2009 IHRA NORTH AMERICAN NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
SATURDAY QUALIFYING - ACTION CALLED DUE TO WEATHER; RACING TO RESUME ON SUNDAY
Heavy rain and less than favorable conditions have forced Saturday’s action at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals to be cancelled.
Racing will get back underway first thing Sunday morning.
“With the current conditions and the timeframe we have to work with it has created a perfect storm and there is simply no way to get the track race ready and safe in the allotted amount of time,” said Skooter Peaco, Vice President of Race Operations. “While we are certainly disappointed to have to scrap Saturday’s event, we were pleased to see so many people try and wait out the rain.
“They are what make IHRA racing so great. We have some of the most loyal fans out there and we are going to make sure we put on a great show for them tomorrow.”
Fans that purchased a ticket on Saturday will be able to redeem that ticket at no charge on Sunday.
Currently, on-track action is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. with sportsman eliminations followed by the first round of professional eliminations at 11 a.m. The rest of the schedule will follow the usual format with pro eliminations at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“Right now it looks much better for tomorrow so we should be able to get this thing in the books and put on a great show for the fans,” Peaco said.
A constant rain and low temperatures throughout the day created a no-win situation as the system also affected qualifying on Friday.
Two professional classes were able to get in a round of qualifying on Friday before the rains cut day one short, but Top Fuel has yet to make a run this weekend.
Because of the lack of qualifying the Top Fuel field will be set according to points, while Pro Modified and Elite Motorsports Pro Stock, who both got in a single round on Friday, will be paired according to their runs on Friday.
As it currently stands, Top Fuel drivers Bruce Litton, Del Cox Jr. Bobby Lagana Jr., Mitch King, Tim Boychuk, Terry McMillen, Smax Smith and Dom Lagana will be paired accordingly while Ron August’s IHRA Top Fuel debut will have to wait.
“It is what it is and we will just have to work around it,” Litton said. “You always want to get a pass on the car and see where you are, but that just isn’t the way it worked out. We will make the best of things and hopefully get this thing down the track tomorrow.”
In Pro Modified a strange opening round saw a new face at the top of the charts as Fidelio Montrond (Acushnet, Mass.) will roll off first on Sunday. Montrond, in his first IHRA start of the season, ran a 6.143 second lap at 230.06 miles per hour to give him his first career pole position.
Andy Jensen (Nescopeck, Penn.) is currently second on the charts, followed by Tony Pontieri, Ed Hoover and Pete Farber. Rounding out the eight car field are point leader Kenny Lang, John Russo and Chris Russo.
In Elite Motorsports Pro Stock the single round of qualifying will have a huge impact on the championship chase as the top two drivers in points find themselves matched up in the opening round.
John Montecalvo (Center Moriches, N.Y.) had a solid lap despite the conditions, placing his Chevrolet Cobalt in the fourth position, but point leader Frank Gugliotta (Mt. Airy, Md.), who usually finds himself at the top of the charts, struggled in his first pass of the weekend.
The two will meet up in the opening round in a bout that could determine the 2009 Elite Motorsports Pro Stock championship.
While all eyes will be focused on that matchup, Mark Martino will enjoy a first round bye thanks to his first No. 1 qualifier of his career. Martino (Stoney Creek, Ontario) ran a solid 6.335 elapsed time at 222.88 miles per hour to take the Pro Stock top spot.
Bob Bertsch (Willis, Mich.) is currently second on the charts, followed by Pete Berner, Montecalvo and Ned Katuran.
In other professional action the Pro Stock Sled class will see its 16-machine field set on one round of qualifying as Jay Pearl (Newport, Maine) tops the charts with an 8.491 second pass made Friday night.
Rounding out the top five are Kevin Zucco, Kristin Stanley, Brian Hamel and Ed Illgen.
Finally the Northeast Outlaw Pro Modified class and the Pro Comp classes did not get to make a qualifying pass during the weekend and will see their fields set according to random draw.
Racing action will get back underway at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers at New England Dragway, the eighth of 10 events in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Bruce Litton, 643 (points) vs. 8. Dom Lagana, 63; 2. Del Cox Jr., 628 vs. 7. Smax Smith, 94; 3. Bobby Lagana Jr., 462 vs. 6. Terry McMillen, 324; 4. Mitch King, 386 vs. 5. Tim Boychuk, 358.
