CAYUGA, Ont. - Clay Millican continued his quest for a perfect season
by winning the Top Fuel title at the inaugural IHRA ACDelco Nationals at
Toronto Motorsports Park.
Millican tied Don Garlits 1975 record of appearing in eight finals in a
season and defeated Bruce Litton for the sixth time this season and his
eighth win. Millican's 17th victory tied the Drummonds, TN driver with
Gene Snow in IHRA Top Fuel wins.
"I really had fun today," said a jubilant Millican in victory
lane, "(Crew Chief) Mike Kloeber has become the master of the hot
weather tune up and he showed why today. This Werner team does a good job
for me and I want to do a good job for them. Today was a total team
win."
Millican defeated Louie Allison and 17 year-old Top Fuel sensation Josh
Starcher on the way to his 19th career final in the last 28 races.
"Louie scared me a little in the first round," explained
Millican. "I knew he was going to try to leave early to try to take
advantage, but we were ready for him."
Millican has won 14 of the last 15 races and won at every track on the
Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series.
Thomas Patterson won his first IHRA Pro Modified race by defeating
points leader Al Billes, of Barrie, Ontario, in the finals.
"We blew up a motor against our teammate, Troy Critchley in the
semi final round; I really didn't want to race Troy and wish we could have
met in the final," said Patterson. "After we won, I told our
team we would do what it took to get to the final, including blowing up
another motor.
"Everybody talks about how Al (Billes) has so much luck. All we
did this weekend was to convince Al's leprechaun we had deeper
pockets," added Patterson.
Billes maintained his Pro Modified points lead by defeating the winner
of the last two events, Shannon Jenkins, Carl Spiering and Quain Stott.
Billes leads Ed Hoover and Shannon Jenkins by 69 points.
"We struggled throughout qualifying and made a bunch of changes.
Sunday we just kept whittling away and the changes worked," explained
Billes. "We had a tough side of the ladder today. I asked who I had
second round; they told me (Ed) Hoover. I said, "Oh." I won that
round and came back and ask who I had next. They said Shannon (Jenkins)
and I said "Oh." So yes, it might have been a tough day but I
usually try to stay focused and the results come to us."
Billes was the Pro Modified runner-up at the only other IHRA national
event held at the former Cayuga Dragway Park, now Toronto Motorsports
Park, in 1992
Dale Brand won his second consecutive Funny Car title, defeating points
leader Jimmy Rector. The Sully, Iowa driver has closed the gap between
himself and Rector with wins at Martin, Michigan and Toronto, and trails
by 76 points.
"This was an outstanding win," said Brand. "The best
race of the weekend was against Laurie Cannister in the semifinals. They
are one of the teams that bring out the best in us.
John Konigshofer of Otterville, Ontario made Canada proud by winning
his first-ever Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock title on native soil.
Konigshofer was consistent all weekend long, defeating Doug Kirk and John
Bartunek before facing John Montecalvo in the final.
Konigshofer left Montecalvo at the light with a massive holeshot and
.471 reaction time, winning 6.637/211.43 to 6.634/210.28.
"It was a picture perfect weekend. We had a good car, good engine
and a good crew," stated Konigshofer. "We set the pace all
weekend and got the win in front of Canada. This is a great weekend for
Team Konigshofer."
Steve Stordeur defeated Doug Vancil in the Screamin' Eagle Nitro
Harley-Davidson final.
"This was a very important race for us to win," said
Stordeur. "If Doug had won that would have been a tough spread to
cover down the road. We're still in the championship hunt."
Vancil leads Stordeur by 45 points.
The next race on the 2002 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series schedule is
the Sunoco World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs, August 22-25,
2002 at Norwalk Raceway Park, Norwalk, Ohio.
CAYUGA, Ont. -- Sunday's final results from the Inaugural IHRA AC Delco
Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. The $1.1 million race is
the eighth of 12 in the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.816 seconds, 293.22 mph def. Bruce Litton,
5.187 seconds, 241.76 mph.
Pro Modified -- Thomas Patterson, Chevy Corvette, 6.375, 222.66 def. Al
Billes, Studebaker, 6.324, 225.07.
Nitro Harley -- Steve Stordeur, 6.302, 221.85 def. Doug Vancil, 6.388,
198.61.
Funny Car -- Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 6.203, 238.47 def. Jimmy
Rector, Chevy Camaro, 8.351, 105.89.
Pro Stock -- John Konigshofer, Mercury Cougar, 6.637, 211.43 def. John
Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.634, 210.28.
Top Sportsman -- Gary Bingham, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.554, 112.79 def.
