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Monday, September 24, 2007

Creasy Jr. Clinches Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Funny Car Title

Cannon Earns Second Top Fuel Win; Litton Closes In On Zizzo MILAN, Michigan (September 23, 2007) – Dale Creasy Jr., Beecher, Ill., earned his sixth win of the Knoll Gas Nitro Funny Car season to clinch his second-consecutive IHRA world championship, with two events remaining in the season. Creasy Jr. defeated Bob Gilbertson in the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers final round on a holeshot advantage to win the race. Other professional winners include Scotty Cannon (Top Fuel), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Jeff Dobbins (Pro Stock). Creasy Jr., who prior to 2006 had never even won a race, tied-up his second world championship in two years by running a 4.977 ET, 306.95 mph, to Gilbertson’s better 4.962, 321.12. The difference came at the starting line, as Creasy had the better reaction – 0.081 to 0.145. Gilbertson tried to run him down, but couldn’t catch him. “I don’t think I’ve ever won on a holeshot,” said Creasy Jr. “I can’t think of a better way to clinch the championship than running a 4.99 and a holeshot, with two races left to go. Last year was fun when it went down to the end and it kept the fans happy, but this way is easier and less stressful.” Cannon, Lyman, S.C., advanced to his second Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel final of the season by defeating points leader T.J. Zizzo in round one and Canadian Todd Paton in round two. By taking out Zizzo, Cannon, who came into this race third, opened the door take make up some ground toward the world championship chase. His final round opponent was Bruce Litton, who entered the race second behind Zizzo. If Litton won the race, he’d jump to the points lead. He had the reaction time advantage, but Cannon was too quick, covering the track in 4.640 seconds at 320.58 mph to Litton’s 4.692, 315.93. --Advertisement-- “The car has been coming around, the crew is doing a good job and I’m trying to drive it as best I can. It just takes some time to put it all together,” said Cannon. “As a whole today, I felt good and the same going into the final. When you race for (team sponsor) Evan Knoll, he has so many good teams and crew chiefs…it helps. It’s good to be part of a team where you have more than one guy doing it all, and it’s definitely helped our team.” Janis, Lancaster, N.Y., started the day qualified fourth in Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified and dispatched Mike Stawicki and Pat Stoken in rounds one and two. His third round opponent was points leader Scott Cannon Jr. Cannon had a huge reaction time advantage, but Janis stayed in it and covered the quarter-mile in 6.616 seconds to Cannon’s 6.895 to advance to the finals against Burton Auxier. Janis was in his third final of the year; Auxier, his first since 2005. Janis would used a 6.206, 218.97 to take the win, his second of the season. “What a great race for this entire team,” said Janis. “We’ve come a long way this season and to put this car into another win, in a field like this that is always so tight and competitive, shows how hard we’ve worked.” Janis entered the event No. 5 in the points, but, with this win, jumped to second behind Cannon Jr. Stoken would fall to fourth, Ed Hoover third. Atchison’s road to the final started against first-round opponent Dale Brand, who used a 5.649 ET Saturday during qualifying to take the No. 1 spot and set the world ET record. However, in round one it was all Atchison, as he had the reaction time advantage and covered the track in 5.856 seconds to advance to the semifinals against points leader Mark Thomas. Atchison, London, Ontario, again had a slight lead off the line and crossed the finish in 5.818, 243.33 to take out Thomas. Atchison met fellow London-resident Paul Noakes in the final. So far this season Noakes was 2-0 against Atchison in final rounds. However, Atchison, himself a former three-time world champion, had the better car today and beat Noakes with a 5.885, 245.45, to take his second race of the year. “It’s been a crazy season so far, and this is an important win for this team,” said Atchison. “It feels so good to be back in the winner’s circle and cut into the points chase with Mark (Thomas).” Dobbins, who finished qualifying Saturday night not even in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock field but as No. 17 qualifier, was ready to make the call Sunday as first alternate when Ron Miller withdrew before round one. Dobbins, Wilmington, N.C., took