Postby draglist » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:15 pm
McClenathan Ends Millican’s Dominance at The Rock
By Mike Perry | IHRA Communications
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (April 23, 2006) – Clay Millican had owned Rockingham Dragway for a long time, winning nine consecutive national events heading into the Nicko’s NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts. One thing about winning streaks…they eventually come to an end.
Cory McClenathan (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.) ended Millican’s dominance and won his first eMax Drag Racing Series event when he squeaked by Andrew Cowin (Wrightsville Beach, N.C.). McClenathan became the first driver to visit the Top Fuel winner’s circle at Rockingham Dragway since Paul Romine won the 2001 spring race at the track.
The ironic thing is Cowin advanced to the final in the car McClenathan drove in competition last year. Scott Griffin, when he put his Top Fuel team together, purchased much of his equipment from McClenathan’s race team, the Carrier Boyz.
“Andrew and I are good friends and there is a strong relationship between Scott Griffin and the Carrier Boyz,” McClenathan said. “It was funny because Scott was up in our lounge before the final, we were all up there cutting up and having fun. When do you think the last time two teams were going to the final against each other and they were hanging out in each other’s trailer? There is a lot of friendship there. They have a great car and are a great group of guys.”
Cowin left early on McClenathan in the final, taking a .044 second advantage at the starting line, but his Serta dragster’s engine gave out just past the 1,000-foot mark and McClenathan beat him to the stripe.
“They should have beat us,” McClenathan said. “Andrew got me at the stripe and had me at the 1,000 foot mark, but our car didn’t give up and his did just a little.”
McClenathan ran a 4.712/309.91 pass to top Cowin’s 4.786/281.54.
“This means a lot, especially for Mark and Andy Carrier since their father, Larry, founded the IHRA,” McClenathan said. “I have won plenty of times in NHRA competition, but this was my first one over here. I always wanted that Ironman and it is going to have a special place in my trophy case.”
Jack Wyatt also visited the winner’s circle for the first time in eMax Drag Racing Series competition. Wyatt (Corydon, Iowa) topped Vinnie Arcadia (Lancaster, N.Y.) in the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car final at Rockingham Dragway, posting a 5.033 pass at 290.01 mph.
“The car was very consistent all weekend,” Wyatt said. “I really didn’t have a run I could point at as being my toughest. The car and crew did a great job and it was great to get a win here at Rockingham. The crowd was incredible this weekend and the fans really treated us well.”
Joshua Hernandez was another driver who captured an Ironman for the first time at Rockingham Dragway. Hernandez (Conroe, Tex.) topped Calgary, Alberta resident Glen Kerunsky in the final to take home his first Torco Pro Modified win. Kerunsky won Pro Modified in the first eMax Drag Racing Series event of the season, the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in San Antonio.
“We just love to race,” Hernandez said. “It doesn’t matter where we are or what organization we are in, anyone who will let us come and race we’re going to do it. We had a really good weekend here and were able to get the win, so that’s pretty much all we can ask for.”
Hernandez has now won races in both exhibition Pro Modified series, the ADRL and AMS/NHRA, and now has a professional win under his belt. His 6.274/228.07 pass easily put him out in front of Kerunsky, who got out of the groove and had to lift in the final.
Sunday’s Torco Pro Stock victory wasn’t the first for Tony Gillig (Lake Bluff, Ill.), but it was his first in a very long time. Gillig had not won on the eMax Drag Racing Series circuit since 1998.
“It sure feels good to get the monkey off my back,” Gillig said. “It was about time I won one of these. The competition in Pro Stock is so tight and the field so balanced, anyone can win in any round.”
Gillig defeated Bert Jackson (Glen Ellen, Va.) by running a 6.499 pass at 203.28 mph. It was Jackson’s first career final.
Tom Carter (Cuero, Tex.) moved into an Alcohol Funny Car prior to last season. After finishing fourth in the points standings last season, Carter finally broke through and captured his first Ironman.
“It is all about consistency,” Carter said. “I just try to do the same thing every time I get in the car, and it paid off. I don’t know what to think right now, it hasn’t really sunk in yet. This is great.”
Carter defeated Fred Tigges (Holbrook, Mass.) on a holeshot. His elapsed time was worse than Tigges’, 5.944 to 5.931, but he made up for it by taking a .049 advantage at the tree.
