D'Aprile's Semi-Final Finish Moves Mel Bush Motorsports into Top Five With a Track ET Record to Boot
<p style="width:310px;float:right;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/Deby706/DSB_4928.jpg"
<br><font color="Navt"> With corrected altitudes ranging from 3,500 feet above sea level to just over 5,500 feet it's easy to see why performance would drop off in such thin air but don't tell that to Castrol Raceway's new Pro Mod Track Elapsed Time Record Holder, Tommy D'Aprile</font>
<p>Edmonton, Al, CA. – While plagued by rain the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series, CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels will be a bright spot in now veteran driver, Tommy D'Aprile's career.
On D'Aprile's first qualifying attempt he was able to lay down a 6.235 e.t. at just over 230 miles per hour. That run held D'Aprile throughout a rain shortened qualifying and place him fifth on the eliminations ladder.
With corrected altitudes ranging from 3,500 feet above sea level to just over 5,500 feet it's easy to see why performance would drop off in such thin air but don't tell that to Castrol Raceway's new Pro Mod Track Elapsed Time Record Holder, Tommy D'Aprile. In round one D'Aprile faced off with mentor and former boss, Quain Stott. D'Aprile took nearly a three-hundredths advantage on the tree and powered down the Edmonton quarter mile setting a new track elapsed time record of 6.096. D'Aprile's mile an hour of 233.76 on the same run held as Top Speed of the Meet.
Round two was slowed by rain but D'Aprile showed his 6.09 was no fluke by defeating Jason Stock with a 6.136 at 225.37. The win over Stock was a costly one as a wounded piston forced the Mel Bush Motorsports team into overdrive between rounds rebuilding the Jan-Cen Hemi in just 35 minutes.
The second round victory pushed D'Aprile into his second semi-final appearance of 2008, this time against Carl Spiering. Spiering, the number seven qualifier, made his way to the semis by defeating Gary Mason and Scott Cannon. As D'Aprile and Spiering staged it became apparent that Spiering had a starting line strategy in play. Strategy or not D'Aprile kept cool and was still able to take over three – hundredths of a second starting line advantage. D'Aprile's advantage was short lived as Spiering passed D'Aprile just before the 1,00ft mark to take the win.
"We had a hectic time before this round," said D'Aprile. Mike (Janis) and his crew came over and along with our guys rebuilt this motor and got us to the line. I think we missed a bit on the clutch, but there aren't many teams who could've even got their cars back together in time and I couldn't be prouder of this team that Mel and Johanne have put together".
With the Top Sportsman class not being contested at the Rocky Mountain Nationals Team Owner Mel Bush entered his orange '62 Bubble Top in Quick 16 action. Qualifying 2nd put Bush up against Edmonton's own Randal Olynyk and his '96 Firebird. Bush took an easy win over Olynyk as Olynyk had troubles at half-track. In second round action Bush squared off with another Alberta native, Aaron Giroux. Giroux qualified his '02 Cavalier in the number 14 spot and defeated Steve Goddard in round one.
With a 6.95 dialed in on his nitrous power plant Bush took a slight starting line advantage, a .036 to a .037, but "Broke Out" running a 6.913 ending his weekend.
Up next for Mel Bush Motorsports will be the MOPAR Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada beginning on July 18th and running through the 20th.
For More Information on Team Driver Tommy D'Aprile check out: Sir Thomas Inc.
Sponsorship opportunities with Mel Bush Motorsports are available by contacting [email protected]
Mel Bush Motorsports would like to thank:
Mel Bush and Sons Construction
NGK Spark Plugs
Jan-Cen Motorsports
Photo By: Roger Richards
Breakout: Used only in handicap racing, "breakout" refers to a contestant running quicker than he or she "dialed" his or her vehicle (predicted how quick it would run). Unless the opponent commits a more serious foul (e.g., red-lights, crosses the centerline, or fails a post-race inspection), the driver who breaks out loses. If both drivers break out, the one who runs closest to his or her dial is the winner.
