional
qualifier up an hour to avoid impending rain. When it began raining Friday night
at 7:25 p.m., only two cars hadn’t been down the track.
“We’ve made two tough decisions already this weekend and
thankfully both have been correct,” said IHRA vice president of racing
operations Skooter Peaco. “The only good thing about bumping Sunday to Monday is
that it was an easy call to make because the temperature is rapidly dropping and
the rain just wouldn’t stop.”
Monday’s forecast is calling for favorable
weather.
“The IHRA team has worked hard this weekend to account for
weather conflicts with our race schedule. We’ve managed to squeeze in rounds of
racing that would normally not have gotten in, in order to make the situation
more convenient for sportsman and professional race teams,” added Peaco. “We’ll
come back Monday and finish this one.”
Sportsman racing will begin at 9:15 a.m. All sportsman
competitors left in competition will get a time run prior to the continuation of
eliminations. Professional eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m., 11:15, 12
noon and 2 p.m.
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RAIN DELAYS FINAL ELIMINATIONS
Sunday eliminations are under rain-delay at Toronto Motorsports Park for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource.
After near-perfect conditions Saturday drew a standing room only crowd for the Chevrolet “Night of Fire,” race officials opted to run two full rounds of Pro-Am eliminations in anticipation of Sunday’s rain.
IHRA officials plan to wait the rain out until mid-afternoon before making a call on finishing the event.
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Click to visit our sponsor's website SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - ZIZZO TOPS TOP FUEL QUALIFYING IN CAYUGA
Other professional No. 1 qualifiers include Dale Creasy Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Scott Cannon Jr. (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Robert Patrick (Pro Stock).
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park, the eighth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.053, 298.14 vs. 5. John Lawson, Chevy Camaro, 5.113, 251.53; 2. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Stratus, 5.080, 290.51 vs. 6. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 5.290, 222.51; 3. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 5.081, 234.09 vs. 7. Jeff Diehl, Pontiac Firebird, 5.439, 282.36; 4. Andy Kelley, Firebird, 5.093, 295.98 vs. 8. Mitch King, Firebird, 5.491, 200.20.
Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.001, 238.89 vs. 9. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.131, 232.55; 2. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.003, 241.32 vs. 10. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.144, 231.12; 3. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.008, 237.63 vs. 11. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.168, 228.65; 4. John Russo, Camaro, 6.080, 236.09 vs. 12. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.169, 233.72; 5. Tony Pontieri, Chevy Bel Air, 6.101, 234.25 vs. 13. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.172, 231.64; 6. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.103, 233.72 vs. 14. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.179, 231.12; 7. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 6.110, 234.00 vs. 15. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.197, 225.11; 8. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 6.124, 230.10 vs. 16. Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.205, 225.75.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.784, 240.94 vs. 5. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.914, 243.99; 2. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.824, 243.37 vs. 6. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.915, 238.13; 3. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.883, 240.81 vs. 7. Scott Wildgust, Monte Carlo, 5.950, 241.41; 4. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.896, 239.53 vs. 8. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.952, 237.96.
Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.343, 218.30 vs. 9. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.393, 219.12; 2. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.350, 220.12 vs. 10. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.406, 216.76; 3. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.359, 220.76 vs. 11. Dean Goforth, Pontiac GTO, 6.407, 219.36; 4. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.366, 218.69 vs. 12. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.410, 218.51; 5. Pete Berner, GTO, 6.369, 217.88 vs. 13. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.421, 218.05; 6. John Nobile, Mustang, 6.370, 218.87 vs. 14. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.427, 216.97; 7. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.379, 218.27 vs. 15. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.437, 217.95; 8. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.387, 218.19 vs. 16. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 6.458, 216.00. a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website SATURDAY - HARVEY WALL BANGING
Nitro Funny Car driver, Randy Bykowsky had his hands full during the 2pm qualifying pass on Saturday. His car lost traction and turned left into retaining wall. He was apparently uninjured but was transported to a local facility for observation.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING - McMillen Provisional No. 1 Top Fuel Qualifier At Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource
Other provisional No. 1 qualifiers include Jack Wyatt (Nitro Funny Car), Scott Cannon Jr. (Pro Modified), Terry Munroe (Alcohol Funny Car) and John Montecalvo (Pro Stock).
In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, McMillen is trailed by Bruce Litton, 4.664, Scotty Cannon, 4.736, Jeff O’Neill, 4.762, and Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.915. Paris, Ontario-native Todd Paton is currently not in the field.
With two Nitro Funny Cars left to run – Dale Creasy Jr. and Terry Haddock, No. 1 and 2 in points – it began to rain on the track and officials were forced to pull the plug. They will run to officially complete round one of Nitro Funny Car qualifying first thing Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Points leader Cannon used a 6.101 ET to jump to No. 1 and take the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified Last Man Standing. He’s followed by Shannon Jenkins and Pat Stoken. Carl Spiering, Jordan Station, Ontario, set the track speed record with a 236.59 and sits fourth.
Alcohol Funny Car driver Munroe used a 5.893, 240.81 to take the provisional No. 1 spot and the Last Man Standing. He’s followed by Waitburg, Ontario’s Scott Wildgust, Terry McMillen and Tim Stevens. Current points leader Mark Thomas is sixth. London, Ontario-residents Rob Atchison and Paul Noakes sit fifth and tenth respectively.
