Millican, Mattioli, Jenkins, Brand and Wilson Professional Winners at IHRA CARQUEST Empire Nationals

By FastNews Network

LEICESTER, N.Y. - Clay Millican extended his IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series points lead by capturing his second consecutive national event win of the season at the IHRA CARQUEST Empire Nationals in Leicester, N.Y. Other professional winners included Tony Mattioli (Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson), Shannon Jenkins (Mopar Performance Parts Pro Modified), Dale Brand (Funny Car) and Gene Wilson (Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock).

Millican couldn't wait to get to New York International Raceway Park to work on winning his second event since the Amalie Oil Summer Nationals last month in Cordova: on the way to IHRA media day he was given a speeding ticket.

The Werner Enterprises-sponsored driver from Drummonds, Tenn., was quick to point out that he didn't get a speeding ticket.

"I got a ticket for failing to obey a sign," explained Millican, who is the defending IHRA Rookie of the Year. "That sign said 'Speed Limit 65.' I thought all Z-28s were for cruising. The guy driving this one had a big round hat. That was my first ticket and I deserved it. The state of New York gave me a driving award and New York International Raceway gave me one back. One of them I have to pay and the other will pay me. I'll take that trade off any day."

Millican defeated Paul Romine in the final round with a 4.882, 300.33. Romine went up in tire smoke just off of the line in his first outing since suffering second-degree burns in a drag racing fire last month in St. Louis, Mo.

To reach the finals, Millican defeated Jim Bailey and Bruce Litton and extended his championship points lead to 46 points over Romine after five of 11 races.

Romine was on a mission all weekend in his CARQUEST Top Fuel dragster. He established both ends of the track record with a 4.698, 318.17 to qualify on the pole, earning his final round berth by knocking off Steve Smith and Jim Head.

Mattioli of Williamsburg, Va., returned from a 200 mile-per-hour crash in Cordova, Ill., to record his second Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson win of the year. The veteran rider took over the riding chores on Jim McClure's bike earlier in the season, when McClure, too, was involved in a serious high-speed crash.

Mattioli knew that he needed the win to remain in the championship hunt.

"This is an incredible way to come back," explained Mattioli. "We ran good all weekend and let me be the first to tell you, we have a powerful motorcycle. I really never expected us to rebound from the crash at Cordova with this good of fortune."

Mattioli scored the victory over the quickest rider in the class, Steve Stordeur. His winning elapsed time was a 6.829, 183.27.

Mattioli qualified sixth in the program and defeated defending World Champion Jay Turner and Bill Furr to reach the final round.

Stordeur, of Goshen, Ohio, was no pushover as he became the first Nitro Harley-Davidson rider in history to record a 6.3-second run when he posted a 6.387, 203.61 to defeat Mike Romine in the first round. He took out points leader Doug Vancil in the semis.

Jenkins, a two-time IHRA Pro Modified champion from Tuscaloosa, Ala., proved that there's nothing like returning to the winner's circle after being away for a long while. The veteran driver for Mike Castellana's Awesome Motorsports ended a dry spell that dated back to his last championship season of 1999.

Jenkins was quick to point out that his team was never down on power, instead they were lost in trying to channel the horsepower to the racing surface. He had enough to knock off defending event champion Quain Stott with a 6.293, 223.39.

"I think most everyone knew that we were struggling," explained Jenkins. "Thanks to Mike Castellana for being patient with me. I had hoped that this day would come for a long time. I think we have everything straightened out and I'd like to thank Tommy Mauney for that. I think people will always consider us to be a threat to win."

Jenkins reached the finals by defeating Mike Lockwood, Tim McAmis and Ed Hoover.

For his part, Stott earned his final round berth by stopping Harold Martin, younger brother Mitch Stott and number one qualifier and Pro Mod points leader Mike Janis.

Brand was another second-time winner as he claimed the Funny Car crown. The veteran driver from Sully, Iowa made the trip worthwhile as he defeated Larry Dobbs in the final round.

"This has just been a great event for us," explained Brand. "Everything just fell into place and we couldn't have asked for any better. This is fantastic and gives us a lot of momentum."

Brand was unstoppable from the early going as he nailed down the top qualifying position and defeated David Ray, Rob Atchison and Laurie Cannister.

Dobbs was in tremendous form all day as he beat Fred Tigges, Dan Roman and points leader Mark Thomas to reach the finals.

Wilson continued his stronghold on the Pro Stock class. The 28 year-old machine shop owner from Canton, Ga., reached his fifth consecutive final round and posted his fourth victory behind the wheel of Charlie Hunt's Mercury Cougar.

The Pro Stock points leader never left any room for doubt as he qualified number one and never wavered in beating Tim Nabors in the final round.

