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ROCKINGHAM, NC - Dale Creasy, Jr. is just living the dream. Creasy Family Motorsports is a second generation, family run drag racing team, with Dale "Peanut" Creasy, Jr. sitting in the drivers seat. Dale's brother Steve and Allen Meyer [second generation crew chief] tune the Torco Nitro Funny Car.
It has been thirteen seasons ago when the IHRA crowned Del Worsham, Nitro Funny Car Champion. Not only would Creasy lay his claim to the title of Torco's CompeitionPlus.com Nitro Funny Car World Champion, he would also claim the title for the tightest battle in IHRA history. With his five point margin of victory, the Dale Creasy, Jr., Jack Wyatt battle unseated the 2000 Top Fuel duel between Paul Romine and Clay Millican where the margin was just seven points.
"I'd like to tell you I wasn't nervous, but I'd be lying," Creasy told Clay Millican in a 1320TV interview. Creasy rode into Rockingham on the strength of three Canadian wins and two top qualifying positions. Wyatt would keep pace, adding wins from Rockingham and Martin, before capping the season in the UTI final with his third win of the season.
"It's been great," said Creasy. "Jack and I have raced each other about 10 times in the past six weeks. We know each others routine. What a fitting end, with #1 and #2 in the final, the last race of the year for the championship."
For some, the wait might have seemed unbearable as elimination rounds were delayed by rain and held over until Monday for completion. While Creasy and his team spent many sleepless nights days before the event, he did find solitude after the race was called on Sunday night. "I slept like a baby," Creasy recalled of Sunday night. "Probably the first time in 3 weeks I went to sleep when I laid down."
Creasy knew in order to win the championship he would have to match Wyatt round for round in this heavy weight fight. As Creasy sat in his hot rod, he watch Wyatt eliminate Bob Gilbertson in round one. Creasy would then face Tim Wilkerson in his opening round match up. "Tim Wilkerson is no slouch," Creasy explained. "That's a good race car over there - he can run 4.70s as good as anybody."
"I just figure, I've got to be on my game. I had a great reaction time, the car ran good and then my guys came over the radio and said five flat to a 4.97. I figured we out ran him. Then I get around the corner and find out he was quicker than us. Maybe the driver did his job that time."
In round two, both Creasy and Wyatt eliminated their opponents, virtually locking up the championship for Dale. However, Creasy would need to face Wyatt in the final round with just a 25 point lead. A Creasy loss combined with a black flag penalty would be Wyatt's only chance to take the championship from Creasy. "If we did everything right we could still lose the championship," Wyatt told 1320TV.
Crew Chiefs Steve Creasy and Allen Meyer contemplated the set up for the final round showdown. "We had to put a new tire on for the finals," explained Steve. "So, we had to go with a little different clutch set up. Dale was pushing the tree a little bit, so when the tires blew off the car at the hit I think we were all a little relieved. I don't want to take anything away from Jack, it was a great race and a great season."
"I knew if we didn't make a mistake, we were going to win whether we lost or won the race," Dale said. "I was so worried about oiling that track down."
Meyer added, "It's our first championship. My dad did it in '92 with Cruz [Pedregon]. We knew we could do it. I know everyone says it, but if it wasn't for Evan [Knoll] and Torco none of this would have happened, Dale would have never had a chance to put this together."
As the crew continued packing the trailer, the same as they had so many other times this season, most did so as if it were just another race. The reality of their accomplishment had yet to be realized and fully appreciated. As the crew stayed busy, a young fan rolled his souvenir towards Dale and asks him to sign his racing slick; "Dale Creasy - 2006 World Champion". For a moment, Creasy signed it as he would any of the other thousands of autographs he had signed in the past. As he returned to the business of loading the truck, "Peanut" just smiled and said, "That was kind of neat. I guess I'll have to get used to that." Maybe you should Peanut, you've earned it.
Dale Creasy, Jr. and his Torco Nitro Funny Car partner with high quality and performance companies like; Torco Race Fuels, Oakley, Red Line Oil, MSD, Crane Cams, BME, Fram Autolite, Polydyn TX7, TEK PAK, VSI, GM Performance and Beaver Shredding.
