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BEECHER, Ill (November 26, 2007) It was the end of the 2006 drag racing season when Dale Creasy, Jr. squeaked out a five point margin to earn his first championship. It proved to be the narrowest margin in IHRA championship history. With a new Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny Car in the team transporter for the 2007 campaign, Creasy and his team set out to defend their Knoll Gas Motorsports Nitro Jam World Championship and in the process put together one of the most dominant performances in recent IHRA professional drag racing history.
The season would start rough for the Illinois based team. When they made the trip to Gainesville, Florida for the NHRA Gatornationals the season didn't start as they had hoped. "We couldn't get the car down the track," Creasy explained of the season opener. "Then we had that catastrophe in the final qualify round and blew up a brand new motor." The team would fail to qualify for the Gatornationals and headed into the Nitro Jam opener in San Antonio with more questions than answers.
"We had the old car in the top of the transporter and we thought about getting it out after the second round of qualify in San Antonio," Creasy added. The Torco team headed into the final qualifying round needing a stellar performance to make a field of highly competitive cars that included a handful of NHRA regulars, Gary Densham, Cruz Pedregon and Del Worsham. Creasy's team stepped up to the challenge, kept the new Torco Race Fuels Monte Carlo on the track and rocketed to the third fastest run of the final qualifying round. The effort would be good enough for sixth position in the IHRA season opener.
While there were many ups and downs during the season, Creasy and his team never really looked back after that moment. They would go on to win San Antonio and compete in seven of the 11 final rounds during the season. They would earn six wins and a 23-5 record before capturing their second consecutive World Championship.
"I look at it and sometimes it just seems like a dream," Creasy said. "Sometimes we look at it and think, what can we attribute the success of this team. There's really just one answer and that's Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels. How can you describe the opportunity that he's given us to go out and be competitive and represent the finest race fuel in the industry?"
Team accolades wouldn't end with six ironmen and a another World Championship trophy. Creasy would be awarded Pro Driver of the Year for his accomplishments. Crew Chief and brother Steve Creasy would also be recognized as the IHRA Crew Chief of the Year.
"Not in my wildest dreams," Steve Creasy said in response to a question about his expectation of winning this award. "I really didn't expect to win it. I didn't give it much thought. I'm honored to be the guy that gets the trophy, but it's really a team effort. Dale and I go over every tuning decision and we come to an agreement on how we're going to set up the car. Then our crew goes out and puts together an amazing car that performed consistently round after round."
Consistency was key for the Torco team's second championship run. During the 58 rounds of qualifying and eliminations the team was not assessed any oil down penalties. "That's really what we concentrated on this year," Steve continued. "We wanted the car to be consistent. We only ran the car as hard as we needed to win rounds. We really didn't lean on the car that hard, there's a lot left in it, trust me."
With the championship locked up for 2007, the Creasy brothers started experimenting with different combinations. The experiments proved successful, yielding the team three number one qualifying positions in the last three events. "We were able to get the car into the 80's and 90's (4.8 and 4.9 second runs) pretty consistent at the end," Steve added. The team won three of the last four events. "We smoked the tires at the World Finals. That's going to happen sometimes."
"We've got one of the best teams in the business and I'll put them up against anyone." Steve said. "But, I have to thank Evan Knoll and Latrell Preston. Without them none of this is possible. Plus, I need to thank Larry Meyer. Larry helped us get started and gave us the original combination to get this car down the track. We owe a lot to him for that help."
With the 2007 season on the shelf and the 2008 season on the horizon, the Torco Race Fuels, Creasy Family Motorsports team has a lot planned for it's run at a third championship. With the addition of Matt Hagen to the team with a second Nitro Funny Car there are high expectations.
"Matt is a great guy," Dale said. "I'm really looking forward to racing with him on our team next year. I think we're both going to benefit from a two car operation."
Dale Creasy, Jr. and his back-to-back championship Torco powered 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 Dale Creasy Jr.
Banquet photographs courtesy of Roger Richards and Bob Szelag.
