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IHRA Hooters Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock

Richmond - Final

Patrick concludes week of semi-final finishes

PETERSBURG, Va. – Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock standout Robert Patrick concluded a week of positive performances. Participating in two events over a span of three days netted two semi-final finishes and a pole position. Patrick’s weekend at the IHRA ACDelco Nationals hosted by Virginia Motorsports Park ended in the semi-finals opposite eventual champion Rick Jones. Just two days earlier, the Fredericksburg, Va.-based driver turned in a semi-final finish from the pole position at the Mountain Motor Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.

Patrick felt remorseful for the defeat, which came from a quicker reaction time turned in by Jones. The Purvis Ford-sponsored driver was the quicker of the two combatants with a pass of 6.452, 216.69. Adding to his frustration was the fact that the lap represented the low elapsed time of the event.

“The performance of this car certainly provided us with the potential to win this weekend,” Patrick said. “We are very pleased with what we achieved, but I feel that I let the team down by not cutting a better light. I think this weekend’s performance put us in a good position for the championship. I think we are making good progress toward the goals we established at the start of the season.”

Patrick was participating in his first event utilizing Bob Ingles as an engine builder. The duo made an impact out of the gate with the third quickest lap in qualifying. He used the performance advantage to successfully take the measure of first and second round opponents Chuck DeMory and Chevrolet standout John Montecalvo.

The success in qualifying vaulted Patrick into the second place ranking in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock division. His qualifying efforts have landed him third in the position for a berth in the prestigious Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown, a special race-within-a-race in October during the Torco Race Fuels President’s Cup Nationals.

“That provides an excellent opportunity for us,” Patrick added. “One of our foremost goals is to be a part of that program. Hopefully, we’ll be able to put it together when we need to.

“If you think this is going to taint our determination, I wouldn’t invest much into that line of thought. If anything, we’re going to be even more fired up.”

Berner’s championship thought process not deterred by frustrating weekend; Veteran runner rewards class sponsor

PETERSBURG, Va. – One might think going from one end of the strip to another might be a proposition easily achieved by the best engineering minds in drag racing. However, even the frontrunners have an off-weekend. Veteran Torco Pro Stock driver Pete Berner admitted that he didn’t check the schedule when it came to this weekend’s IHRA ACDelco Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. An uncharacteristic first round loss left Berner, the Crete, Ill.-based fitness enthusiast with the feeling that “Momma said there would be days like this.”

Berner, who made the sixteen-car field during the final qualifying session, shrugs his shoulders and promises brighter days are on the horizon.

“There comes a time when sooner or later any team in the pits will have a day that fails to produce the results they hope for,” Berner admitted. “We try not to make a habit of it, but sometimes it rears its ugly head. Instead of harping on negativity, I will evaluate this weekend’s performance and make adjustments for the next race.”

Berner bumped his way into the field with the tenth quickest run of the weekend. Unfortunately, a car determined to drift to the left and a determined Frank Gugliotta contributed to a weekend that ended with first round runner-up status.

That’s water under the bridge. There will be other days.

Berner tries to find the silver lining in every dark cloud and in this case the positive was giving back to class sponsor Torco Race Fuels President Evan Knoll for the kindness he has bestowed upon this class. Over the course of the weekend, Berner’s PMC-sponsored Mustang was equipped with an onboard camera for the upcoming Speed Channel race coverage. Berner took the initiative and adorned the cockpit of his machine with Torco Race Fuels decals. One of the decals was for Knoll’s new clothing line appropriately dubbed Torco Gear.

As fate would have it, executives for Torco Gear were on hand during the course of the weekend shooting footage for a new commercial. Berner was asked to give a testimony for an upcoming commercial to air on national television.

“I’m certainly honored to have had the opportunity,” Berner said. “I think everyone should be taking the time to thank Evan for all he has done for our class. The investment he’s made for not only our class but the IHRA in general warrants that. I just wanted to give something back to him through extra exposure. It’s the least I can do.”

Richmond - Friday

Spiess Captures First Top Spot: Makes Move On Showdown Field

It has been a long time in the making, but Manhattan, Ill.,-driver, Steve Spiess has finally achieved his first-ever No. 1 qualifying spot during qualifying at the AC Delco Nationals in Richmond Va.

In doing so, Spiess became the first Chevy to capture the No. 1 spot this season, and managed to move up in the chase for the 2005 Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown crown.

“I feel very confident going into the first round. We know what we did wrong on the last run in qualifying. We made a couple of little changes, and it didn’t like it, so I don’t even know why we did it,” Spiess said. “I think we could maybe go to the winner’s circle, there’s a lot of good competition out there.”

Spiess qualified his new Chevy Cobalt with a 6.470,216.10 pass, followed by Rick Jones and his Cobalt. Spiess’ run now stands as both ends of the Virginia Motorsports Park track record.

