MILLICAN BREAKS THROUGH

Five-time defending Top Fuel World Champion chalks up first win in ’06; Creasy, Gugliotta, Carter and Stott also visit Winner’s Circle in Edmonton

By Mike Perry | IHRA Communications

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (June 25, 2006) – The last time Clay Millican ended a race weekend with an Ironman hoisted above his head was at the World Finals in Rockingham last October. All that changed at the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Race Fuels at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton.

Millican, who entered the weekend leading the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel championship points race despite not winning an event, defeated Rick Cooper in the final to take home his first ’06 eMax Drag Racing Series victory. Millican tripped the beams at 4.773 at 306.88 mph to top Cooper’s 4.838 at 304.19.

“The running joke this weekend is that we got our mojo back, and I’d say after this we do,” said Millican. “We made six good passes here, the car is running good, and that makes the job easy on me.

“It’s nice to finally win,” he added.

While Millican was looking for his first win of the season heading into Edmonton, Dale Creasy, Jr. was still beaming from his first ever career national event victory three weeks ago at Grand Bend Motorplex. Creasy may want to consider moving north of the border. He won his second consecutive Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car Ironman in Edmonton when he defeated Jack Wyatt in the final.

Creasy posted a 5.324/285.23 pass to dispatch a tire-shaking Wyatt. The victory also gave Creasy the eMax Drag Racing Series Nitro Funny Car championship points lead.

“We left Grand Bend with a lot of confidence in our race car, and then we came up here and couldn’t do anything right in qualifying, but we never lost confidence” said Creasy. “We knew that the car had it, so we went back to the Grand Bend tune-up in the final, and everything just came together.

Tom Carter (Cuero, Tex.) won his first career Alcohol Funny Car event in Rockingham at the Nicko’s NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals. After the Rocky Mountain Nationals his Rockingham Ironman will have some company in the trophy case. Carter defeated Ken Kraus in the final when he carded a 5.962/238.17 pass to top Kraus’ 6.133/216.06. It was Kraus’ first career final round with IHRA.

“I’m ecstatic with this win,” said Carter. “We had some mechanical problems during the second round of qualifying, but we got it back together with the second motor in there. And Jeff (Fowler, crew chief) is just such an expert at this, helping us figure out the track and how to set the car up. We’re thrilled to be back in the winner’s circle.”

Frank Gugliotta (Mt. Airy, Md.) remained the hottest Knoll Gas-Torco Pro Stock car this season. He drove the Charlie Taylor-owned ’05 Escort to another Ironman in Edmonton when he defeated Jeff Dobbins in the final. Gugliotta was the #1 qualifier and parlayed that into the victory when he posted a 6.545 to defeat a lifting Dobbins.

“I feel good after this win, and hopefully we can keep it going,” said Gugliotta. “After I was beat at the starting line in Grand Bend, that just ate me up for the last three weeks. I knew I had to come out and drive today. And now I’m leaving here with the points lead and a car that’s qualified well all season. The driver just has to keep it up.”

Quain Stott ended a long dry spell when he took home the Knoll Gas-Torco Pro Modified Ironman by defeating Kenny Lang. Stott had not won since the 2004 season, and used a 6.271/228.19 pass to outlast Lang’s 6.323/227.00.

“After a long drive up to this race, this win will make it a little easier to go home,” said Stott, who drove to Edmonton from Columbus, N.C. “We are moved up to second in the points now, but Kerunsky still has a few rounds on me, and he’s a tough racer. The season’s early, and we’ve got a long way to go.

“I can’t thank my crew guys enough for this one,” he added.

Television coverage of the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Race Fuels airs on SPEED Channel:

Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car - Saturday, July 8 at 5 pm

Pro Modified, Alcohol Funny Car and Pro Stock – Saturday, August 5 at 5 p.m.

The next event on the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series is the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and the Heritage Newspapers, July 7 – 9, at Milan Dragway in Detroit, Mich.

EDMONTON, Alb. -- Sunday's final results from the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Race Fuels at Castrol Raceway. The race is the fourth of 11 in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.773 seconds, 306.88 mph def. Rick Cooper, 4.838 seconds, 304.19 mph.

Nitro Funny Car -- Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.324, 285.23 def. Jack Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 8.957, 86.98.

Pro Modified -- Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.271, 228.19 def. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.323, 227.00.

Alcohol Funny Car -- Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.962, 238.17 def. Ken Kraus, Camaro, 6.133, 212.06.