To learn more about Dale Creasy, Jr. and the Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny Car visit http://dalecreasyjr.com
Creasy Ends Dream Seaon With Nitro Funny Car Win
ROCKINGHAM, NC - Dale Creasy, Jr. is just living the dream. Creasy Family Motorsports is a second generation, family run drag racing team, with Dale "Peanut" Creasy, Jr. sitting in the drivers seat. Dale's brother Steve and Allen Meyer [second generation crew chief] tune the Torco Nitro Funny Car.
It has been thirteen seasons ago when the IHRA crowned Del Worsham, Nitro Funny Car Champion. Not only would Creasy lay his claim to the title of Torco's CompeitionPlus.com Nitro Funny Car World Champion, he would also claim the title for the tightest battle in IHRA history. With his five point margin of victory, the Dale Creasy, Jr., Jack Wyatt battle unseated the 2000 Top Fuel duel between Paul Romine and Clay Millican where the margin was just seven points.
"I'd like to tell you I wasn't nervous, but I'd be lying," Creasy told Clay Millican in a 1320TV interview. Creasy rode into Rockingham on the strength of three Canadian wins and two top qualifying positions. Wyatt would keep pace, adding wins from Rockingham and Martin, before capping the season in the UTI final with his third win of the season.
"It's been great," said Creasy. "Jack and I have raced each other about 10 times in the past six weeks. We know each others routine. What a fitting end, with #1 and #2 in the final, the last race of the year for the championship."
For some, the wait might have seemed unbearable as elimination rounds were delayed by rain and held over until Monday for completion. While Creasy and his team spent many sleepless nights days before the event, he did find solitude after the race was called on Sunday night. "I slept like a baby," Creasy recalled of Sunday night. "Probably the first time in 3 weeks I went to sleep when I laid down."
Creasy knew in order to win the championship he would have to match Wyatt round for round in this heavy weight fight. As Creasy sat in his hot rod, he watch Wyatt eliminate Bob Gilbertson in round one. Creasy would then face Tim Wilkerson in his opening round match up. "Tim Wilkerson is no slouch," Creasy explained. "That's a good race car over there - he can run 4.70s as good as anybody."
"I just figure, I've got to be on my game. I had a great reaction time, the car ran good and then my guys came over the radio and said five flat to a 4.97. I figured we out ran him. Then I get around the corner and find out he was quicker than us. Maybe the driver did his job that time."
In round two, both Creasy and Wyatt eliminated their opponents, virtually locking up the championship for Dale. However, Creasy would need to face Wyatt in the final round with just a 25 point lead. A Creasy loss combined with a black flag penalty would be Wyatt's only chance to take the championship from Creasy. "If we did everything right we could still lose the championship," Wyatt told 1320TV.
Crew Chiefs Steve Creasy and Allen Meyer contemplated the set up for the final round showdown. "We had to put a new tire on for the finals," explained Steve. "So, we had to go with a little different clutch set up. Dale was pushing the tree a little bit, so when the tires blew off the car at the hit I think we were all a little relieved. I don't want to take anything away from Jack, it was a great race and a great season."
"I knew if we didn't make a mistake, we were going to win whether we lost or won the race," Dale said. "I was so worried about oiling that track down."
Meyer added, "It's our first championship. My dad did it in '92 with Cruz [Pedregon]. We knew we could do it. I know everyone says it, but if it wasn't for Evan [Knoll] and Torco none of this would have happened, Dale would have never had a chance to put this together."
As the crew continued packing the trailer, the same as they had so many other times this season, most did so as if it were just another race. The reality of their accomplishment had yet to be realized and fully appreciated. As the crew stayed busy, a young fan rolled his souvenir towards Dale and asks him to sign his racing slick; "Dale Creasy - 2006 World Champion". For a moment, Creasy signed it as he would any of the other thousands of autographs he had signed in the past. As he returned to the business of loading the truck, "Peanut" just smiled and said, "That was kind of neat. I guess I'll have to get used to that." Maybe you should Peanut, you've earned it.
Dale Creasy, Jr. and his Torco Nitro Funny Car partner with high quality and performance companies like; Torco Race Fuels, Oakley, Red Line Oil, MSD, Crane Cams, BME, Fram Autolite, Polydyn TX7, TEK PAK, VSI, GM Performance and Beaver Shredding.
To learn more about Dale Creasy, Jr. and the Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny Car visit http://dalecreasyjr.com