Creasy Family Motorsports ends strong season at IHRA banquet
BEECHER, Ill (November 26, 2007) It was the end of the 2006 drag racing season when Dale Creasy, Jr. squeaked out a five point margin to earn his first championship. It proved to be the narrowest margin in IHRA championship history. With a new Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny Car in the team transporter for the 2007 campaign, Creasy and his team set out to defend their Knoll Gas Motorsports Nitro Jam World Championship and in the process put together one of the most dominant performances in recent IHRA professional drag racing history.
The season would start rough for the Illinois based team. When they made the trip to Gainesville, Florida for the NHRA Gatornationals the season didn't start as they had hoped. "We couldn't get the car down the track," Creasy explained of the season opener. "Then we had that catastrophe in the final qualify round and blew up a brand new motor." The team would fail to qualify for the Gatornationals and headed into the Nitro Jam opener in San Antonio with more questions than answers.
"We had the old car in the top of the transporter and we thought about getting it out after the second round of qualify in San Antonio," Creasy added. The Torco team headed into the final qualifying round needing a stellar performance to make a field of highly competitive cars that included a handful of NHRA regulars, Gary Densham, Cruz Pedregon and Del Worsham. Creasy's team stepped up to the challenge, kept the new Torco Race Fuels Monte Carlo on the track and rocketed to the third fastest run of the final qualifying round. The effort would be good enough for sixth position in the IHRA season opener.
While there were many ups and downs during the season, Creasy and his team never really looked back after that moment. They would go on to win San Antonio and compete in seven of the 11 final rounds during the season. They would earn six wins and a 23-5 record before capturing their second consecutive World Championship.
"I look at it and sometimes it just seems like a dream," Creasy said. "Sometimes we look at it and think, what can we attribute the success of this team. There's really just one answer and that's Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels. How can you describe the opportunity that he's given us to go out and be competitive and represent the finest race fuel in the industry?"
Team accolades wouldn't end with six ironmen and a another World Championship trophy. Creasy would be awarded Pro Driver of the Year for his accomplishments. Crew Chief and brother Steve Creasy would also be recognized as the IHRA Crew Chief of the Year.
"Not in my wildest dreams," Steve Creasy said in response to a question about his expectation of winning this award. "I really didn't expect to win it. I didn't give it much thought. I'm honored to be the guy that gets the trophy, but it's really a team effort. Dale and I go over every tuning decision and we come to an agreement on how we're going to set up the car. Then our crew goes out and puts together an amazing car that performed consistently round after round."
Consistency was key for the Torco team's second championship run. During the 58 rounds of qualifying and eliminations the team was not assessed any oil down penalties. "That's really what we concentrated on this year," Steve continued. "We wanted the car to be consistent. We only ran the car as hard as we needed to win rounds. We really didn't lean on the car that hard, there's a lot left in it, trust me."
With the championship locked up for 2007, the Creasy brothers started experimenting with different combinations. The experiments proved successful, yielding the team three number one qualifying positions in the last three events. "We were able to get the car into the 80's and 90's (4.8 and 4.9 second runs) pretty consistent at the end," Steve added. The team won three of the last four events. "We smoked the tires at the World Finals. That's going to happen sometimes."
"We've got one of the best teams in the business and I'll put them up against anyone." Steve said. "But, I have to thank Evan Knoll and Latrell Preston. Without them none of this is possible. Plus, I need to thank Larry Meyer. Larry helped us get started and gave us the original combination to get this car down the track. We owe a lot to him for that help."
With the 2007 season on the shelf and the 2008 season on the horizon, the Torco Race Fuels, Creasy Family Motorsports team has a lot planned for it's run at a third championship. With the addition of Matt Hagen to the team with a second Nitro Funny Car there are high expectations.
"Matt is a great guy," Dale said. "I'm really looking forward to racing with him on our team next year. I think we're both going to benefit from a two car operation."
Dale Creasy, Jr. and his back-to-back championship Torco powered 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 Dale Creasy Jr.
Banquet photographs courtesy of Roger Richards and Bob Szelag.