Pro Stock -- Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.545, 214.62 def. Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 8.593, 104.44.

Nitro Bikes -- Ken Kent, 6.932, 202.55 def. Robert Smith, 7.908, 134.12.

Pro Nostalgia -- Jay Mageau, Chevy Bel Air, 7.572, 180.24 def. Tim Boychuk, Chevy Vega, 7.633, 178.78.

Quick 16 -- Scott Taylor, Ford Roadster, 7.618, 169.40 def. Scott Hearn, Dragster, 7.421, 174.28.

Top Sportsman -- Randal Olynyk, Pontiac Firebird, 7.585, 183.49 def. Scott Blake, Chevy II, broke.

Quick Rod -- Garth Giroux, Dragster, 9.159, 147.99 def. Earl Mardy, Dragster, 9.133, 151.41.

Super Rod -- Mike Shannon, Chevy Corvette, 10.106, 149.22 def. Dale Dryden, Ford Roadster, 10.107, 139.69.

Hot Rod -- James Pahl, Dodge Coronet, 11.113, 117.88 def. John Mandlis, Chevy Nova, 11.085, 125.48.

Super Stock -- Ernie Penner, Pontiac Firebird, 10.690, 123.32 def. Byron Setters, Chevy Cavalier, 9.650, 138.53.

Stock -- Mark Faul, Chevy Chevelle, 11.230, 115.28 def. Cory Thompson, Pontiac Firebird, 11.497, 112.44.

ET Bracket -- Geordie Castle, Chevy S-10, 8.832, 153.18 def. Harry Svingen, Essex Coupe, foul.

ET Box -- Geordie Castle, Chevy S-10, 8.860, 152.43 def. Garnet Rose, Pontiac Acadian, 10.961, 120.57.

ET No Box -- Harry Svingen, Essex Coupe, 13.335, 97.52 def. Megan Caston, Chevy Nova, 11.039, 112.97.

Junior Dragster -- Natasha Cherchuk, 8.580, 76.32 def. Sarah Stelte, 10.496, 60.36.

EDMONTON, Alb. -- Final round-by-round results from the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway, the fourth of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Rick Cooper, 4.866, 304.46 def. Ed Verenka, 22.908, 55.98; Doug Foley, 4.751, 314.61 def. Mitch King, broke; Bruce Litton, 4.772, 311.13 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 5.041, 229.98; Clay Millican, 4.746, 310.34 def. Chris Karamesines, 7.681, 92.98; SEMIFINALS -- Cooper, 4.887, 305.84 def. Litton, 5.746, 162.20; Millican, 4.743, 306.81 def. Foley, 4.792, 306.33; FINAL -- Millican, 4.773, 306.88 def. Cooper, 4.838, 304.19.

NITRO FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, 13.511, 74.00 def. David Benjamin, Pontiac Firebird, broke; Jack Wyatt, Firebird, 5.147, 288.83 def. Gary Cooper, Dodge Stratus, 9.131, 93.22; Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.023, 284.99 def. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 7.142, 131.11; Vincent Arcadi, Chevy Camaro, 4.966, 302.21 def. Jason Duchene, Camaro, 18.063, 67.52; SEMIFINALS -- Creasy Jr., 5.331, 218.34 def. King, 7.405, 99.23; Wyatt, 5.105, 279.56 def. Arcadi, 5.253, 281.54; FINAL -- Creasy Jr., 5.324, 285.23 def. Wyatt, 8.957, 86.98.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.218, 228.69 def. Tommy D'Aprile, Chevy Corvette, 6.263, 227.92; Dan Rowe, Corvette, 6.258, 228.61 def. Glen Kerunsky, Chevy Bel Air, 6.276, 225.75; Steve Bareman, Dodge Stratus, 6.201, 232.63 def. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.171, 231.48; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 7.318, 129.03 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, foul; Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.178, 232.03 def. Rick Distefano, Corvette, 6.417, 220.01; Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.264, 222.84 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, broke; Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.232, 226.62 def. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.243, 225.71; Scott Cannon, Pontiac GTO, 6.525, 231.08 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.510, 202.64; QUARTERFINALS -- Jenkins, 6.253, 224.51 def. Auxier, 8.362, 111.44; Lang, 6.316, 223.50 def. Rowe, 6.196, 230.37; Stott, 6.191, 231.40 def. Castellana, 6.226, 229.51; Cannon, 6.218, 226.58 def. Bareman, 8.571, 92.02; SEMIFINALS -- Lang, 6.350, 213.91 def. Cannon, foul; Stott, 6.235, 230.96 def. Jenkins, foul; FINAL -- Stott, 6.271, 228.19 def. Lang, 6.323, 227.00.