<p style="width:310px;float:right;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/Deby706/DSB_4928.jpg"
<br><font color="Navt"> With corrected altitudes ranging from 3,500 feet above sea level to just over 5,500 feet it's easy to see why performance would drop off in such thin air but don't tell that to Castrol Raceway's new Pro Mod Track Elapsed Time Record Holder, Tommy D'Aprile</font>
<p>Edmonton, Al, CA. – While plagued by rain the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series, CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels will be a bright spot in now veteran driver, Tommy D'Aprile's career.
On D'Aprile's first qualifying attempt he was able to lay down a 6.235 e.t. at just over 230 miles per hour. That run held D'Aprile throughout a rain shortened qualifying and place him fifth on the eliminations ladder.
With corrected altitudes ranging from 3,500 feet above sea level to just over 5,500 feet it's easy to see why performance would drop off in such thin air but don't tell that to Castrol Raceway's new Pro Mod Track Elapsed Time Record Holder, Tommy D'Aprile. In round one D'Aprile faced off with mentor and former boss, Quain Stott. D'Aprile took nearly a three-hundredths advantage on the tree and powered down the Edmonton quarter mile setting a new track elapsed time record of 6.096. D'Aprile's mile an hour of 233.76 on the same run held as Top Speed of the Meet.
Round two was slowed by rain but D'Aprile showed his 6.09 was no fluke by defeating Jason Stock with a 6.136 at 225.37. The win over Stock was a costly one as a wounded piston forced the Mel Bush Motorsports team into overdrive between rounds rebuilding the Jan-Cen Hemi in just 35 minutes.
The second round victory pushed D'Aprile into his second semi-final appearance of 2008, this time against Carl Spiering. Spiering, the number seven qualifier, made his way to the semis by defeating Gary Mason and Scott Cannon. As D'Aprile and Spiering staged it became apparent that Spiering had a starting line strategy in play. Strategy or not D'Aprile kept cool and was still able to take over three – hundredths of a second starting line advantage. D'Aprile's advantage was short lived as Spiering passed D'Aprile just before the 1,00ft mark to take the win.
"We had a hectic time before this round," said D'Aprile. Mike (Janis) and his crew came over and along with our guys rebuilt this motor and got us to the line. I think we missed a bit on the clutch, but there aren't many teams who could've even got their cars back together in time and I couldn't be prouder of this team that Mel and Johanne have put together".
With the Top Sportsman class not being contested at the Rocky Mountain Nationals Team Owner Mel Bush entered his orange '62 Bubble Top in Quick 16 action. Qualifying 2nd put Bush up against Edmonton's own Randal Olynyk and his '96 Firebird. Bush took an easy win over Olynyk as Olynyk had troubles at half-track. In second round action Bush squared off with another Alberta native, Aaron Giroux. Giroux qualified his '02 Cavalier in the number 14 spot and defeated Steve Goddard in round one.
With a 6.95 dialed in on his nitrous power plant Bush took a slight starting line advantage, a .036 to a .037, but "Broke Out" running a 6.913 ending his weekend.
Up next for Mel Bush Motorsports will be the MOPAR Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada beginning on July 18th and running through the 20th.
For More Information on Team Driver Tommy D'Aprile check out: Sir Thomas Inc.
Sponsorship opportunities with Mel Bush Motorsports are available by contacting [email protected]
Mel Bush Motorsports would like to thank:
Mel Bush and Sons Construction
NGK Spark Plugs
Jan-Cen Motorsports
Photo By: Roger Richards
Breakout: Used only in handicap racing, "breakout" refers to a contestant running quicker than he or she "dialed" his or her vehicle (predicted how quick it would run). Unless the opponent commits a more serious foul (e.g., red-lights, crosses the centerline, or fails a post-race inspection), the driver who breaks out loses. If both drivers break out, the one who runs closest to his or her dial is the winner.