FRIDAY EVENT NOTEBOOK – Strong Fuel field, The Real Diehl and Some Things Never Change About TMP
STRONG FUEL – There are currently 22 nitro cars on the grounds at Toronto Motorsports Park, with another two reportedly on the way. DOUBLE DIPPING - Scotty Wildgust will be doing double duty this weekend. Wildgust will drive the ‘57 Chevy Pro Mod that he has campaigned in the PMRA Series in Canada. In addition, he will also pilot the Alcohol Funny Car owned by Spiro Kontos. THE REAL DIEHL - Jeff Diehl, Nitro Funny Car driver, will be having a tough time in Canada this weekend. The rig arrived with only him and one crewman, Justin Sturgill. Andy Kelly's crew asked that the Diehl team be parked close to their pit so that they could offer any help possible. Regardless of the help provided by other teams, it will be the Double J team in the Deihl pit this weekend. HEY, I REMEMBER YOU – Sixty-nine year old Fred Farndon is in the house this weekend. Farndon goes back many years in the sport and holds the dubious honor of being the only Top Fuel driver to fire a car in Brazil. As part of a tour for the NHRA in 1996, he visited Japan and Brazil. In Brazil, they had never seen a Top Fuel car and were unaware of the noise and vibrations. As he was attempting to fire the car, the spectators and press people were crowding around so close that they were actually touching the car. After starting the car on alcohol and losing a couple of fans to that noise, the engine was switched over to nitro. He lost the rest of them in a panic. Including the local newspaper cameraman who fell over backwards and the TV cameraman who threw his equipment and ran away. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE – TMP's standards haven’t changed since 2002. The repair work to the track that was promised after last year’s event appears to only have been started Monday or Tuesday of this week. IHRA officials, while not commenting, do not appear amused at all.
MOOVING EXPERIENCE - Bruce Litton's Lucas Cattle Car will be
running for the last time this weekend in Cayuga. After the race the Circle L
car (Lucas Cattle Brand) will be mooving to the Litton Mooseum in Indianapolis.
OUT OF HIS ELEMENT - Tom Lee is driving a second car for Elijah Morton this weekend. Morton is using the Top Sportsman class as a test session for his 2005 Mustang. Lee, who normally wrenches in the NHRA Cagnazzi camp, took the mountain motor to the top of the pack with a 6.473 elapsed time at 213.81 mph. He is two-tenths ahead of the nearest regular Top Sportsman competitor and a half-second over the majority of the field. - Roger Richards
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T.J. Zizzo jumped to the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifying position with a track
record-setting 4.576 elapsed time during the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented
by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park.
In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel,
while points leader Zizzo took the top position and Last Man Standing, Bruce
Litton, who trails Zizzo by 28 points, qualified second and set the track speed
record at 324.20 mph. Scotty Cannon is third, followed by Terry McMillen,
Canadian Todd Paton, Jeff O’Neill and Bobby Lagana Jr. Mitch King sits on the
bump spot at No. 8.
Points leader Cannon Jr. continued his dominance of the
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class by setting the track ET record,
earning the top qualifying spot and Last Man Standing. Cannon ran a 6.001,
238.89, followed by Mike Janis, who set the track speed record to 241.32 mph.
Jordan Station, Ontario’s Carl Spiering qualified third, followed by John Russo
and Toronto’s Tony Pontieri.
In Alcohol Funny Car, Atchison, London, Ontario, picked
up the top spot and Last Man Standing with a 5.784, 239.27. He’s trailed by
fellow Ontario-resident Paul Noakes, then Terry Munroe and Tim Stevens. Points
leader Mark Thomas qualified fifth, making for an Atchison-Thomas first-round
match-up.
Top Fuel -- 1. T.J. Zizzo, 4.576 seconds, 321.27
mph vs. 5. Todd Paton, 4.754, 317.72; 2.
Bruce Litton, 4.608, 324.20 vs. 6. Jeff
O'Neill, 4.762, 311.41; 3. Scotty Cannon, 4.658, 321.73 vs. 7. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.915, 286.32; 4.
Terry McMillen, 4.659, 311.92 vs. 8.
Mitch King, 4.968, 281.60.
Terry McMillen,
Elkhart,
Ind., drove to the provisional No. 1 Top Fuel
qualifying position Friday evening during the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented
by PartSource. McMillen covered the quarter-mile at
Toronto
Motorsports
Park in 4.659 seconds at 311.92 mph
to take the top spot and Last Man Standing.
Wyatt took the
provisional No. 1 position in Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car
with a 5.080, 290.51. He’s followed by Bob Gilbertson and Andy Kelley.
In Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock, Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., ran 6.379,
218.27, to capture the No. 1 spot and the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge. He’s
followed by Jeff Dobbins and Steve Spiess. Brian Gahm, who set the track speed
record with a 220.37, is currently fourth.
Woodbridge,
Ontario’s Anthony Paone sits on the No. 16
bump spot.
Results Friday after qualifying for the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource at Toronto Motorsports Park, ninth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
