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ROCKINGHAM, NC – John Montecalvo has something that every drag racer would pay dearly for – momentum.
Montecalvo, a Torco’s CompetitionPlus Pro Stock icon, began the thrill ride last year with a victory during the season-ending IHRA World Finals in Rockingham , NC .
As fate would have it, Montecalvo has the opportunity to enable lightning to strike twice in the same place as the IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam rolls into Rockingham Dragway this weekend for the IHRA Spring Nationals. He’s ready to continue flexing his horsepower muscles and a recent final round showing in San Antonio provides the perfect conduit for this energy.
“Our team, lead by Bob Gillig, is really clicking well together,” Montecalvo, a sixteen-time IHRA finalist, said. “I owe a lot to my crew … engine builder Sonny Leonard … and chassis builder Rick Jones at RJ Race Cars. Right now, everyone has really gelled together and we are working towards a common goal and that is to win a championship. We are taking this one race at a time but we are definitely planning ahead. We have a championship contending team and it’s good to see us exercising our full potential.”
Montecalvo was one of the pioneers of the Chevrolet hemispherical cylinder head program through Leonard. The Long Island, NY-based driver exhibited his full potential last October by qualifying second (6.340) and defeating the likes of Brian Gahm, Dan Seamon, Jeff Dobbins and Rob Mansfield in the final round.
Montecalvo concluded the season as ninth in the championship points. Finishing strong in the final point tallies has always been a positive attribute for Montecalvo, whose best finish has been third (1999, 2002 and 2004). He also finished fourth in 1998 for his second best finish.
“It’s all about consistency,” Montecalvo said. “That is our primary goal because when you have a consistent car … winning rounds just seems to go hand-in-hand with that.”
Montecalvo’s latest personal triumph was in reaching the final round three weekends ago in San Antonio , Texas . He reached the final round on the strength of qualifying fourth and defeating Dean Goforth, Rick Smith and Frank Gugliotta.
“Rockingham is going to be a good race,” Montecalvo said. “This is the place we love to run our Pro Stocker at and I have a feeling there are lots of others that feel the same way.”
JOHN MONTECALVO USING MOMENTUM TO FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP FIRE
ROCKINGHAM, NC – John Montecalvo has something that every drag racer would pay dearly for – momentum.
Montecalvo, a Torco’s CompetitionPlus Pro Stock icon, began the thrill ride last year with a victory during the season-ending IHRA World Finals in Rockingham , NC .
As fate would have it, Montecalvo has the opportunity to enable lightning to strike twice in the same place as the IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam rolls into Rockingham Dragway this weekend for the IHRA Spring Nationals. He’s ready to continue flexing his horsepower muscles and a recent final round showing in San Antonio provides the perfect conduit for this energy.
“Our team, lead by Bob Gillig, is really clicking well together,” Montecalvo, a sixteen-time IHRA finalist, said. “I owe a lot to my crew … engine builder Sonny Leonard … and chassis builder Rick Jones at RJ Race Cars. Right now, everyone has really gelled together and we are working towards a common goal and that is to win a championship. We are taking this one race at a time but we are definitely planning ahead. We have a championship contending team and it’s good to see us exercising our full potential.”
Montecalvo was one of the pioneers of the Chevrolet hemispherical cylinder head program through Leonard. The Long Island, NY-based driver exhibited his full potential last October by qualifying second (6.340) and defeating the likes of Brian Gahm, Dan Seamon, Jeff Dobbins and Rob Mansfield in the final round.
Montecalvo concluded the season as ninth in the championship points. Finishing strong in the final point tallies has always been a positive attribute for Montecalvo, whose best finish has been third (1999, 2002 and 2004). He also finished fourth in 1998 for his second best finish.
“It’s all about consistency,” Montecalvo said. “That is our primary goal because when you have a consistent car … winning rounds just seems to go hand-in-hand with that.”
Montecalvo’s latest personal triumph was in reaching the final round three weekends ago in San Antonio , Texas . He reached the final round on the strength of qualifying fourth and defeating Dean Goforth, Rick Smith and Frank Gugliotta.
“Rockingham is going to be a good race,” Montecalvo said. “This is the place we love to run our Pro Stocker at and I have a feeling there are lots of others that feel the same way.”