Pro Modified -- 1. Fidelio Montrond, Chevy Corvette, 6.143 (seconds), 230.06 (mph) vs. 8. Chris Russo, Corvette, 19.592, 60.08; 2. Andy Jensen, Chevy Camaro, 6.183, 209.23 vs. 7. John Russo, Chevy S-10, 18.354, 43.28; 3. Tony Pontieri, Camaro, 7.801, 120.71 vs. 6. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 14.504, 68.23; 4. Ed Hoover, Camaro, 8.901, 106.28 vs. 5. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 11.316, 74.58.
Pro Stock -- 1. Mark Martino, Chevy Cobalt, 6.335 (seconds), 222.88 (mph) vs. Bye; 2. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.335, 221.16 vs. 13. Carl Baker, Ford Escort, 16.447, 56.54; 3. Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 6.354, 221.89 vs. 12. Trevor Eman, Escort, 13.819, 80.92; 4. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.357, 222.29 vs. 11. Frank Gugliotta, GXP, 12.179, 66.76; 5. Ned Katuran, Cobalt, 6.362, 214.08 vs. 10. Michael Bruno, Pontiac GTO, 11.262, 76.69; 6. JR Carr, GXP, 6.383, 220.73 vs. 9. John Konigshofer, Mustang, 7.904, 118.13; 7. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.475, 220.12 vs. 8. John Pluchino, Mercury Cougar, 6.566, 174.05.
Pro Stock Sleds -- 1. Jay Pearl, Arctic Cat, 8.491 (seconds), 153.74 (mph) vs. 16. Ryan Mason, Ski Doo, 9.908, 106.34; 2. Kevin Zucco, Yamaha, 8.513, 150.18 vs. 15. Paul Austin, Ski Doo, 9.658, 94.81; 3. Kristin Stanley, Polaris, 8.525, 153.18 vs. 14. John Renaud, Ski Doo, 9.534, 137.61; 4. Brian Hamel, Ski Doo, 8.660, 151.37 vs. 13. Brittney Marston, Ski Doo, 9.512, 145.27; 5. Ed Illgen, Snowmobile, 8.865, 149.61 vs. 12. Rick Ramano, Arctic Cat, 9.401, 141.42; 6. Ed Armstrong, Yamaha, 8.913, 142.42 vs. 11. Rich Daly, Ski Doo, 9.340, 148.28; 7. Ken Lund, Polaris, 9.000, 147.65 vs. 10. Scott Marsh, Ski Doo, 9.176, 126.99; 8. Daniel Meyer, Ski Doo, 9.076, 147.18 vs. 9. Jeff Cullen, Polaris, 9.142, 143.34.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - RAIN SHORTENS FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING
After dodging rain showers during a majority of the afternoon, New England Dragway’s luck finally ran out just an hour shy of the second session of pro qualifying and the track and IHRA were forced to pull the plug on the opening day of qualifying Friday at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers in Epping, N.H.
With frigid temperatures and light rain plaguing the afternoon, the afternoon’s only round of pro qualifying saw a few surprises on top of the charts as Fidelio Montrond (Pro Modified) and Mark Martino (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) topped their respective divisions after one round of qualifying.
Montrond ( Acushnet, Mass.) had the only full power pass of the afternoon in the Pro Modified category as his 6.143 second lap at 230.06 miles per hour was good enough to take the provisional pole.
He was followed closely by the turbocharged Camaro of Andy Jensen (Nescopeck, Pa.) who ran a 6.183 second pass at 209.23 miles per hour. Behind them was Tony Pontieri (7.801), Ed Hoover (8.901) and Pete Farber (11.316).
In Elite Motorsports Pro Stock the competition was much stiffer as Martino (Stoney Creek, Ontario) produced his career best speed at 222.88 miles per hour and his elapsed time of 6.335 seconds was good enough to put him first on the charts after one round.
Bob Bertsch (Willis, Mich.) equaled Martino with a 6.335 second pass, but his slower speed of 221.16 mph placed him second on the charts. Pete Berner (6.354), John Montecalvo (6.357) and Ned Katuran (6.362) rounded out the Pro Stock top five.