Jeff McNally, Pontiac Trans Am, 9.038, 110.02.
Top Dragster -- Travis Colangelo, Dragster, 7.578, 167.07 def. Ricky
Adkins, Dragster, 7.515, 177.23.
Modified -- John Markwat, Dragster, 8.342, 152.90 def. Larry Cummings,
Dragster, 8.105, 137.44.
Quick Rod -- Penny Dabbs, Dragster, 8.891, 169.27 def. Jacob Elrod,
Dragster, 8.875, 168.11.
Super Rod -- Chris Malloy, Cobra, 9.938, 139.67 def. Ted Cordingley,
J2000, 9.904, 145.14.
Hot Rod -- Eddie Bolton, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.944, 111.74 def.
Anthony Platania, Chevy Camaro, 10.875, 126.32.
Super Stock -- Gianni Cantusci, Pontiac Firebird, 10.778, 124.25 def.
Wally Clark, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.810, 138.36.
Stock -- Chuck Weber, Chevelle, 11.829, 109.80 def. Vic Beleny, Ford
Fairlane, 11.488, 115.30.
CAYUGA, Ont. -- Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural IHRA AC
Delco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park, the eighth of 12
events in the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series - TOP FUEL:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Josh Starcher, 9.969, 86.35 def. Bobby Lagana Jr, broke;
Bruce Litton, 5.033, 273.27 def. John Sipple, 5.495, 263.41; Paul Romine,
5.109, 281.07 def. Roger Dean, 5.514, 256.60; Clay Millican, 4.852, 272.17
def. Louie Allison, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Litton, 5.036, 285.83 def. Romine,
5.088, 283.55; Millican, 4.895, 254.81 def. Starcher, 9.801, 91.53; FINAL
-- Millican, 4.816, 293.22 def. Litton, 5.187, 241.76.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Carl Spiering, Chevy Bel Air, 6.669, 214.04 def. Fred
Hahn, Chevy Corvette, 7.301, 146.73; Sal Passarelli, Chevy Nova, 6.458,
217.42 def. Pat Moore, Bel Air, 11.458, 76.64; Al Billes, Studebaker,
6.414, 222.73 def. Mitch Stott, Corvette, 7.057, 168.94; Ed Hoover,
Corvette, 6.725, 170.75 def. Mike Janis, Corvette, foul; Steve Vick, Chevy
Camaro, 6.429, 219.04 def. Alan Pittman, Willys, 6.517, 217.95; Troy
Critchley, Corvette, 6.399, 222.58 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am,
6.455, 205.79; Thomas Patterson, Corvette, 6.443, 223.21 def. Paul Athey,
Corvette, 12.398, 68.18; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.290, 222.18 def. Quain
Stott, Corvette, 6.333, 222.44; QUARTERFINALS -- Patterson, 6.461, 213.91
def. Passarelli, 6.579, 211.63; Hoover, 99.900, no speed def. Billes,
foul; Critchley, 6.393, 224.14 def. Vick, 6.354, 221.31; Jenkins, 6.279,
222.40 def. Spiering, 10.559, 122.72; Billes, 99.900, no speed def.
Hoover, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Patterson, 6.332, 218.80 def. Critchley,
6.427, 223.28; Billes, 6.352, 224.92 def. Jenkins, 12.988, 73.60; FINAL --
Patterson, 6.375, 222.66 def. Billes, 6.324, 225.07.
NITRO HARLEY:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Stordeur, 6.420, 206.54 def. Joe Scatella, 7.933,
134.91; Mark Conner, 6.590, 204.79 def. Jack Romine, 7.279, 155.74; Doug
Vancil, 6.292, 218.09 def. Ray Price, 7.345, 141.18; Johnny Mancuso,
6.485, 210.08 def. Mike Romine, 6.560, 208.75; SEMIFINALS -- Stordeur,
6.439, 208.84 def. Conner, 8.464, 108.12; Vancil, 6.365, 207.18 def.