Robert Patrick, who held the pole at the first two races of the year, finished qualifying in the third position. Tony Gillig and Jerry Haas rounded out the top five in qualifying for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown.

The unofficial top ten in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown following qualifying for the Spring Nationals are:

1. Pete Berner
2. John Nobile
3. Robert Patrick
4. Steve Spiess
5. Frank Gugliotta
6. Brian Gahm
7. John Montecalvo
8. Robert Mansfield
9. Rick Jones
10. Elijah Morton

Participants in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown began earning points for this year’s contest at the 2004 Amalie Oil Northern Nationals.

Torco Race Fuels also presented a total bonus of $1,000 to the top four qualifiers in the Pro Modified Shootout. Based on final qualifying position the No. 1 qualifier received $400 followed by $300 for No. 2, $200 for No. 3, and $100 for No. 4.

The next opportunity for drivers in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock class to obtain points towards the shootout will be at the Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada.

The Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown will be contested in Budds Creek, Md., during the Torco Race Fuels President’s Cup Nationals.

The winner of the shootout will receive $20,000, while the runner-up is set to obtain $9,000. Semi-finalists will pocket $2,500 and the quarter-finalists will net $1,500 each.

Richmond - Pre-race

Berner likes his chances atop Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown Points List

No one likes to gloat when they’re on top, but Crete, Ill.-based Torco Pro Stock racer Pete Berner can’t help but smile. Berner, driver of the PMC-sponsored Mustang, assumed the lead in qualifying points for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown following the last event in Rockingham, NC.
Make no bones about it - Berner has no problem with sitting in the catbird seat.

“It’s where we all aspire to be,” said Berner. “I’m a realist and as such I’m reminded there’s a lot of racing left before we head to the Showdown at Budds Creek. We’re just going to keep on keeping on and continue doing the things that got us to the dance. That’s all we know how to do.”

Always a contender for the championship, Berner thrives as one of the most consistent and competitive drivers in the class. As the reigning champion of the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown, he knows that attention to detail is what wins. That’s why in the off-season Berner hired Mike Elliot, a noted 500-inch Pro Stock tuner, to serve as crew chief.

Qualifying third at the recently completed event in Rockingham helped to vault Berner into the lead for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown. With a 20-point lead over nearest competitor John Nobile, Berner is well aware of how quick the tables can turn.

“It’s on a hero to zero basis all the time,” Berner said. “I know that today I could be on top and tomorrow I’m gone. That’s the reality of it all. That reality is what drives me to remain consistent.”

Class standout Rob Mansfield started the 2005 season with a sizable lead on the field. However, engine troubles at the first two races have allowed him to slip into the third slot, while reigning world champion Nobile holds steady in the No. 2 spot. Robert Patrick continues his march up the qualifying sheet, and currently resides in the fourth spot. Rounding out the top five is the Spring Nationals winner, Steve Spiess.

Currently holding places in the top ten are:
1. Pete Berner
2. John Nobile
3. Robert Mansfield
4. Robert Patrick
5. Steve Spiess
6. Brian Gahm
7. Frank Gugliotta
8. John Montecalvo
9. Elijah Morton
10. Rick Jones

Points for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown began accumulating as of the Amalie Oil Nationals in September of 2004. The top eight drivers in the showdown points will compete for $20,000 to win at the Torco Race Fuels President’s Cup Nationals in September.

For more information on Torco Race Fuels or the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown, Please contact Competitionplus.com via Paula Motolik at (440) 221-9164.

Qualifying for Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock begins at 2 PM, EST., on Friday May 27th with a second session at 8 PM. The third and final qualifying session is slated for at 11 AM on Saturday. Final eliminations begin Saturday at 4 PM.

ROCKINGHAM - Post Race

Berner reaches quarter-finals at IHRA Spring Nationals; Claims lead in Torco Race Fuels Showdown points

ROCKINGHAM, NC – Torco Pro Stock driver Pete Berner will tell you there’s a time when a driver has to concede there’s more racing left in a season when the car is out of shape. Such was the case for the Crete, Ill.-based driver during the quarter-final round of competition at the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, NC. Berner, who has been the victim of a high-speed crash before, drifted out of the groove and was forced to give up opposite of Elijah Morton.

Despite the shortcoming, Berner was pleased with the team’s performance this weekend. The defending Torco Race Fuels Showdown champion was able to claim the top spot in the special event point standings.

“The car got loose and once it drifted out of the groove, it forced the motor to over-rev,” Berner said. “”Sometimes you have to just drive smart if you expect to be in this for the long run. I’ve done this long enough to know there’s more racing left in the season than this event.”

Berner concluded qualifying as the third quickest with a 6.462, 213.27. The qualifying success unofficially pulled the veteran driver ahead of Rob Mansfield and defending World Champion John Nobile in the Torco Race Fuels Showdown points.

Berner will be the first to say thanks to Torco Race Fuels for putting up such a great program for the factory hot rod division.

