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Brian Gahm Shocks Pro Stock World at Maryland International Raceway
Sets both ends of the world record in moving to the top of the qualifying sheet; Scott Cannon also claims both ends of the Pro Mod record in Saturday evening qualifying
MECHANICSVILLE, MD (September 29, 2007) – While the Nitro classes usually headline the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam, Saturday evening at Maryland International Raceway the door-slammers took center stage.
Brian Gahm (Lucasville, Ohio) claimed both ends of the IHRA world record in the Torco’s CompetionPlus.com Pro Stock class, clocking an astounding 6.281 at 223.95 mph, both records that were already backed up earlier in the event, break the e.t. record set by Pete Berner (Crete, Ill.) earlier in the Saturday session. The speed record was held by Steve Spiess (Manhattan, Ill.) at 223.84 mph, also set earlier in Saturday’s evening qualifying session.
Gahm ended up on top of the qualifying list, heading the quickest Pro Stock qualifying field in IHRA history. Daniel Seamon (Bellevue, Ohio) ended up on the bump spot with a 6.401
“That was awesome,” Gahm said. “The conditions were right and we sat back and watched three other cars run in the 6.20’s. We shook the tires in the Pro Stock Showdown but knew we were safe in the field so we went for it. We knew the conditions were going to be as good as we would ever see…at least until next year.”
Gahm could just shake his head about leading the quickest Pro Stock field in IHRA history.
“It’s just amazing,” he said. “Who would have ever thought you would see Pro Stocks running in the 6.20’s at over 223 miles per hour? It was just unbelievable.”
Scott Cannon Jr. also rewrote the record books in Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified competition with a record-setting 5.938 pass at 242.63 mph to claim the top qualifying spot and grab Last Man Standing honors.
“We’re been trying to get all the points we can,” Cannon said. “We’ve been bumping up against the world record for awhile now and we’re thrilled we were able to get it. We’re chasing the championship and every single point is huge for this team.”
Cannon (Lyman, S.C.) is looking to claim his first career world championship after stepping into the car and taking over driving duties for his father, who won six career world titles.
“It’s easy to brag when your son can do what he does out there,” Cannon Sr. said. “Maybe Junior is picking up where his old man left off.”
Clay Millican (Drummonds, TN) needed a strong evening run to move to the top of the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel qualifying sheet. After watching T.J. Zizzo post a 4.595 at 324.36 mph to move to the top of the sheet Millican responded with a 4.585 at 319.37 to reclaim the pole.
Zizzo (Lincolnshire, Ill.) was able to pick up two points on Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Ind.) in the Top Fuel championship points chase, leading in the sprint for the title by a slim six points heading into Sunday eliminations. Scotty Cannon is just 51 points behind Zizzo, sitting in third place.
Beecher, Ill. resident Dale Creasy Jr., who has already clinched his second consecutive Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world championship, waited until the final pair the Saturday evening qualifying session to bump Bob Gilbertson off the #1 qualifying spot, clocking a 4.920 at 310.41 to edge Gilbertson’s 4.921 out by a thousandth. Creasy also claimed Last Man Standing brought to you by MetalWood Bat honors.
Dale Brand (Sully, Iowa) held on to the Alcohol Funny Car pole as his 5.604 at 249.39 mph stood up against all challengers during both Saturday qualifying sessions. Neal Parker claimed Last Man Standing brought to you by MetalWood Bat in the Saturday evening session.
Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com. The Torco President’s Cup Nationals is the 10th of eleven events on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.
NOBILE WINS $20,000-TO-WIN TORCO'S COMPETITIONPLUS.COM PRO STOCK SHOWDOWN
Former IHRA Torco’s CompetitionPlus Pro Stock world champion John Nobile knew he had an uphill battle headed into this weekend’s Pro Stock Showdown. He’s got another challenge in figuring out how to spend the $20,000 that he won courtesy of Evan Knoll, Torco Race Fuels and Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Saturday evening.
Nobile ran a 6.304 elapsed time at 221.49 miles per hour to defeat Frank Gugliotta, who drove Rick Jones’ Chevrolet Cobalt to a 6.320, 222.51.
“I couldn’t be any happier than I am now,” said Nobile. “We knew we’d be a player, but things looked grim after the first session and tried to piece things together after hurting the engine. We wanted to come out here and just make things work.”
