IHRA North American Nationals Final Wrap-Up
Tim Boychuk Claims First Career Top Fuel Win; Defeats Terry McMillen in Final at Amalie Oil North American Nationals
Andy Kelley (Nitro Funny Car), Jim Halsey (Pro Modified), Paul Noakes (Alcohol Funny Car) and Pete Berner (Pro Stock) also claim Ironmen at New England Dragway
Epping, N.H. (Sept. 7, 2008) - Tim Boychuk has only been behind the wheel of a Top Fuel Dragster for a very short time. Prior to the July Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Todd and Barry Paton tapped Boychuk to drive their 2004 McKinney for the remainder of the 2008 season.
The big payoff probably came a little sooner than they expected.
Boychuk (Edmonton, Alb.) drove past Terry McMillen in the final round at New England Dragway to claim his first career win at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals. Boychuk had a rough road to travel, but he was able to drive through Mike Strasburg (who set the track speed record) in the first round and points leader Spencer Massey in the semifinals to get to the run for the money.
There he posted a 4.758 at 306.19 mph to knock off a tire-smoking McMillen.
"This is the best feeling in the world...it's just awesome," Boychuk said from the New England Dragway winner's circle. "I have to thank the Patons for letting me drive the car; they really helped me out and have a great crew. It was a wonderful weekend."
It didn't take long for Boychuk to get the hang of Top Fuel racing.
"I'm still learning to drive it," he said. "This was my fourth race and it's spectacular. At the end of the track I had to get on the radio and ask how we made out because I really didn't know. I wanted to make sure I didn't mess up and Barry came on the radio and told me we'd won. It was really cool."
Andy Kelley (Piedmont, S.C.) is finishing the 2008 with a fury. In New England he advanced to his third consecutive Nitro Funny Car final and, after defeating Terry Haddock, visited the winner's circle for the second time this season.
Kelley ran a 5.160 at 264.96 mph to take the victory over a tire-shaking Haddock, proving that sometimes the crew chief is the smartest guy in the pits.
"I'm really impatient, I always want to run 4.70's or 4.80's," Kelley said. "But Richard Hartman, who makes the calls on this car, usually talks some sense into me. We're running this thing with no money and Richard really knows how to tune for a team with no budget. We run 5.00 or 5.10, get down the track, and that's what wins races. So I really have to thank him for being the voice of reason."
Kelley defeated Corey Lee in the first round and Matt Hagan in the semifinals. Though he lost in the final round, Haddock holds a commanding points lead heading into the season finale in Rockingham.
"I told Terry at the end of the track I'm sorry for getting in the way of him and Matt (Hagan) in this points chase," Kelley said. "But I'm out here to win. I'm not going to lay down for anyone and they understand that. We're all out here for one reason...to win races."
Chalk another one up for the nitrous Pro Modifieds as for the third race in a row nitrous cars finished 1-2 on the qualifying sheet. Jim Halsey (Street, Md.), behind the wheel of his nitrous-assisted 1968 Camaro, won his third national event of the season when he stopped Mike Castellana in an all-nitrous final round. Three of the four cars in the semifinals, Halsey, Castellana and Pat Stoken, were nitrous-assisted.
"I've never done very well at this track, but today it's my second-favorite track in the world," Halsey, the owner of Cecil County Dragway, said. "Nitrous cars are great right now, they're fast. We've done our homework and it's paying off."
Paul Noakes' Alcohol Funny Car victory over Dale Brand meant a little bit more than the other wins he has been able to garner in his career. Noakes, a London, Ont. resident, drives for Amalie Oil-sponsored Terry McMillen. Since the North American Nationals were sponsored by Amalie Oil, Noakes was thrilled he was able to do well for his sponsor.
"This feel wonderful," Noakes said. "We really wanted to come here and represent well for Amalie. Our goal was to come here and thank everyone for taking a chance on us and putting us in this car this year. The sponsors spend so much money and they spent money to put their name on this race, it meant a lot we could represent well for them here this weekend."
Noakes almost had a bye run in the semifinal. Dale Brand was thrashing in the pits to be able to make the call, but was probably going to fall short. Noakes was given the option to run last, after all the other professional classes, to give Brand more time. He jumped at that offer.
"No one wants to win that way, no one wants to be the only car on the track in the final," he said. "Anyone else out here would have done the same thing. IHRA gave me the option and, of course, I wanted to race for it."
Pete Berner's Pro Stock win in the final over Jeff Dobbins set up the biggest race weekend of his life one month from now in Rockingham. Berner took the points lead with his finals victory, moving 25 points ahead of Dobbins. Rain also washed away the final round of the $100,000 Torco Pro Stock Showdown in Epping, where Berner will face John Montecalvo. So in Rockingham Berner will be running for a world championship as well as trying to cash in on the $50,000 first prize in the Showdown.
