Foley Defends Title in Toronto
By Mike Perry / IHRA.com
Last season Doug Foley won the first of his three rookie year Ironmen at Toronto Motorsports Park. This year he won his first in Toronto again.
Foley (Sewell, N.J.) defeated Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Ind.) in the Top Fuel final to claim his first Hooters IHRA national event victory of the season and fourth of his career at the ACDelco Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. He also passed Litton in the world championship points standings and has his sights set on Drummonds, Tenn. Resident Clay Millican, IHRA Top Fuel's top gun.
He is 13 points ahead of Litton and 137 behind Millican.
"We don't give up, we stay focused on winning round by round," Foley said. "That's our job. A lot of things have to happen for us to be able to come up on Clay, but we intend to put pressure on him. He has a great team over there and they have a lot of experience. They have eight or nine full-time crew guys and that's a big advantage over most other pro teams. They are a world-class team."
Foley was the #1 qualifier at the ACDelco Canadian Nationals, the third time he has claimed the top post this season. He defeated Louie Allison (Denver, Colo.) in the first round and teammate Rick Cooper (Boise, Id.) in the semifinals to advance to the championship. In the run for the Ironman Litton shook his tires at the 330-foot mark and lifted out of the run, enabling Foley to cruise to the championship with a 4.795/299.13 pass.
The weather in Toronto was tricky for Foley's Crew Chief, Doug Kuch, to figure out.
"When the sun is on the track for 15 hours the first round really tells a lot," Foley said. "The guy that finds the tune-up to get him down a hot, greasy track means he doesn't really have to change anything. We didn't even change the tires, and we have never, ever not changed the tires during a race. But we left the same set of tires on it all day. Doug picked at it here and there with a few little timing changes, but it wasn't broke. Why fix it?"
Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) was another driver who didn't tinker much with his set-up or car Sunday, and he took home his second career Torco Race Fuels Pro Mod Ironman as a result. Spiering's '63 Corvette ran more like a bracket car through the elimination rounds. He clocked a 6.167 in his first round bye, a 6.222 in the quarterfinals against Harold Martin (West Bloomfield, Mich.), a 6.222 in the semifinals against Ed Hoover (Gilbert, S.C.) and a 6.220 in the final against Shannon Jenkins Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
"We watched what everyone ran and knew we had to go in the low 20's to win this race," Spiering said. "We put three .22's in a row together, and I don't know if that has ever happened in Pro Modified. I've never seen a car run within a few thousandths in three straight rounds. It was like a bracket car."
Spiering was especially thrilled to take home the victory at his home track, Toronto Motorsports Park in front of a large contingent of his sponsor, Eaton Cutler-Hammer, guests and dignitaries.
"This is my home track and I've won a lot of races here," he said. "This is where I've tested and where I began racing in '86. Here I am, I finally got it here. It was pretty emotional because I have so many fans here that have watched me grow through this sport and get to this level. And with 1,000 Eaton people here, coming through here was a big deal and a big boost for me."
Rob Atchison can relate. The London, Ontario resident had plenty of fans in attendance as well. Like Spiering, Atchison sent them home happy when he topped Jim Sickles (Caledonia, N.Y.) in the Funny Car final.
"This was fantastic for everyone who was here," Atchison said. "All the fans and Brent and Connie Erickson, our sponsors, who were here to see it, it really meant a lot to our race team. It's all about team unity and putting the car on the racetrack. It's mechanically flawless and the car runs great."
Atchison ran a 5.892/240.85 in the final to defeat Sickles with the Ironman on the line. He now leads Sickles by 106 points in the IHRA world championship points race.
Steve Spiess (Manhattan, Ill.) dominated the Torco Pro Stock competition all weekend, averaging a 6.41 ET in claiming the #1 qualifying post and easily breezing through the field in his '05 Chevy Cobalt. Spiess defeated Robert Patrick (Fredericksburg, Va.) in the final to join Daniel Seamon as the only two-time Torco Pro Stock winners on the Hooters IHRA tour this season. He also extended his world championship points lead over Patrick, holding a 635-601 advantage.
