Del Worsham Sends Message During Nitro Funny Car Qualifying at Suzuki Motor City Nationals
By Mike Perry | IHRA Communications
Milan, Mich. (July 7, 2006) – Del Worsham is the reigning IHRA Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car World Champion. He won the title in 1992, the last season IHRA ran the class in national event competition.
It might be 14 years later, but Worsham showed things haven’t changed that much. He claimed the provisional #1 qualifying position at the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and the Heritage Newspapers in Milan, Mich. when he posted a 4.910 pass at 316.82 mph. Worsham ( Chino Hills, Calif.) claimed the Milan Dragway ET record in his Murray’s Discount Auto Nitro Funny Car and held the track speed record for a few minutes. Bob Gilbertson (Charlotte, N.C.) wrestled the speed record away with a 317.87 run a few pairs later.
Andrew Cowin (Wrightsville Beach, N.C.) drove the Serta Mattresses/Scott Griffin Motorsports Dragster to the top of the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel qualifying sheet when he clocked a 4.659 pass at a track record 319.90 mph.
Mike Janis (Lancaster, N.Y.) claimed the provisional pole position in Knoll Gas-Torco Pro Modified by registering a 6.111 pass at 232.95 mph. The Eaton sponsored 2004 World Champion nosed out Carl Spiering, also an Eaton sponsored racer. Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) posted a 6.134 to take the provisional #2 spot.
Robert Patrick and Frank Gugliotta put on quite a show in Knoll Gas-Torco Pro Stock. Patrick (Fredericksburg, Va.) drove his 2006 Mustang Cobra to the provisional #1 qualifying position when he clocked a 6.411 second pass at 219.08 mph. That run gave Patrick both ends of the track record, but his hold on that honor lasted just minutes.
In the last qualifying pair of Friday’s Pro Stock session Mt. Airy, Md. resident Frank Gugliotta, the only two-time Pro Stock national event winner this season, took the Milan Dragway speed record away from Patrick and jumped into the #2 qualifying spot with a 6.419 run at 219.22 mph.
Dr. Tom Carter (Cuero, Tex.) won his second Alcohol Funny Car Ironman of the season two weeks ago in Edmonton. He continued his charge to the top of the class during Friday qualifying at Milan Dragway. Carter was one of two AFC drivers to dip into the 5.8s and jumped to the top of the qualifying sheet with a 5.863/241.80. Carter, in his ’05 Camaro, nosed out Terry McMillen (Elkhart, Ind.), who clocked a 5.898/241.02 to land in the #2 position after Friday qualifying.
Monty Bogan, Jr. (Manassas, Virg.) drove his ’01 Firebird to the top of the JEG’S Top Stock qualifying field, lighting the scoreboard up with a 9.443 pass at 138.81 mph to finish in front of defending World Champion Paul Mercure (White Lake, Mich.), who drove his ’68 Camaro to a 9.486/140.12 pass.
Professional qualifying for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and the Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway resumes Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m. with final round at 4:15 p.m.
MILAN, Mich. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers at Milan Dragway, fifth of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Andrew Cowin, 4.659 seconds, 319.90 mph; 2. Bruce Litton, 4.724, 314.31; 3. Clay Millican, 4.743, 274.00; 4. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.799, 306.60; 5. Doug Foley, 4.978, 226.35; 6. T.J. Zizzo, 6.666, 130.62; 7. Chris Karamesines, 6.948, 118.82; 8. Louie Allison, 11.120, 67.55.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Del Worsham, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.910, 316.82; 2. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.923, 317.87; 3. Doug Kalitta, Monte Carlo, 4.964, 273.88; 4. Jack Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 5.101, 259.11; 5. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.122, 286.32; 6. Vincent Arcadi, Chevy Camaro, 5.281, 211.39; 7. Jeff Diehl, Firebird, 5.344, 260.81; 8. Todd Simpson, Camaro, 5.611, 230.88.
Pro Modified -- 1. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.111, 232.95; 2. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.134, 233.72; 3. Matt Hagan, Chevy Corvette, 6.147, 231.44; 4. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.171, 232.03; 5. Scott Cannon, Pontiac GTO, 6.173, 231.60; 6. Glen Kerunsky, Chevy Bel Air, 6.176, 227.04; 7. Tommy D'Aprile, Corvette, 6.182, 232.43; 8. Rick Distefano, Corvette, 6.218, 229.82; 9. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.247, 228.11; 10. Mike Lockwood, Corvette, 6.247, 224.73; 11. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.254, 228.04; 12. Steve Bareman, Dodge Stratus, 6.255, 234.13; 13. Charles Carpenter, Bel Air, 6.257, 225.97; 14. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.260, 224.81; 15. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.264, 225.33; 16. Mike Bell, Ford Mustang, 6.271, 225.37.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.863, 241.80; 2. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.898, 241.02; 3. Frederick Tigges, Avenger, 5.906, 241.89; 4. Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.927, 237.05; 5. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.934, 240.38; 6. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.973, 243.85; 7. Tony Bogolo, Mustang, 6.008, 230.33; 8. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 6.073, 203.65.
Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Ford GT 500 Mustang, 6.411, 219.08; 2. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.419, 219.22; 3. John Nobile, Escort, 6.442, 217.00; 4. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.449, 215.51; 5. Rick Jones, Chevy Cobalt, 6.453, 217.70; 6. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.460, 216.72; 7. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.462, 216.24; 8. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.480, 215.48; 9. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.483, 216.69; 10. Michael Bruno, GTO, 6.486, 216.06; 11. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.486, 215.34; 12. Rob Mansfield, Cobalt, 6.499, 217.00; 13. Richard Penland, Escort, 6.502, 210.90; 14. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.522, 215.79; 15. John Konigshofer, Mercury Cougar, 6.535, 214.96; 16. Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 6.546, 208.65.
