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MECHANICSVILLE, MD. (September 29, 2006) – Bob Gilbertson has been on a mission lately. It all started at the World Nationals in Norwalk last month when the Charlotte, N.C. resident eclipsed John Force’s long-standing track ET record. It continued in Epping, N.H. at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals where Gilbertson established a both ends of the IHRA World Record with a 4.841 pass at 318.09 mph. Friday, during the evening qualifying session at the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals in Budds Creek, Md., Gilbertson continued his assault on the record books.
In the second-to-last pair of cars in Friday’s Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying session, Gilbertson blistered the strip at Maryland International Raceway with a 4.762 pass at 323.35 mph. This pass set both ends of the professional record, pending a qualifying back-up run sometime during the event.
With teammate Doug Foley still recovering from his injuries suffered in the final in Cayuga last week, Rick Cooper (Boise, Idaho) put together a strong pass to move to the top of Friday’s qualifying session in the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel class. Cooper clocked a 4.635 at 320.13 mph to move to the top of the sheet. T.J. Zizzo had previously set the new track mph record by clocking a 321.50 mph pass.
Danny Rowe (Rossville, Ga.) moved to the top of the Friday qualifying sheet in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class as he posted a 6.084 at 235.76 mph in his ’63 Corvette. Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) was the provisional #2 qualifier with a 6.086 at 235.64 mph. Mike Janis (Lancaster, N.Y.) and Tommy D’Aprile (Port Charlotte, Fla.) both posted 6.087 passes Friday night, but Janis moved into the #3 position due to a superior speed at the top end of the track.
Robert Patrick paced a Friday qualifying session that saw 10 drivers eclipse the previous Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock track record. Each of those 10 drivers ran in the 6.30’s, led by Patrick’s 6.332 at 220.84 mph. Patrick (Fredericksburg, Va.) grabbed the provisional top qualifying spot by running a solid three hundredths quicker than the #2 driver, Dix Hills, N.Y. resident John Montecalvo, who posted a 6.360 at 218.19 mph to grab the provisional #2 spot.
Mark Thomas (Louisville, Ohio) jumped to the top of the provisional qualifying sheet in the Alcohol Funny Car class by clocking a 5.882 pass at 246.44 mph in his Ethanol-sponsored Avenger. Thomas, currently second in IHRA World Championship points standings, was one thousandth quicker than Neal Parker…who carded a 5.883 pass.
Qualifying resumes Saturday for the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway. Gates open at 8 a.m. with Sportsman eliminations at 9:30 a.m., Professional qualifying at 3 and 7 p.m. Professional eliminations start Sunday at 11 a.m.
BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, tenth of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Rick Cooper, 4.635 seconds, 320.13 mph; 2. T.J. Zizzo, 4.677, 321.50; 3. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.786, 257.78; 4. Scott Weis, 4.829, 254.76; 5. Clay Millican, 5.111, 234.78; 6. Kevin Jones, 5.239, 214.93; 7. Roger Dean, 5.483, 225.03; 8. Jack Ostrander, 5.647, 168.64.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.762, 323.35; 2. Paul Lee, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.165, 241.67; 3. Vincent Arcadi, Monte Carlo, 5.779, 178.95; 4. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 7.213, 116.94; 5. Terry Haddock, Stratus, 7.864, 115.64; 6. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 8.540, 106.22; 7. Jack Wyatt, Firebird, 11.938, 78.97; 8. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Celica, 13.864, 64.89.
Pro Modified -- 1. Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, 6.084, 235.76; 2. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.086, 235.64; 3. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.087, 236.01; 4. Tommy D'Aprile, Corvette, 6.087, 235.02; 5. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.117, 230.84; 6. John Russo, Camaro, 6.120, 232.79; 7. Glen Kerunsky, Chevy Bel Air, 6.147, 232.07; 8. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.156, 226.62; 9. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.166, 234.45; 10. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 6.186, 228.38; 11. Steve Vick, Corvette, 6.199, 225.79; 12. Steve Bareman, Dodge Stratus, 6.216, 236.92; 13. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.223, 230.69; 14. Tim O'Hare, Camaro, 6.435, 218.65; 15. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.436, 183.54; 16. David Roemer, Camaro, 6.887, 158.06.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.882, 246.44; 2. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.883, 239.48; 3. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.997, 236.96; 4. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 7.559, 117.75; 5. Rocky Hummel, Camaro, 8.816, 95.79; 6. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 9.302, 92.41; 7. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 10.437, 89.29; 8. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 12.746, 62.38.
Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Shelby GT 500, 6.332, 220.84; 2. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.360, 218.19; 3. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.366, 220.33; 4. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.367, 220.04; 5. John Nobile, Escort, 6.376, 219.86; 6. Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.381, 218.72; 7. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.383, 218.65; 8. Jerry Haas, GTO, 6.393, 219.36; 9. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.396, 219.08; 10. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.398, 219.36; 11. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.429, 214.93; 12. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.434, 216.34; 13. Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 6.453, 217.70; 14. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.454, 216.62; 15. Daniel Seamon, Escort, 6.470, 218.19; 16. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.474, 217.39.