The next event on the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series is the MOPAR Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol, June 2 – 4, at Grand (Ontario) Bend Motorplex.
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Sunday's final results from the Nicko's NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts at Rockingham Dragway. The $1.1 million race is the second of 11 in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Cory McClenathan, 4.712 seconds, 309.91 mph def. Andrew Cowin, 4.786 seconds, 281.54 mph.
Nitro Funny Car -- Jack Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 5.033, 290.01 def. Vincent Arcadi, Chevy Camaro, 5.102, 296.44.
Pro Modified -- Josh Hernandez, Chevy Camaro, 6.274, 228.07 def. Glen Kerunsky, Chevy Bel Air, 10.258, 101.12.
Alcohol Funny Car -- Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.944, 236.42 def. Frederick Tigges, Dodge Avenger, 5.931, 240.29.
Pro Stock -- Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.499, 203.28 def. Bert Jackson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.930, 209.98.
Top Stock -- Bo Kenney, Firebird, 9.534, 138.13 def. Paul Mercure, Camaro, 9.725, 135.35.
Top Sportsman -- Chris Nyerges, Pontiac Firebird, 7.176, 183.77 def. Gary Bingham, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.208, 190.22.
Top Dragster -- Jason Lynch, Dragster, 7.357, 178.54 def. Brett Nesbitt, Dragster, 7.041, 182.48.
Quick Rod -- Troy Williams Jr., Dragster, 8.884, 155.54 def. Larry Ericksmoen, Dragster, 8.857, 157.59.
Super Rod -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.887, 155.81 def. Tracy Ogden, Chevy S-10, 9.869, 156.12.
Hot Rod -- Kenny Underwood, Vega, 17.706, 72.15 def. Gary Bryant, Camaro, broke.
Super Stock -- Scotty Stillings, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.502, 131.91 def. Joe Tysinger, Pontiac Firebird, 10.726, 123.24.
Stock -- Travis Womble Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.506, 119.85 def. Myron Piatek, Dodge Dart, 11.758, 107.39.
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Final round-by-round results from the 36th annual IHRA Nicko's NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts at Rockingham Dragway, the second of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Clay Millican, 4.744, 274.05 def. Bruce Litton, 4.791, 306.67; Doug Foley, 4.705, 295.01 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.929, 273.16; Andrew Cowin, 4.758, 305.63 def. Michael Gunderson, 49.187, 32.31; Cory McClenathan, 4.807, 250.92 def. Rick Cooper, 5.478, 205.54;
SEMIFINALS -- Cowin, 4.942, 275.06 def. Millican, 5.075, 234.66; McClenathan, 4.868, 295.79 def. Foley, 11.016, 88.98;
FINAL -- McClenathan, 4.712, 309.91 def. Cowin, 4.786, 281.54.
NITRO FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Jack Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 5.010, 283.79 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.208, 217.77; Vincent Arcadi, Chevy Camaro, 5.453, 269.78 def. Gary Cooper, Dodge Stratus, 15.685, 78.43; Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 5.969, 254.47 def. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 10.168, 103.33; Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 6.409, 164.89 def. Paul Lee, Camaro, 7.965, 104.07;
SEMIFINALS -- Wyatt, 5.037, 269.03 def. Gilbertson, 5.466, 220.55; Arcadi, 5.196, 292.33 def. Densham, 5.720, 191.16;
FINAL -- Wyatt, 5.033, 290.01 def. Arcadi, 5.102, 296.44.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Glen Kerunsky, Chevy Bel Air, 6.209, 226.81 def. Matt Hagan, Chevy Corvette, 6.242, 226.05; Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.205, 221.85 def. Carl Spiering, Corvette, 6.373, 188.33; Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.221, 222.73 def. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 14.088, 56.42; Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.156, 229.94 def. Steve Vick, Corvette, 6.393, 219.83; Josh Hernandez, Camaro, 6.185, 228.27 def. Rick Distefano, Corvette, 6.194, 228.27; Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.187, 225.45 def. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.452, 223.14; Alan Pittman, Bel Air, broke def. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, broke; Tommy D'Aprile, Corvette, 6.358, 226.43 def. Mike Bell, Ford Mustang, 7.108, 154.03; Mike Castellana, Cavalier, 6.194, 227.42 def. Alan Pittman, Bel Air, 6.304, 219.51
QUARTERFINALS -- Hernandez, 6.191, 228.23 def. Auxier, 11.111, 81.03; Kerunsky, 8.039, 200.08 def. Castellana, broke; Halsey, 6.218, 225.22 def. Janis, 8.445, 117.02; Stott, 6.204, 230.53 def. D'Aprile, 6.554, 218.19;
SEMIFINALS -- Hernandez, 6.248, 227.54 def. Stott, 6.195, 229.51; Kerunsky, 6.222, 229.00 def. Halsey, 6.556, 223.84;
FINAL -- Hernandez, 6.274, 228.07 def. Kerunsky, 10.258, 101.12.
ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.812, 242.58 def. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 7.241, 137.11; Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.869, 238.55 def. Melinda Green-King, Dodge Avenger, 5.944, 234.78; Frederick Tigges, Avenger, 6.045, 239.82 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 14.512, 66.23; Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.911, 230.88 def. Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 6.044, 229.51;
SEMIFINALS -- Tigges, 5.844, 240.47 def. Atchison, 5.798, 242.02; Carter, 5.940, 236.55 def. Thomas, 5.955, 237.96;
FINAL -- Carter, 5.944, 236.42 def. Tigges, 5.931, 240.29.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Bert Jackson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.482, 214.35 def. Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 13.298, 75.41; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.456, 214.62 def. Michael Bruno, Pontiac GTO, 6.498, 213.84; Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.470, 212.93 def. Ed Machacek, Cavalier, 15.770, 61.23; John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.454, 214.89 def. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.445, 215.34; John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.454, 214.48 def. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 8.614, 108.68; Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.447, 214.79 def. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.493, 212.93; Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 6.451, 214.62 def. Jason Collins, Mustang, 7.072, 149.70; Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.450, 215.48 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.498, 212.76;
QUARTERFINALS -- Jackson, 6.962, 211.56 def. Nobile, 7.340, 164.37; O'Brien, 6.510, 213.50 def. Patrick, 7.448, 142.84; Gugliotta, 6.469, 215.68 def. Bartunek, 6.495, 214.31; Gillig, 6.470, 215.34 def. Montecalvo, 11.980, 93.74;
SEMIFINALS -- Jackson, 6.521, 213.23 def. O'Brien, 8.746, 121.01; Gillig, 6.483, 214.96 def. Gugliotta, foul;
FINAL -- Gillig, 6.499, 203.28 def. Jackson, 6.930, 209.98.
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 36th annual IHRA Nicko's NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts at Rockingham Dragway, the second of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Doug Foley, 200; 2. Clay Millican, 176; 3. Bruce Litton, 134; 4. Rick Cooper, 131; 5. Cory McClenathan, 121; 6. Andrew Cowin, 119; 7. Louie Allison, 72; 8. Bobby Lagana Jr., 71; 9. Michael Gunderson, 56; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 55.
Pro Modified
1. Glen Kerunsky, 213; 2. Tommy D'Aprile, 159; 3. Josh Hernandez, 111; 4. Quain Stott, 110; 5. Jim Halsey, 107; 6. Rick Distefano, 100; 7. Carl Spiering, 99; 8. (tie) Mike Castellana, 88; Mike Janis, 88; 10. Dan Rowe, 87.
Alcohol Funny Car
1. Mark Thomas, 195; 2. Rob Atchison, 182; 3. Thomas Carter, 178; 4. Trevor Lebsack, 114; 5. Larry Dobbs, 110; 6. Frederick Tigges, 99; 7. Terry McMillen, 89; 8. Terry Munroe, 73; 9. (tie) Chris Foster, 57; Neal Parker, 57.
Pro Stock
1. (tie) Tony Gillig, 193; Frank Gugliotta, 193; 3. John Nobile, 113; 4. (tie) Rob Mansfield, 112; Steve Spiess, 112; 6. Larry O'Brien, 104; 7. Robert Patrick, 98; 8. Bert Jackson, 96; 9. Jeff Dobbins, 87; 10. John Montecalvo, 79.
Nitro Funny Car
1. Gary Densham, 204; 2. Bob Gilbertson, 138; 3. Jack Wyatt, 130; 4. Vincent Arcadi, 103; 5. Dale Creasy Jr., 100; 6. Cruz Pedregon, 81; 7. Frank Pedregon, 80; 8. Terry Haddock, 72; 9. (tie) Paul Lee, 54; Todd Simpson, 54.