The other professional category to get in a round on Friday was the stars of the Pro Stock Sled class.
The northeast based group put on an exciting show in the opening round as Jay Pearl (Newport, Maine) topped the charts with a solid 8.491 E.T. at 153.74 miles per hour. He was followed by Kevin Zucco (Agawam, Mass.) who ran an 8.513 second pass.
Kristin Stanley (8.525), Brian Hamel (8.660) and Ed Illgen (8.865) rounded out the top five.
IHRA’s other two professional categories, Top Fuel and the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association, did not make qualifying passes on Friday.
The Amalie Oil North American Nationals will pick right up where it left off Saturday morning beginning at 10 a.m. Qualifying will run throughout the day capped off by the thrilling New England Dodge Dealers “Night of Fire” Saturday night.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers at New England Dragway, eighth of 10 events in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Pro Modified -- 1. Fidelio Montrond, Chevy Corvette, 6.143, 230.06; 2. Andy Jensen, Chevy Camaro, 6.183, 209.23; 3. Tony Pontieri, Camaro, 7.801, 120.71; 4. Ed Hoover, Camaro, 8.901, 106.28; 5. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 11.316, 74.58; 6. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 14.504, 68.23; 7. John Russo, Chevy S-10, 18.354, 43.28; 8. Chris Russo, Corvette, 19.592, 60.08.
Pro Stock -- 1. Mark Martino, Chevy Cobalt, 6.335, 222.88; 2. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.335, 221.16; 3. Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 6.354, 221.89; 4. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.357, 222.29; 5. Ned Katuran, Cobalt, 6.362, 214.08; 6. JR Carr, GXP, 6.383, 220.73; 7. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.475, 220.12; 8. John Pluchino, Mercury Cougar, 6.566, 174.05; 9. John Konigshofer, Mustang, 7.904, 118.13; 10. Michael Bruno, Pontiac GTO, 11.262, 76.69; 11. Frank Gugliotta, GXP, 12.179, 66.76; 12. Trevor Eman, Ford Escort, 13.819, 80.92; 13. Carl Baker, Escort, 16.447, 56.54.
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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK -
TWO’S COMPANY, THREE’S ONE HECK OF A RACE TEAM - Multi-car teams have always been the way to go in the highly competitive
world of motorsports.From oval racing to drag racing and everything in between, multi-car teams have always had an advantage on the field thanks to information and part sharing and that is exactly the impact that team owner Mitch King had hoped for when he started up a multi-car team a few years ago.
Beginning with a two car operation three seasons ago, King has had a ton of success in a very short amount of time. Over the past two seasons King and company have recorded seven wins and a Top fuel World Championship coming in 2008.
This season King is once again having a banner year as rookie driver Del Cox Jr. finds himself second in points with three wins and King is fourth, making it to his first career final round back in July.
But while Cox tries to give Mitch King Motorsports its second consecutive IHRA World Championship and King tries for his first career top-five finish, the big story this weekend doesn’t surround either driver’s championship hopes.
The real story this weekend is the debut of King’s third car, completing a dream that even King didn’t think would ever come to life.
“It is not something that we planned,” King explained. “We just decided to get a third car and we picked up this brand new dragster 10 days before Indy and we debuted it there. It just kind of happened.”
King debuted the new dragster at the U.S. Nationals last weekend at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis with rookie Ron August behind the wheel. With the dragster fresh off the lot, August hopped in the car and got his license a few days before the event and then made his Top Fuel debut at one of the biggest drag races in the world last weekend.
“We took Ron to the test session at Indy and he ran some solid numbers in Del’s car and we got his license and took him to Indy and put him in the new car,” King said. “This thing is brand new and we are very excited about the opportunities that this opens up for our team.”Despite not making the field, August was able to pick up valuable seat time and now the 40-year-old from northern California will try to qualify for his first event this weekend at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals.
“He wanted some seat time and we were able to bring him over here. I am sure we are going to see a lot more of him this year,” King said.
Ironically, the new ride was actually purchased for King and the original plan had August driving King’s aptly named “Slinky” dragster. Instead, King will have to wait one more race before he gets to make his first pass in his all-new dragster.
“The car was actually built for me. It is my very first new car and I haven’t got to drive it yet,” King said. “We are looking to give Ron some seat time, but I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel. It is one bad machine.”