"The second round we broke a transmission and had to borrow some parts to get it back together, but other than that I don't think we made a gram change on the clutch or change anything this whole day," Spiess said. "I know how seriously Robert takes this and I am, too. I don't know how many world championship runs we have left, so we're going to try for this one."
CAYUGA, Ont. -- Sunday's final results from the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. The $1.1 million race is the seventh of 12 in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Doug Foley, 4.795 seconds, 299.13 mph def. Bruce Litton, 8.018 seconds, 106.52 mph.
Pro Modified -- Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.220, 231.40 def. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 11.987, 71.18.
Funny Car -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.892, 240.85 def. Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.10 173.72.
Pro Stock -- Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.437, 217.98 def. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 27.192, 26.51.
Pro Stock Snowmobiles -- Jeff Cullen, Polaris, 8.649, 152.66 def. Jeff Farthing, Ski Doo, 9.325, 146.45.
Top Stock -- Joseph Aluise Jr, Plymouth Belvedere, 9.654, 136.48 def. Paul Mercure, Chevy Camaro, 9.656, 140.62.
Top Sportsman -- Vito Antonicelli, Chevy Lumina, 7.574, 181.47 def. Frank Teague, Dodge Avenger, 7.438, 184.22.
Top Dragster -- Dave Elrod, 7.587, 177.21 def. Ian St. Pierre, 7.655, 169.34.
Quick Rod -- Todd Burks, Dragster, 8.915, 151.46 def. Jim Cowey, Dragster, 8.844, 170.04.
Super Rod -- Brian Folk, Chevy Cavalier, 9.884, 160.84 def. Barry Crane, Arrow, 9.887, 137.71.
Hot Rod -- Kenneth Jozwiak, Chevy Nova, 10.861, 138.30 def. Sam Lovetro Jr, Nova, 10.855, 135.70.
Stock -- Nick Folk, Chevy Camaro, 11.049, 123.92 def. Bryan Sorce, Camaro, foul.
Super Stock -- Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 9.950, 129.16 def. Gene Emes, Chevy S-10, 9.299, 145.69.
ET Bracket -- Geoff Smith, Dragster, 8.083, 167.68 def. Bob Richards, Chevy Corvette, 10.579, 130.02.
ET Box -- Geoff Smith, Dragster, 8.114, 167.36 def. Tom Watson, Dragster, 8.499, 156.77.
ET No Box -- Bob Richards, Chevy Corvette, 10.654, 124.40 def. Alfie Bradley, Dodge Dart, 10.590, 125.76.
CAYUGA, Ont. -- Final round-by-round results from the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the seventh of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Rick Cooper, 5.208, 270.10 def. Chris Karamesines, 8.406, 90.81; Bruce Litton, 4.885, 307.51 def. Paul Athey, 6.668, 133.09; Roger Dean, 4.963, 291.01 def. Clay Millican, 5.068, 272.94; Doug Foley, 4.844, 300.40 def. Louie Allison, 5.203, 213.50; SEMIFINALS -- Litton, 10.390, 82.12 def. Dean, broke; Foley, 4.767, 300.86 def. Cooper, 6.439, 139.53; FINAL -- Foley, 4.795, 299.13 def. Litton, 8.018, 106.52.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Carl Spiering, Chevy Corvette, 6.167, 231.99 was unopposed; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.295, 228.81 def. John Russo, Chevy Camaro, 6.287, 226.66; Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.302, 228.46 def. Roy Wasko, Camaro, 6.622, 181.98; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.259, 225.48 def. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 8.402, 120.95; Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.559, 220.58 def. Eddie Ware, Willys, 6.773, 222.33; Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.293, 224.28 def. Charles Carpenter, Chevy Bel Air, 6.366, 222.18; Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.301, 221.85 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 9.221, 96.46; Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.226, 229.16 def. Pat Moore, Bel Air, 8.981, 93.89; QUARTERFINALS -- Spiering, 6.222, 231.44 def. Martin, 8.255, 117.09; Janis, 6.267, 231.16 def. Harper, 6.384, 221.05; Jenkins, 6.277, 226.66 def. Auxier, 6.324, 201.58; Hoover, 14.544, 72.74 def. Castellana, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Spiering, 6.222, 231.12 def. Hoover, 6.353, 226.54; Jenkins, 6.275, 222.84 def. Janis, 6.291, 229.82; FINAL -- Spiering, 6.220, 231.40 def. Jenkins, 11.987, 71.18.