Gilbertson Assaults Own Nitro Funny Car Record at President’s Cup Nationals
Rick Cooper, Danny Rowe, Robert Patrick and Mark Thomas also Provisional Top Qualifiers in Maryland
MECHANICSVILLE, MD. (September 29, 2006) – Bob Gilbertson has been on a mission lately. It all started at the World Nationals in Norwalk last month when the Charlotte, N.C. resident eclipsed John Force’s long-standing track ET record. It continued in Epping, N.H. at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals where Gilbertson established a both ends of the IHRA World Record with a 4.841 pass at 318.09 mph. Friday, during the evening qualifying session at the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals in Budds Creek, Md., Gilbertson continued his assault on the record books.
In the second-to-last pair of cars in Friday’s Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying session, Gilbertson blistered the strip at Maryland International Raceway with a 4.762 pass at 323.35 mph. This pass set both ends of the professional record, pending a qualifying back-up run sometime during the event.
With teammate Doug Foley still recovering from his injuries suffered in the final in Cayuga last week, Rick Cooper (Boise, Idaho) put together a strong pass to move to the top of Friday’s qualifying session in the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel class. Cooper clocked a 4.635 at 320.13 mph to move to the top of the sheet. T.J. Zizzo had previously set the new track mph record by clocking a 321.50 mph pass.
Danny Rowe (Rossville, Ga.) moved to the top of the Friday qualifying sheet in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class as he posted a 6.084 at 235.76 mph in his ’63 Corvette. Carl Spiering (Jordan Station, Ont.) was the provisional #2 qualifier with a 6.086 at 235.64 mph. Mike Janis (Lancaster, N.Y.) and Tommy D’Aprile (Port Charlotte, Fla.) both posted 6.087 passes Friday night, but Janis moved into the #3 position due to a superior speed at the top end of the track.
Robert Patrick paced a Friday qualifying session that saw 10 drivers eclipse the previous Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock track record. Each of those 10 drivers ran in the 6.30’s, led by Patrick’s 6.332 at 220.84 mph. Patrick (Fredericksburg, Va.) grabbed the provisional top qualifying spot by running a solid three hundredths quicker than the #2 driver, Dix Hills, N.Y. resident John Montecalvo, who posted a 6.360 at 218.19 mph to grab the provisional #2 spot.
Mark Thomas (Louisville, Ohio) jumped to the top of the provisional qualifying sheet in the Alcohol Funny Car class by clocking a 5.882 pass at 246.44 mph in his Ethanol-sponsored Avenger. Thomas, currently second in IHRA World Championship points standings, was one thousandth quicker than Neal Parker…who carded a 5.883 pass.
Qualifying resumes Saturday for the Torco Racing Fuels President’s Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway. Gates open at 8 a.m. with Sportsman eliminations at 9:30 a.m., Professional qualifying at 3 and 7 p.m. Professional eliminations start Sunday at 11 a.m.
BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, tenth of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Rick Cooper, 4.635 seconds, 320.13 mph; 2. T.J. Zizzo, 4.677, 321.50; 3. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.786, 257.78; 4. Scott Weis, 4.829, 254.76; 5. Clay Millican, 5.111, 234.78; 6. Kevin Jones, 5.239, 214.93; 7. Roger Dean, 5.483, 225.03; 8. Jack Ostrander, 5.647, 168.64.
Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.762, 323.35; 2. Paul Lee, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.165, 241.67; 3. Vincent Arcadi, Monte Carlo, 5.779, 178.95; 4. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 7.213, 116.94; 5. Terry Haddock, Stratus, 7.864, 115.64; 6. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 8.540, 106.22; 7. Jack Wyatt, Firebird, 11.938, 78.97; 8. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Celica, 13.864, 64.89.
Pro Modified -- 1. Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, 6.084, 235.76; 2. Carl Spiering, Chevy Camaro, 6.086, 235.64; 3. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.087, 236.01; 4. Tommy D'Aprile, Corvette, 6.087, 235.02; 5. Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.117, 230.84; 6. John Russo, Camaro, 6.120, 232.79; 7. Glen Kerunsky, Chevy Bel Air, 6.147, 232.07; 8. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.156, 226.62; 9. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.166, 234.45; 10. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 6.186, 228.38; 11. Steve Vick, Corvette, 6.199, 225.79; 12. Steve Bareman, Dodge Stratus, 6.216, 236.92; 13. Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.223, 230.69; 14. Tim O'Hare, Camaro, 6.435, 218.65; 15. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.436, 183.54; 16. David Roemer, Camaro, 6.887, 158.06.
Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.882, 246.44; 2. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.883, 239.48; 3. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 5.997, 236.96; 4. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 7.559, 117.75; 5. Rocky Hummel, Camaro, 8.816, 95.79; 6. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 9.302, 92.41; 7. Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 10.437, 89.29; 8. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 12.746, 62.38.
Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Shelby GT 500, 6.332, 220.84; 2. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.360, 218.19; 3. Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.366, 220.33; 4. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.367, 220.04; 5. John Nobile, Escort, 6.376, 219.86; 6. Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.381, 218.72; 7. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.383, 218.65; 8. Jerry Haas, GTO, 6.393, 219.36; 9. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.396, 219.08; 10. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.398, 219.36; 11. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 6.429, 214.93; 12. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.434, 216.34; 13. Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 6.453, 217.70; 14. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.454, 216.62; 15. Daniel Seamon, Escort, 6.470, 218.19; 16. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.474, 217.39.