Mancuso, 6.481, 212.13; FINAL -- Stordeur, 6.302, 221.85 def. Vancil,
6.388, 198.61.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 5.892, 242.93 was
unopposed; Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, 5.881, 237.92 def. Jeff
Lancaster, Firebird, foul; Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 5.932, 239.53 def. Paul
Zgoda, Achieva, broke; Dale Brand, Firebird, 5.891, 240.81 def. Scott
Wildgust, Firebird, 16.739, 65.52; Chris Foster, Dodge Avenger, 5.942,
239.23 def. Vincent Rastelli, Chevy Corvette, 6.359, 231.64; Ronnie
Midyette, Camaro, 5.981, 236.96 def. Mike Etter, Firebird, 6.364, 227.88;
Larry Dobbs, Corvette, 6.103, 229.16 def. Mark Thomas, Avenger, broke;
Terry McMillen, Avenger, 7.349, 131.97 def. Mike Comella, Avenger, broke;
QUARTERFINALS -- Atchison, 6.401, 151.68 def. Dobbs, foul; Brand, 5.872,
240.94 def. Foster, 7.901, 118.62; Cannister, 5.907, 242.06 def. McMillen,
5.987, 237.59; Rector, 5.932, 238.72 def. Midyette, 6.559, 158.35;
SEMIFINALS -- Brand, 5.848, 241.54 def. Cannister, 5.864, 241.20; Rector,
5.892, 239.27 def. Atchison, 5.930, 238.26; FINAL -- Brand, 6.203, 238.47
def. Rector, 8.351, 105.89.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Pete Berner, Ford Mustang, 6.677, 209.33 def. Carl Baker,
Mercury Cougar, broke; John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.667, 209.01 def.
Chris Holbrook, Cougar, 6.707, 203.80; Dwayne Rice, Pontiac Grand Am,
6.713, 207.59 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.709, 208.20; John Bartunek,
Grand Am, 6.679, 208.75 def. Jason Collins, Cougar, 6.775, 209.49; Jeff
Dobbins, Ford Probe, 6.670, 209.82 def. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.671,
210.47; Ron Miller, Cavalier, 6.703, 207.72 def. Hank Hill, Probe, 6.877,
208.04; Doug Kirk, Cavalier, 6.691, 209.30 def. Steve Spiess, Grand Am,
12.873, 84.50; John Konigshofer, Cougar, 6.680, 210.14 def. Frank
Gugliotta, Probe, 6.795, 208.07; QUARTERFINALS -- Rice, 6.703, 208.14 def.
Miller, 6.716, 208.23; Konigshofer, 6.665, 210.73 def. Kirk, 8.080,
129.77; Bartunek, 6.656, 208.94 def. Dobbins, 6.672, 204.23; Montecalvo,
6.652, 209.36 def. Berner, 6.725, 206.99; SEMIFINALS -- Konigshofer,
6.686, 210.80 def. Bartunek, 6.686, 208.07; Montecalvo, 6.641, 209.88 def.
Rice, 6.700, 208.88; FINAL -- Konigshofer, 6.637, 211.43 def. Montecalvo,
6.634, 210.28.
CAYUGA, Ont. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional
categories following the Inaugural IHRA AC Delco Canadian Nationals at
Toronto Motorsports Park, the eighth of 12 events in the Hooters IHRA Drag
Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Clay Millican, 992; 2. Bruce Litton, 856; 3. Paul Romine, 729; 4.
Louie Allison, 525; 5. Josh Starcher, 461; 6. Roger Dean, 433; 7. Donald
Reed, 374; 8. John Sipple, 293; 9. Jack Ostrander, 203; 10. Grant Flowers,
165.
Pro Modified
1. Al Billes, 625; 2. (tie) Ed Hoover, 556; Shannon Jenkins, 556; 4.
Mike Janis, 437; 5. Mitch Stott, 403; 6. Fred Hahn, 350; 7. Harold Martin,
340; 8. Alan Pittman, 305; 9. Quain Stott, 269; 10. Thomas Patterson, 256.
Nitro Harley
1. Doug Vancil, 919; 2. Steve Stordeur, 874; 3. Ray Price, 732; 4.
Johnny Mancuso, 708; 5. Mike Romine, 616; 6. Mark Conner, 614; 7. Joe
Scatella, 297; 8. Mark Cox, 234; 9. Jay Turner, 232; 10. Jack Romine, 212.
Funny Car
1. Jimmy Rector, 740; 2. Dale Brand, 664; 3. Laurie Cannister, 450; 4.
Mark Thomas, 385; 5. Rob Atchison, 316; 6. Terry McMillen, 300; 7. Ronnie
Midyette, 297; 8. Mike Comella, 288; 9. John Vouros, 224; 10. Chris
Foster, 198.
Pro Stock
1. Brian Gahm, 623; 2. John Montecalvo, 562; 3. Carl Baker, 502; 4.
Jason Collins, 437; 5. Ron Miller, 387; 6. John Bartunek, 370; 7. Jeff
Dobbins, 359; 8. Chris Holbrook, 302; 9. Doug Kirk, 294; 10. Dwayne Rice,
278.
IHRA Communications