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.825, 242.10 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 6.017, 232.11; Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.827, 245.45 def. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.906, 241.20; Terry Munroe, Firebird, 5.910, 241.97 def. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.969, 234.00; Frederick Tigges, Camaro, 5.858, 243.50 def. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.954, 239.95; SEMIFINALS -- Atchison, 5.831, 241.15 def. Tigges, 5.909, 243.63; Sickles, 5.838, 243.68 def. Munroe, 5.890, 242.71; FINALS -- Atchison, 5.892, 240.85 def. Sickles, 6.103, 173.72.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.510, 213.16 def. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.533, 216.00; Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.507, 214.04 def. Jerry Haas, Chevy Cavalier, 11.819, 73.26; Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 6.501, 215.75 def. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 6.539, 214.08; Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.524, 213.33 def. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 12.429, 68.87; Daniel Seamon, Ford Escort, 6.508, 215.44 def. Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.535, 217.18; Richard Penland, Cobra, 6.567, 213.94 def. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 7.536, 169.66; Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.473, 214.38 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.612, 210.77; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.459, 214.93 def. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 18.188, 47.54; QUARTERFINALS -- Seamon, 6.545, 215.68 def. Berner, 6.548, 213.94; Patrick, 6.508, 215.93 def. Penland, 6.581, 211.83; Gillig, 6.495, 214.28 def. O'Brien, foul; Spiess, 6.456, 216.76 def. Montecalvo, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Patrick, 6.503, 215.89 def. Gillig, foul; Spiess, 6.457, 217.42 def. Seamon, 6.555, 216.31; FINAL -- Spiess, 6.437, 217.98 def. Patrick, 27.192, 26.51.
CAYUGA, Ont. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Fourth annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the seventh of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Clay Millican, 818; 2. Doug Foley, 681; 3. Bruce Litton, 667; 4. Louie Allison, 530; 5. Rick Cooper, 511; 6. Paul Athey, 347; 7. Roger Dean, 340; 8. Todd Paton, 253; 9. Chris Karamesines, 223; 10. Bobby Lagana Jr., 190.
Pro Modified
1. Shannon Jenkins, 496; 2. Jim Halsey, 428; 3. Ed Hoover, 416; 4. Mike Castellana, 387; 5. Mike Janis, 385; 6. Quain Stott, 381; 7. Al Billes, 365; 8. Carl Spiering, 364; 9. Harold Martin, 356; 10. Burton Auxier, 342.
Funny Car
1. Rob Atchison, 732; 2. Jim Sickles, 625; 3. Mark Thomas, 552; 4. Thomas Carter, 494; 5. Terry McMillen, 428; 6. Chris Foster, 395; 7. Terry Munroe, 306; 8. Frederick Tigges, 275; 9. Melinda Green-King, 216; 10. Larry Dobbs, 184.
Pro Stock
1. Steve Spiess, 630; 2. Robert Patrick, 591; 3. Daniel Seamon, 514; 4. Tony Gillig, 458; 5. Frank Gugliotta, 439; 6. Pete Berner, 370; 7. Rick Jones, 348; 8. Jerry Haas, 346; 9. John Montecalvo, 341; 10. John Nobile, 304.
Results provided by the FastNews Network
Courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment
http://www.summitracing.com