Wilson explained, "I warned the rest of the class when we lost in Cordova to not start partying yet because we weren't finished. I think our victory again is yet another testimony to my crew and how hard they work. These guys are the motivating factor and I am very much convinced that they want the championship bad. I want it bad, too."

The next race in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series is the CARQUEST Northern Nationals at Mid Michigan Motorplex, July 27-29.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Sunday's final results from the 11th annual CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park. The $1.6 million race is the fifth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.822 seconds, 300.23 mph def. Paul Romine, 10.463 seconds, 90.10 mph.

Mopar Pro Modified -- Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.293, 223.39 def. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.311, 229.00.

Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley -- Tony Mattioli, 6.829, 183.27 def. Steve Stordeur, 7.754, 127.82.

Funny Car -- Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.928, 221.31 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 7.460, 130.13.

Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock -- Gene Wilson, Mercury Cougar, 6.654, 209.14 def. Tim Nabors, Chevy Cavalier, 6.670, 207.94.

NOS Top Sportsman -- Gary Bingham, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.323, 181.08 def. Kevin Wicke, Chrysler LeBaron, 7.481, 185.79.

Annihilator Top Dragster -- Mike DiDomenico, 6.716, 200.86 def. Travis Colangelo, 7.076, 188.17.

Hooker Modified -- Michael Lyons, Dragster, 7.424, 175.33 def. John Markwat, Dragster, 8.369, 159.97.

Dominator Quick Rod -- Greg Slack, Dragster, 8.891, 157.78 def. Dale Harrison, Dragster, 8.863, 166.58.

Holley Team G Super Rod -- John Vineyard, Ford Roadster, 9.908, 155.72 def. Ryan Korek, Chevy Corvette, 9.831, 155.81.

Weiand Hot Rod -- Bill Hanes, Chevy Camaro, 10.876, 136.94 def. Wes McCracken, Chevy Nova, foul.

Lunati Super Stock -- Sal Biondo, Pontiac Trans Am, 10.901, 122.71 def. Anthony Bertozzi, Pontiac Grand Am, foul.

Earl's Stock -- Monty Bogan Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.863, 119.58 def. Dan Fletcher, Pontiac Firebird, 11.437, 122.58.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Final round-by-round results from the 11th annual CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park, the fifth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Jim Head, 5.473, 250.69 def. Louie Allison, 6.106, 162.20; Clay Millican, 4.817, 298.67 def. Jim Bailey, 7.528, 108.85; Bruce Litton, 4.888, 294.43 def. Roger Dean, 5.230, 279.27; Paul Romine, 4.866, 296.05 def. Steve Smith, 5.075, 284.99; SEMIFINALS -- Romine, 4.961, 289.32 def. Head, 5.680, 179.90; Millican, 4.966, 292.46 def. Litton, 6.989, 125.23; FINAL -- Millican, 4.822, 300.23 def. Romine, 10.463, 90.10.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Ron Kammes, Chevy Corvette, 6.251, 226.77 def. Carl Moyer, Chevy Bel Air, 9.518, 92.64; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.341, 218.44 def. Steve Vick, Chevy Camaro, 6.359, 222.47; Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 6.282, 223.73 def. Michael Lockwood, Corvette, 6.382, 221.45; Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.741, 222.14 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Firebird, foul; Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.359, 223.84 def. Al Billes, Studebaker, 13.610, 83.86; Tim McAmis, Corvette, 6.304, 223.76 def. Ronnie Hood, Corvette, 9.599, 91.73; Alan Pittman, Willys, 6.317, 226.89 def. Paul Athey, Mercury, broke; Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.306, 226.28 def. Steve Cossis, Corvette, 6.421, 221.13; QUARTERFINALS -- Q. Stott, 6.322, 224.70 def. M. Stott, 7.593, 152.69; Hoover, 6.648, 204.39 def. Pittman, 9.709, 93.92; Janis, 6.363, 226.16 def. Kammes, broke; Jenkins, 6.312, 223.06 def. McAmis, 6.277, 225.56; SEMIFINALS -- Q. Stott, 6.303, 227.15 def. Janis, 6.389, 225.15; Jenkins, 6.326, 222.69 def. Hoover, 6.813, 156.50; FINAL -- Jenkins, 6.293, 223.39 def. Q. Stott, 6.311, 229.00.

NITRO FUEL HARLEY:

ROUND ONE -- Doug Vancil, 6.405, 221.63 def. Ray Price, 6.603, 214.66; Steve Stordeur, 6.387, 203.61 def. Mike Romine, 6.503, 210.87; Bill Furr, 6.652, 203.06 def. Johnny Mancuso, 7.132, 157.30; Tony Mattioli, 27.584, 21.19 def. Jay Turner, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Stordeur, 7.766, 209.79 def. Vancil, 9.183, 132.70; Mattioli, 7.289, 168.43 def. Furr, 14.019, 62.72; FINAL -- Mattioli, 6.829, 183.27 def. Stordeur, 7.754, 127.82.