If all goes as planned, King will finally get a chance to compete in his new dragster in two weeks at the IHRA President’s Cup Nationals in Maryland. He will give up his current ride to Rob Bruce who will be the next driver to compete in a Mitch King backed dragster.
Right now, however, King has only one thing on his mind – keeping Cox in the hunt for the title and helping August learn the ropes.
“We have got a brand new crank in Del’s car and we hope to keep Del out front and in contention for this championship,” King said. “Right now my car is the experiment. We have been stealing parts off of ‘Slinky’ to put in the new car, but we will get it put back together and hopefully get all three cars in the show.”
If he can do that, King has the potential to put three cars in the eight-car field giving Mitch King Motorsports quite an advantage over the field.
ONE BAD WEEK - For the first three weeks in July, Pro Modified driver Ed Hoover was riding the high of his life.
With two straight wins at national events in Edmonton and Grand Bend, Hoover rocketed to the top of the Pro Mod point standings ahead of defending champion Kenny Lang and looked poised to pull away in the chase of his first career championship.
Then July came to an end.
The Northern Nationals started innocently enough, with Hoover wrapping up one of the most successful months of his career third on the qualifying charts entering Sunday’s final eliminations, but with a new month came a few new challenges for Hoover and his team.
Hoover began the new month with a win over Harold Martin in the opening round, but his win streak of nine straight round wins dating back to the Sooner Nationals in June abruptly came to an end at the hands of Ike Maier.
“I headed toward the wall for some unknown reason. I say I was lined up wrong and my crew said I wasn’t. Either way it drove over to the wall and I had to slap the gas and just got beat,” Hoover said.
In the meantime rival Kenny Lang picked up his second win of the year and was able to erase any hint of a lead Hoover once had in jumping ahead by 56 points over Hoover.
“He went on and won the race and that took me right out of the lead and put him in a really good position,” Hoover said. “I have to try to either beat him early or win them all.”
Now Hoover travels to New England Dragway looking to get back on track and put himself back in championship contention with just three races remaining on the schedule.
“We have to capitalize on the next three races. We really need to win the last three races,” Hoover said. “As impossible as that sounds to win three in a row in Pro Mod, that is what we need to do, especially with the way Lang and his crew are performing.
“He doesn’t seem to have any bad luck like Ed Hoover does.”
While Hoover was clearly disappointed to see all of his hard work disappear in just one race, if there is only one thing you can count on it is that Hoover will be right in the thick of the title hunt the rest of the season.
“We will try our best to fight for it. We have 12 rounds of racing left giving us a short time to do a whole lot,” Hoover said. “The car is competitive enough to win races and I just have to try to do my best to get it done.”
MAKING HIS MOVE - The reigning IHRA Pro Stock World Champion and defending winner of the Amalie Oil North American Nationals is
currently sitting third in the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock point standings.And with three races left to decide the ’09 Championship, Pete Berner knows that now is the time to make his move.
While it may look like he’s been quietly sitting back, awaiting his chance at the North American Nationals, that’s not necessarily the case. Berner has actually been going non-stop over the past month, preparing for the championship battle.
“We’ve done some extensive testing with our new motor and have seen some very positive results,” explains Berner. “We haven’t quite found its perfect sweet spot, but we’re already seeing better results than with some of our previous motors. We’re going to run it here this weekend and see how it likes the cool New England weather.
“Knowing its potential I’m really excited to see what it can do here. With the good conditions, I know everyone will be posting numbers better than we’ve seen in a while. We could potentially see records fall, and I’d like to be the one to do it.”
Berner, who won this event last year, is looking to repeat and keep front runners Frank Gugliotta and John Montecalvo from gaining any points.
“Frankie and Monte have both won this event before as well. They’ve been running good all year and have given the rest of us a challenge. But I also know that we’ve got what it takes to win here this weekend and that’s what we’re looking to do,” Berner said. “We need to gain some points on Frankie and Monte to stay in this battle, and with just three races left, my team and I are going to be giving it all we’ve got. I like a good chase – it makes for fun racing.
“This year is heating up to be a good one and the North American Nationals will be pivotal in the final points outcome. We’re ready to give it all we’ve got.”
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