out Rob Mansfield in round one, then defeated a red-lighting John Montecalvo to advance to the semifinals to face John Nobile. Dobbins, known for quick reaction times, had the race off the line and took the round with a 6.885. In the final round, Dobbins faced Brian Gahm, who had set the world speed record in the semifinals with a 222.03. The reaction time went to Dobbins – 0.061 to 0.288 – and he won on a holeshot, covering the quarter-mile in 6.340 seconds to Gahm’s 6.339. Ironically, Gahm bettered the world record at 222.66 in the losing effort. “This was a great team effort today,” said Dobbins. “To go from not even in the field, to winning a few rounds, and then winning the race? I’m just blown away how it all happened.” The next event on the $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series is the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals, September 28 – 30, at Maryland International Raceway. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com. COMPLETE RESULTS MILAN, Mich. -- Sunday's final results from the Suzuki Motor City Nationals Presented By GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway. The race is the ninth of 11 in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel -- Scotty Cannon, 4.640 seconds, 320.58 mph def. Bruce Litton, 4.692 seconds, 315.93 mph. Nitro Funny Car -- Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.977, 306.95 def. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.962, 321.12. Pro Modified -- Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.206, 218.97 def. Burton Auxier, Chevy Corvette, 6.823, 221.38. Alcohol Funny Car -- Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.885, 245.45 def. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 6.087, 198.50. Pro Stock -- Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.340, 220.33 def. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.339, 222.66. Top Dragster -- Brian Folk, Dragster, 6.951, 170.26 def. Ricky Adkins, Dragster, 7.147, 182.62. Top Sportsman -- Gary Wojnowski Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.172, 178.00 def. Bruce Thrift, Chevy Beretta, 7.469, 177.11. Quick Rod -- Danny Waters Jr, Dragster, 8.908, 159.29 def. Jim Majkowski, Dragster, 8.876, 170.75. Super Rod -- Brian Folk, Chevy Camaro, 9.913, 158.58 def. Jim Balcom, Pontiac Firebird, 9.928, 152.50. Hot Rod -- John Furr, Chevy Nova, 10.902, 138.98 def. Rob Bower, Chevy Camaro, 10.865, 134.07. Super Stock -- Anthony Bertozzi, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.878, 98.96 def. Michael Lyons, Ford Probe, 11.033, 86.88. Stock -- Anthony Bertozzi, Chevy Camaro, 10.604, 123.22 def. Bob Marshall, Dodge Dart, 10.759, 119.86. ET Bracket -- Scotty Batyik, Dragster, 7.721, 172.63 def. Jim Yacko, Dodge Daytona, 10.807, 122.14. ET No Box -- Jim Yacko, Dodge Daytona, 10.847, 118.06 def. Mike Kelley, Ford Mustang, 10.698, 120.00. ET Box -- Scotty Batyik, Dragster, 7.722, 170.77 def. Rob Phillips, Chevy Beretta, 9.163, 146.67. MILAN, Mich. -- Final round-by-round results from the Suzuki Motor City Nationals Presented By GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway, the ninth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series: TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- Jeff O'Neill, 4.791, 319.75 def. Mitch King, 6.499, 136.21; Todd Paton, 5.342, 191.81 def. Kevin Jones, 6.288, 146.86; Scotty Cannon, 4.949, 261.37 def. T.J. Zizzo, 7.093, 118.99; Bruce Litton, 4.691, 305.70 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 6.380, 137.74; SEMIFINALS -- Cannon, 4.723, 316.90 def. Paton, 4.760, 299.00; Litton, 4.745, 299.33 def. O'Neill, 4.943, 297.55; FINAL -- Cannon, 4.640, 320.58 def. Litton, 4.692, 315.93. NITRO FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.898, 313.51 def. John Lawson, Chevy Camaro, broke; Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.996, 294.24 def. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 6.448, 140.99; Jeff Diehl, Pontiac Firebird, 5.133, 282.72 def. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 5.404, 208.10; Todd Simpson, Camaro, 6.435, 148.62 def. Andy Kelley, Firebird, 9.570, 102.09; SEMIFINALS -- Creasy Jr., 6.760, 130.48 def. Diehl, broke; Gilbertson, 5.087, 282.13 def. Simpson, 5.666, 187.73; FINAL -- Creasy Jr., 4.977, 306.95 def. Gilbertson, 4.962, 321.12. PRO MODIFIED: ROUND ONE -- Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.211, 219.61 def. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.330, 229.78; Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.181, 231.52 def. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.330, 228.38; Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.225, 225.60 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 9.022, 106.21; Mark Nielsen, Camaro, 6.894, 204.94 def. Shannon Jenkins, Pontiac GTO, 16.297, 51.49; Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.369, 215.89 def. Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 16.162, 56.37; Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.248, 224.21 def. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 7.374, 140.36; Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.088, 236.38 def. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.152, 229.59; Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.295, 233.72 def. Matt Hagan, Corvette, 6.209, 231.28; QUARTERFINALS -- Janis, 6.129, 236.01 def. Stoken, 6.146, 223.73; Cannon, 6.098, 235.64 def. Martin, broke; Auxier, 6.290, 222.66 def. Rowe, 7.472, 131.75; Lang, 6.132, 235.72 def. Nielsen, 6.157, 232.83; SEMIFINALS -- Auxier, 6.184, 224.85 def. Lang, 30.307, 111.86; Janis, 6.616, 232.15 def. Cannon, 6.895, 222.99; FINAL -- Janis, 6.206, 218.97 def. Auxier, 6.823, 221.38. ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.856, 242.32 def. Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, 19.383, 34.78; Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 5.803, 242.84 def. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.818, 240.08; Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.909, 243.59 def. Joe Comella, Monte Carlo, broke; Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.933, 242.15 def. John Hart, Dodge Avenger, 5.968, 235.47; SEMIFINALS -- Noakes, 5.882, 243.41 def. Stevens, 5.848, 243.90; Atchison, 5.818, 243.33 def. Thomas, 5.934, 243.59; FINAL -- Atchison, 5.885, 245.45 def. Noakes, 6.087, 198.50. PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE -- Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 15.388, 64.65 def. Sylvester Barnes, Chevy Cavalier, 6.717, 210.97; Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.311, 218.94 def. Rob Mansfield, Pontiac GTO, 6.351, 218.97; Anthony Paone, GTO, 6.479, 215.93 def. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, foul; Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.379, 220.01 def. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 13.316, 63.02; Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.365, 219.36 def. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 12.841, 64.77; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.345, 220.58 def. Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.423, 219.90; Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.327, 220.84 def. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.463, 200.44; John Nobile, Mustang, 6.357, 219.08 def. Pete Berner, GTO, 6.389, 215.82; QUARTERFINALS -- Smith, 6.394, 219.44 def. Barnes, 20.335, 57.55; Nobile, 6.369, 219.51 def. Bertsch, 6.366, 219.90; Gahm, 6.376, 221.20 def. Paone, foul; Dobbins, 12.692, 69.22 def. Montecalvo, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Gahm, 6.343, 222.03 def. Smith, 6.653, 173.76; Dobbins, 6.885, 182.03 def. Nobile, 7.764, 123.13; FINAL -- Dobbins, 6.340, 220.33 def. Gahm, 6.339, 222.66. MILAN, Mich. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Suzuki Motor City Nationals Presented By GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway, the ninth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series - Top Fuel 1. T.J. Zizzo, 718; 2. Bruce Litton, 714; 3. Scotty Cannon, 670; 4. Bobby Lagana Jr., 569; 5. Terry McMillen, 453; 6. Doug Foley, 299; 7. Mitch King, 292; 8. Jeff O{Neill, 266; 9. Todd Paton, 185; 10. Jim Cavalieri, 182. Pro Modified 1. Scott Cannon, 571; 2. Mike Janis, 510; 3. Ed Hoover, 481; 4. Pat Stoken, 467; 5. Quain Stott, 430; 6. Kenny Lang, 409; 7. Matt Hagan, 386; 8. Danny Rowe, 372; 9. Jason Hamstra, 334; 10. Burton Auxier, 296. Alcohol Funny Car 1. Mark Thomas, 784; 2. Rob Atchison, 774; 3. Terry Munroe, 756; 4. Paul Noakes, 494; 5. Larry Dobbs, 429; 6. Terry McMillen, 336; 7. Tim Stevens, 329; 8. Tony Bogolo, 183; 9. Neal Parker, 173; 10. Scott Wildgust, 137. Pro Stock 1. Robert Patrick, 679; 2. Frank Gugliotta, 637; 3. Pete Berner, 612; 4. Brian Gahm, 518; 5. John Montecalvo, 502; 6. Steve Spiess, 486; 7. Rob Mansfield, 430; 8. John Nobile, 351; 9. Rickie Smith, 344; 10. Cary Goforth, 293. Nitro Funny Car 1. Dale Creasy Jr., 934; 2. Jack Wyatt, 587; 3. Terry Haddock, 569; 4. Andy Kelley, 541; 5. Bob Gilbertson, 513; 6. Mitch King, 396; 7. Paul Lee, 219; 8. Jeff Diehl, 200; 9. Jon Capps, 195; 10. Gary Densham, 173.