"This is great, it's a lot of fun," Berner said. "When you think about it, in Rockingham I will have quite a bit on the line. $50,000 is a lot of money whether its IHRA, NHRA, NASCAR or whatever. We're looking forward to it."
Berner clocked a 6.333 pass at 222.88 mph in the final to nip Dobbins, who ran a 6.370/222.00.
"That final was tough, but it was a tough race weekend," Berner said. "I had to go against Frank (Gugliotta) and Cary (Goforth) just to get to J.D. I had a good lap against him, now it's time to start thinking about Rockingham."
EPPING, N.H. -- Sunday's final results from the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers at New England Dragway. The race is the ninth of 10 in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tim Boychuk, 4.758 seconds, 306.19 mph def. Terry McMillen, 8.343 seconds, 100.57 mph.
Nitro Funny Car -- Andy Kelley, Chevy Camaro, 5.160, 264.96 def. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 10.857, 95.69.
Pro Modified -- Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.054, 233.64 def. Mike Castellana, Pontiac Firebird, 6.759, 154.28.
Alcohol Funny Car -- Paul Noakes, Dodge Avenger, 5.884, 242.89 def. Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Pro Stock -- Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 6.333, 222.88 def. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.370, 222.00.
Top Dragster -- Nick Meloni, Dragster, 6.958, 187.63 def. Justin Mason, Dragster, 7.017, 189.34.
Top Sportsman -- Todd Fontana, Chevy Corvette, 6.948, 199.70 def. Robert Jones, Corvette, 6.897, 197.91.
Super Stock -- Joe Santangelo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 10.434, 112.68 def. Raffe Karaguezian, Chevy Nova, foul.
Stock -- Gregory Gay, Plymouth Super Bee, 10.919, 111.24 def. Patrick Kelliher, Chevy Camaro, 12.227, 107.10.
Quick Rod -- Steve Mikus, Dragster, 8.893, 158.69 def. Brad Coryell, Dragster, 8.851, 166.07.
Super Rod -- Ryan Ondrejko, Chevy Corvette, 9.879, 151.26 def. Jim Lintner, Chevy Beretta, 9.867, 147.29.
Hot Rod -- Tony Elrod, AMC Gremlin, 10.924, 126.19 def. Matt Harper, Chevy Malibu, 10.915, 125.11.
ET Bracket -- Michael Caron, Dragster, 7.756, 171.88 def. Patrick Smith, Buick Regal, 10.081, 131.02.
Mod ET -- Patrick Smith, Buick Regal, 10.128, 120.36 def. Bill Fraser, Ford P/U, 10.028, 131.91.
Top ET -- Michael Caron, Dragster, 7.750, 172.08 def. Martel Mario, Chevy Blazer, 9.664, 138.94.
EPPING, N.H. -- Final round-by-round results from the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers at New England Dragway, the ninth of 10 events in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Tim Boychuk, 4.798, 302.62 def. Mike Strasburg, 4.778, 316.52; Spencer Massey, 9.937, 72.45 def. Mitch King, 22.806, 73.90; Terry McMillen, 4.684, 320.36 def. Kevin Jones, 4.969, 230.06; Bruce Litton, 4.688, 311.56 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.695, 321.35;
SEMIFINALS -- Boychuk, 4.737, 301.07 def. Massey, 5.224, 210.73; McMillen, 4.682, 319.82 def. Litton, 6.407, 137.58;
FINAL -- Boychuk, 4.758, 306.19 def. McMillen, 8.343, 100.57. TOP FUEL:
NITRO FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Andy Kelley, Chevy Camaro, 5.157, 295.98 def. Cory Lee, Chevy Monte Carlo, 8.556, 103.76; Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 4.965, 305.77 def. Paul Lee, Camaro, 8.139, 116.67; Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.469, 208.71 def. Jeff Diehl, Monte Carlo, 5.353, 223.54; Matt Hagan, Monte Carlo, 5.091, 250.32 def. John Lawson, Chevy Impala, 5.103, 295.53;
SEMIFINALS -- Kelley, 5.105, 300.66 def. Hagan, 5.205, 282.90; Haddock, 5.033, 298.47 def. Wyatt, 7.349, 121.34;
FINAL -- Kelley, 5.160, 264.96 def. Haddock, 10.857, 95.69.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.082, 239.19 def. Fidelio Montrond, Corvette, 6.723, 196.90; Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.142, 232.67 def. Steve Salvadore, Camaro, 8.666, 99.14; Ed Hoover, Camaro, 6.111, 235.89 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 11.729, 76.21; Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.101, 232.91 def. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.701, 163.71; Burton Auxier, Camaro, 6.123, 235.19 def. Tommy D'Aprile, Chevy Bel Air, foul; Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.065, 234.86 def. Mike Janis, Firebird, 13.454, 71.17; Mike Castellana, Firebird, 11.415, 93.73 was unopposed;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stoken, 6.107, 233.20 def. Auxier, 6.134, 234.74; Castellana, 6.078, 235.72 def. Hoover, 6.105, 235.39; Lang, 6.215, 237.17 def. Stawicki, 17.707, 68.45; Halsey, broke was unopposed;
SEMIFINALS -- Halsey, 6.046, 233.48 def. Lang, 6.084, 238.98; Castellana, 6.124, 212.33 def. Stoken, 6.112, 227.19;
FINAL -- Halsey, 6.054, 233.64 def. Castellana, 6.759, 154.28.
ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Paul Noakes, Dodge Avenger, 5.881, 243.24 def. Tony Bogolo, Ford Mustang, 6.130, 230.76; Frederick Tigges, Avenger, 5.839, 240.98 def. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.955, 246.62; Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, 5.768, 245.72 def. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.820, 242.02; Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 5.771, 243.85 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.822, 248.75;
SEMIFINALS -- Brand, 6.267, 241.28 def. Cannister, foul; Noakes, 5.779, 242.98 def. Tigges, 5.765, 243.46;
FINAL -- Noakes, 5.884, 242.89 def. Brand, foul.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Ron Miller, Chevy Cobalt, 6.439, 215.65 def. Jason Collins, Cobalt, 6.768, 216.00; Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 6.446, 216.45 def. Rob Mansfield, Pontiac GTO, 16.657, 48.20; Michael Bruno, GTO, 6.402, 219.54 def. Trevor Eman, Ford Escort, 6.397, 220.30; Frank Gugliotta, Mustang, 6.387, 220.44 def. Chuck DeMory, Mustang, foul; Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 9.243, 121.22 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, foul; Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.369, 220.69 def. Brian Gahm, Mustang, foul; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.378, 220.98 def. John Konigshofer, Mustang, 6.408, 217.98; Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 6.350, 222.22 def. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Dobbins, 6.358, 220.55 def. Miller, 6.439, 216.06; Montecalvo, 6.381, 221.05 def. Bruno, foul; C. Goforth, 6.390, 220.87 def. Patrick, 6.400, 216.45; Berner, 6.349, 221.96 def. Gugliotta, 17.679, 68.07;
SEMIFINALS -- Dobbins, 6.372, 221.52 def. Montecalvo, foul; Berner, 6.331, 222.18 def. C. Goforth, 6.378, 220.08;
FINAL -- Berner, 6.333, 222.88 def. Dobbins, 6.370, 222.00.
EPPING, N.H. -- Unofficial point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers at New England Dragway, the ninth of 10 events in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Spencer Massey, 797; 2. Bruce Litton, 732; 3. Terry McMillen, 666; 4. Mike Strasburg, 608; 5. Bobby Lagana Jr., 598; 6. Kevin Jones, 483; 7. Scott Palmer, 292; 8. Tim Boychuk, 288; 9. Mitch King, 207; 10. Chris Karamesines, 128.
Nitro Funny Car
1. Terry Haddock, 631; 2. Matt Hagan, 566; 3. (tie) Andy Kelley, 564; Paul Lee, 564; 5. Steven Macklyn, 492; 6. Dale Creasy Jr., 392; 7. Jeff Diehl, 374; 8. Jack Wyatt, 315; 9. Todd Simpson, 292; 10. Cory Lee, 272.
Pro Modified
1. Kenny Lang, 658; 2. Mike Castellana, 637; 3. Jim Halsey, 572; 4. Tommy D{Aprile, 496; 5. Mike Janis, 475; 6. Scott Cannon, 463; 7. Ed Hoover, 457; 8. Pat Stoken, 323; 9. Thomas Patterson, 308; 10. Jason Hamstra, 307.
Alcohol Funny Car
1. Laurie Cannister, 928; 2. Paul Noakes, 740; 3. Rob Atchison, 655; 4. Thomas Carter, 552; 5. Dale Brand, 507; 6. Larry Dobbs, 407; 7. Mark Thomas, 382; 8. Tony Bogolo, 218; 9. Terry Munroe, 200; 10. Tim Stevens, 165.
Pro Stock
1. Pete Berner, 679; 2. Jeff Dobbins, 654; 3. John Montecalvo, 578; 4. Frank Gugliotta, 539; 5. Elijah Morton, 427; 6. Cary Goforth, 375; 7. Bob Bertsch, 366; 8. Rob Mansfield, 339; 9. Robert Patrick, 331; 10. Richard Freeman, 280.
About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), a division of Live Nation, promotes professional, semi-professional and local-level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $21.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam(tm) Drag Racing Series is a 10-event North American Professional drag racing circuit. In 2008, the series will be comprised of eight events in major cities throughout the United States and three in Canada. The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA's Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 85 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Live Nation's entertainment-filled "Thunder Jam" shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Street Warriorz. More information can be found at NitroJam.com <http://www.nitrojam.com/> .
About Live Nation
Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We strive to create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues(r) music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London's Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV."