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.961, 231.75 def. Dave Ray, Oldsmobile Cutlass, broke; Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 5.903, 239.91 def. Paul Lee, Chevy Corvette, 6.196, 227.69; Dan Roman, Firebird, 6.154, 227.19 def. John Vouros, Firebird, 9.264, 77.17; Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.925, 240.25 def. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 8.644, 106.14; Terry McMillen, Avenger, 6.018, 236.46 def. Ronnie Midyette, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.721, 158.00; Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 5.963, 237.21 def. Joe Comella, Firebird, 6.305, 226.96; Larry Dobbs, Corvette, 5.991, 232.75 def. Fred Tigges, Camaro, 17.877, 45.06; Rob Atchison, Firebird, 5.962, 236.75 def. Monty Todd, Camaro, 6.003, 233.52; QUARTERFINALS -- Brand, 5.937, 237.55 def. Atchison, 6.073, 235.19; Cannister, 5.903, 239.19 def. McMillen, 6.073, 233.08; Thomas, 5.934, 239.23 def. Rector, 6.069, 210.77; Dobbs, 6.012, 231.24 def. Roman, 6.086, 233.76; SEMIFINALS -- Brand, 5.848, 237.59 def. Cannister, 6.383, 228.73; Dobbs, 6.066, 231.16 def. Thomas, 6.121, 202.64; FINAL -- Brand, 5.928, 221.31 def. Dobbs, 7.460, 130.13.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.700, 208.10 def. John Bartunek, Pontiac Grand Am, 16.499, 53.41; Terry Leggett, Mustang, 6.800, 206.54 def. Tony Fox, Mustang, 7.240, 205.54; John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.726, 205.94 def. Angelo Alesci, Cavalier, 6.770, 206.35; Ron Miller, Grand Am, 6.702, 207.75 def. Dwayne Rice, Pontiac Firebird, foul; Jason Collins, Ford Probe, 7.180, 162.76 def. John Konigshofer, Probe, 10.943, 123.92; Tim Nabors, Cavalier, 6.673, 208.30 def. Chris Holbrook, Mustang, foul; Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.651, 210.73 def. Elijah Morton, Probe, foul; Gene Wilson, Cougar, 6.627, 209.79 def. Chuck DeMory, Probe, 6.779, 205.13; QUARTERFINALS -- Miller, 6.720, 206.89 def. Collins, 6.856, 205.85; Nabors, 6.682, 207.24 def. Montecalvo, foul; Leggett, 6.737, 206.51 def. Baker, 6.693, 210.05; Wilson, 6.651, 209.56 def. Gahm, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Nabors, 6.696, 207.37 def. Leggett, 6.724, 207.02; Wilson, 6.655, 209.49 def. Miller, 6.757, 206.32; FINAL -- Wilson, 6.654, 209.14 def. Nabors, 6.670, 207.94.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 11th annual CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park, the fifth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

1. Clay Millican, 591; 2. Paul Romine, 546; 3. Bruce Litton, 524; 4. Jim Bailey, 455; 5. Jim Head, 389; 6. Louie Allison, 347; 7. Roger Dean, 314; 8. Steve Smith, 136; 9. Shirley Muldowney, 108; 10. Tracy Howard, 94.

PRO MODIFIED:

1. Mike Janis, 631; 2. Alan Pittman, 579; 3. Quain Stott, 479; 4. Ed Hoover, 385; 5. Mitch Stott, 378; 6. Ronnie Hood, 348; 7. Shannon Jenkins, 347; 8. Paul Athey, 295; 9. Al Billes, 261; 10. Carl Moyer, 258.

NITRO HARLEY:

1. Doug Vancil, 581; 2. Tony Mattioli, 486; 3. Steve Stordeur, 439; 4. Jay Turner, 425; 5. Johnny Mancuso, 420; 6. Mike Romine, 394; 7. Bob Malloy, 366; 8. Bill Furr, 284; 9. Ray Price, 268; 10. Stan Verheijen, 194.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Mark Thomas, 564; 2. Dale Brand, 517; 3. Jimmy Rector, 480; 4. Laurie Cannister, 433; 5. John Vouros, 478; 6. Terry McMillen, 336; 7. Monty Todd, 330; 8. Larry Dobbs, 270; 9. Terry Munroe, 232; 10. Bob Newberry, 211.

PRO STOCK:

1. Gene Wilson, 748; 2. Tom Lee, 539; 3. Ron Miller, 480; 4. Angelo Alesci, 446; 5. John Montecalvo, 352; 6. Dwayne Rice, 328; 7. Carl Baker, 326; 8. Jason Collins, 302; 9. Brian Gahm, 284; 10. Elijah Morton, 270.

-- FastNews Network