“This is absolutely great,” said Berner. “We wanted to be consistent with our qualifying and not lean toward the aggressive side. I know a lot of times it looks as if we are aggressive, but we really aren’t.”

By virtue of his qualifying position, Berner was paired opposite of Frank Snellings. Berner shared one half of the low E.T. in the fist round with a 6.426, 214.79.

Berner went into the second round with his first round pending as a world record, needing only a 6.49 to back up the mark. He did his job on the starting line but by half-track Berner was forced to lift.

Patrick’s day ends as semi-finalist

ROCKINGHAM, NC – All he needed was one more round win. That’s the assessment Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick made as he lost a tough semi-final match opposite of Jerry Haas during the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, NC.

When it was all said and done, Patrick admitted he just missed the combination in his Purvis Ford-sponsored Cobra SVT.

“That’s the long and skinny of it,” a disappointed Patrick said. “Evidently we went in the wrong direction with it and it came back to get us. I tried to do what I could on the starting line but I just couldn’t hold it.”

Patrick ended up fourth in qualifying after leading the first two sessions. His 6.464, 213.16 from Friday was enough to compensate for two tire-shaking efforts on Saturday.

Patrick backed it down for the opening round that worked to his advantage as a 6.512, 214.35 was enough to get around Tommy Franklin’s 7.304, 180.34.

Patrick was incredible on the starting line with a .008 reaction time that buried Rick Jones. He coupled the quick reflexes with a 6.462, 214.38 and that was more than Jones could overcome.

With one round from the finals, Patrick found himself matched opposite of chassis builder Jerry Haas. Patrick nailed Haas on the tree and held the lead until the 1,000-foot mark. The end result was a losing 6.572, 212.53 for Patrick.

Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown - Spring Nationals; Gugliotta Caps Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Qualifying With Career Best Run

ROCKINGHAM, N.C., - Frank Gugliotta used his No. 1 qualifying effort at the IHRA Spring Nationals to advance his position in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown. Compliments of his stellar 6.412, 214.59 run, Gugliotta moved into the seventh position in the showdown point's chase.

"We had been stepping up our combination in small steps all weekend," Gugliotta admitted. "We got real aggressive on the last the shot and we hit it right. This run was the most aggressive we had been all weekend. I told my guys that we were going to be really good or look really bad."

On the final qualifying pass, Lake Bluff, Ill., -driver, Tony Gillig came from the bottom of the pack and threw down a 6.433, 214.69 run, which landed him in the No. 2 position. Following in the No. 3 spot was Pete Berner, and the No. 1 qualifier in San Antonio, Robert Patrick, finished the day in the No. 4 place.

Rounding out the top five was Rick Jones, who qualified for his first field behind the wheel of his new Chevy Cobalt.

The unofficial top ten in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown following qualifying for the Spring Nationals are:

1. Pete Berner
2. John Nobile
3. Robert Mansfield
4. Robert Patrick
5. Steve Spiess
6. Brian Gahm
7. Frank Gugliotta
8. John Montecalvo
9. Elijah Morton
10. Rick Jones

Participants in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown began earning
points for this year's contest at the 2004 Amalie Oil Northern Nationals.

Torco Race Fuels also presented a total bonus of $1,000 to the top four qualifiers in the Pro Modified Shootout. Based on final qualifying position the No. 1 qualifier received $400 followed by $300 for No. 2, $200 for No. 3, and $100 for No. 4.

The next opportunity for drivers in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock class to obtain points towards the shootout will be at the AC Delco Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va.

The Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown will be contested in Budds Creek, Md., during the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals.

The winner of the shootout will receive $20,000, while the runner-up is set to obtain $9,000. Semi-finalists will pocket $2,500 and the quarter-finalists will net $1,500 each.

New Track Record For Seamon

Rockingham, N.C. – Following an astonishing event win in San Antonio, Dan Seamon, quickly reminded everyone why he was a world champion, by setting a new track speed record at Rockingham Dragway.

During the final round of qualifying on Saturday at the IHRA Spring Nationals, Seamon soared to a 215.86 (6.473) run which landed him in the No. 6 spot.

“We weren’t going out there to try and get a record,” Seamon explained. “We just wanted to make sure we got in the show. I knew the 6.55 run we had earlier in the day wouldn’t hold up. It felt like a good run, and on the radio all I kept hearing was one of my guys yelling 215!”

However, for Seamon and team owner Charlie Taylor, the celebration wouldn’t last as long as they had hoped. During first round of eliminations, their ’05 Escort spun the tires early, forcing Seamon to shut down.

“We had a problem with the clutch early in the weekend and had worked it out through qualifying,” Seamon explained. “Today just wasn’t our day. Hopefully we will get a chance to get out and test before Richmond to work out these kinds of problems.”

Dan Seamon and the Taylor Motorsports team will head to Richmond, Va., for the third stop on the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, May 26th – 28th. - Paula Motolik

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