Nobile’s event started out on a questionable note when he pulled through the gates at Maryland International Raceway with no engine in his Ford Mustang. The Jon Kaase engine that normally resides between the fenders of his car was damaged twice on the dyno due to faulty parts.
Nobile said he knew just getting to compete was a stand-alone achievement.
“It was a rush deal and anytime you rush things in Pro Stock, they don’t usually work all that well. The motor responded each round and just got better and better. After the first round, it became apparent to me that we could win this thing.”
Nobile credited the resolve of Kaase for making it all happen...
“John Kaase worked all through the night and delivered the engine to me personally on Thursday night. We put the motor in on Friday morning and here we are. There’s no better than Jon Kaase. He puts his heart and soul into these engines. He works for everybody out here.”
Nobile entered the event as the eighth seeded entry and earned his way into the finals by taking out Robert Patrick and John Montecalvo.
For his part, Gugliotta eliminated Steve Spiess and Pete Berner to reach the final round.
Mechanicsville, Md. -- BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, the tenth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 4.585 seconds, 328.14 mph vs. 5. Scotty Cannon, 4.723, 298.54; 2. T.J. Zizzo, 4.595, 324.36 vs. 6. Jeff O'Neill, 4.776, 313.66; 3. Michael Gunderson, 4.668, 310.05 vs. 7. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.866, 293.15; 4. Bruce Litton, 4.689, 266.06 vs. 8. Dave Gallegos, 5.053, 225.75.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.920, 310.41 vs. 5. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 5.078, 290.13; 2. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.921, 309.77 vs. 6. Jeff Diehl, Pontiac Firebird, 5.079, 269.56; 3. Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, 5.064, 278.75 vs. 7. Todd Simpson, Chevy Camaro, 5.089, 296.05; 4. Andy Kelley, Firebird, 5.078, 301.47 vs. 8. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.115, 259.61.
Pro Modified -- 1. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.938, 242.63 vs. 9. Matt Hagan, Chevy Corvette, 6.101, 236.84; 2. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.001, 238.47 vs. 10. Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.117, 231.44; 3. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.023, 238.76 vs. 11. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.151, 232.67; 4. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.055, 241.80 vs. 12. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.156, 230.06; 5. John Russo, Camaro, 6.065, 239.87 vs. 13. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.170, 237.38; 6. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.073, 235.93 vs. 14. Billy Farmer, 6.173, 232.59; 7. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.084, 234.13 vs. 15. Milt Decker, Corvette, 6.194, 228.89; 8. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.096, 235.06 vs. 16. Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.206, 230.21.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, 5.604, 249.39 vs. 5. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.769, 246.26; 2. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.724, 242.54 vs. 6. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.782, 241.80; 3. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.735, 249.72 vs. 7. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 5.872, 238.13; 4. Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 5.751, 246.62 vs. 8. Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 5.907, 239.53.
Pro Stock -- 1. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.281, 223.95 vs. 9. Frank Gugliotta, Chevy Cobalt, 6.320, 222.51; 2. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.291, 223.65 vs. 10. Rob Mansfield, Pontiac GTO, 6.323, 221.78; 3. Pete Berner, GTO, 6.294, 221.74 vs. 11. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.337, 220.22; 4. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.299, 222.58 vs. 12. Dean Goforth, GTO, 6.340, 223.62; 5. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.300, 221.96 vs. 13. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.356, 221.67; 6. John Nobile, Mustang, 6.304, 221.49 vs. 14. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.379, 219.15; 7. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.309, 223.84 vs. 15. Chuck DeMory, Escort, 6.380, 220.40; 8. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.320, 223.25 vs. 16. Daniel Seamon, Mustang, 6.401, 218.72.
BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Final round-by-round results from the Torco Racing Fuels CompetitionPlus Pro Stock Showdown, a special event held during the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, the tenth of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
PRO STOCK SHOWDOWN:
ROUND ONE -- John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.499, 218.55 def. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 7.996, 130.09; Frank Gugliotta, Cobalt, 6.352, 221.27 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.343, 223.54; Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.328, 221.05 def. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.359, 220.66; John Nobile, Mustang, 6.349, 220.30 def. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.332, 222.58;
SEMIFINALS -- Nobile, 6.334, 222.22 def. Montecalvo, 6.382, 222.33; Gugliotta, 6.346, 221.60 def. Berner, 6.328, 222.44;
FINAL -- Nobile, 6.304, 221.49 def. Gugliotta, 6.320, 222.51.
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