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.908, 240.77 def. Roger Bateman, Chevy Camaro, 6.095, 198.88; Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.960, 236.71 def. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 6.007, 240.12; Thomas Carter, Camaro, 5.940, 238.76 def. Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 15.247, 58.21; Ken Kraus, Camaro, 6.087, 230.25 def. Kevin Therres, Avenger, 6.424, 227.57; SEMIFINALS -- Kraus, 6.053, 230.21 def. Atchison, 7.963, 118.25; Carter, 6.016, 238.13 def. McMillen, 6.220, 209.75; FINAL -- Carter, 5.962, 238.17 def. Kraus, 6.133, 212.06.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.502, 214.48 def. Richard Penland, Ford Escort, 6.567, 212.09; Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.541, 211.86 def. Rob Mansfield, Chevy Cobalt, foul; Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 6.481, 214.72 def. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 12.563, 67.63; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.491, 214.04 def. Dan Sweeney, Pontiac GTO, 6.517, 212.79; Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.482, 214.11 def. Elijah Morton, Escort, 6.531, 213.03; Pete Berner, GTO, 6.493, 214.01 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.516, 213.20; Jerry Haas, Chevy Cavalier, 6.535, 213.37 def. Robert Patrick, Ford GT 500 Mustang, 6.464, 213.98; Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.488, 214.79 def. Rick Jones, Cobalt, 6.465, 215.24; QUARTERFINALS -- Berner, 6.494, 213.87 def. O'Brien, 6.575, 211.59; Gugliotta, 6.493, 215.17 def. Montecalvo, 6.504, 214.08; Gillig, 6.518, 213.70 def. Nobile, 6.529, 214.35; Dobbins, 6.514, 213.81 def. Haas, 6.562, 213.23; Berner, 6.494, 213.87 def. O'Brien, 6.575, 211.59; Gugliotta, 6.493, 215.17 def. Montecalvo, 6.504, 214.08; Gillig, 6.518, 213.70 def. Nobile, 6.529, 214.35; Dobbins, 6.514, 213.81 def. Haas, 6.562, 213.23; SEMIFINALS -- Dobbins, 6.523, 214.38 def. Gillig, 6.538, 213.70; Gugliotta, 6.517, 214.72 def. Berner, 6.512, 214.18; FINAL -- Gugliotta, 6.545, 214.62 def. Dobbins, 8.593, 104.44.

EDMONTON, Alb. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway, the fourth of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 392; 2. Rick Cooper, 305; 3. Doug Foley, 289; 4. Bobby Lagana Jr., 241; 5. Bruce Litton, 209; 6. Mitch King, 157; 7. Chris Karamesines, 156; 8. Louie Allison, 125; 9. Cory McClenathan, 121; 10. Andrew Cowin, 119.

Nitro Funny Car

1. Dale Creasy Jr., 327; 2. Jack Wyatt, 280; 3. Vincent Arcadi, 271; 4. Bob Gilbertson, 228; 5. Terry Haddock, 206; 6. Gary Densham, 204; 7. Paul Lee, 164; 8. Gary Cooper, 157; 9. Mitch King, 84; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 81.

Pro Modified

1. Glen Kerunsky, 331; 2. Quain Stott, 298; 3. Tommy D{Aprile, 231; 4. Dan Rowe, 197; 5. Jim Halsey, 193; 6. Carl Spiering, 188; 7. Alan Pittman, 180; 8. Mike Castellana, 161; 9. (tie) Mike Janis, 157; Kenny Lang, 157.

Alcohol Funny Car

1. Mark Thomas, 371; 2. Rob Atchison, 316; 3. Thomas Carter, 303; 4. Trevor Lebsack, 226; 5. Terry McMillen, 217; 6. Larry Dobbs, 179; 7. (tie) Terry Munroe, 169; Frederick Tigges, 169; 9. Ken Kraus, 98; 10. (tie) Chris Foster, 57. Neal Parker, 57.

Pro Stock

1. Frank Gugliotta, 350; 2. Tony Gillig, 339; 3. Pete Berner, 263; 4. Jeff Dobbins, 258; 5. Robert Patrick, 232; 6. John Nobile, 219; 7. Rob Mansfield, 197; 8. Larry O'Brien, 174; 9. Steve Spiess, 172; 10. John Montecalvo, 160.