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( Marion , Texas ; April 4, 2008) – Bruce Litton picked up right where he left off. The 2007 Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel World Champion, who clinched his first career title by winning the World Finals in Rockingham last season, made an early statement in the new season. He finished at the top of the qualifying sheet Friday and claimed the five Last Man Standing bonus points at the eighth-mile Amalie Oil Texas Nationals…the first event on the 2008 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam schedule.
Litton ran a crisp 3.125 at 271.95 mph to claim the provisional pole.
“My team is amazing,” the Indianapolis resident said. “I’m really thankful for them. I get to do all the talking and they get to do all the work. We’re happy to get a good lap under our belts tonight, now can go concentrate on getting ready for tomorrow.”
Bob Gilbertson ( Charlotte , N.C. ) also kicked off 2008 the way he finished 2007. The World Finals Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car champion grabbed the provisional Nitro Funny Car pole with a 3.353/255.92 pass Friday evening at San Antonio Raceway.
Defending Torco Pro Modified World Champion Scott Cannon ( Lyman , S.C. ) proved he is in mid-season form, using a strong 3.967/188.12 Friday evening qualifying lap to claim the provisional #1 qualifier position and Last Man Standing honors. Cannon claimed an incredible 20 Last Man Standing awards, and the five bonus points that come with them, during his 2007 championship season.
“We picked up right where we left off last season,” Cannon said. “We got a bunch of these Last Man Standing awards last year and were able to get one tonight.”
Laurie Cannister ( Johnstown , Ohio ) put her 1999 Camaro on the provisional pole in the Alcohol Funny Car class with a strong 3.842 pass at 196.85 mph during evening qualifying Friday. Cannister was almost a full hundredth quicker than Tony Bogolo ( Hamilton , Ohio ), who clocked a 3.851 at 189.95. Bogolo was the Last Man Standing in Alcohol Funny Car, however, since he posted the quickest winning pass of the evening.
“The track was good and the car went straight down,” Bogolo said. “I hope there’s more left in it because it’s going to take a lot more than that to do anything this weekend.”
Frank Gugliotta ( Mt. Airy , Md. ) is in a new Torco Pro Stocker this season, but if his Friday evening salvo is any indication he should be back in the thick of the championship points chase this season. Gugliotta drove his 2007 Mustang to a 4.117 at 175.21 to claim the provisional pole at the Texas Nationals. He also claimed the five bonus points for winning Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge honors.
“I have to take my hat off to my team,” Gugliotta said of his new Bob Yoak-owned racing operation. “The guys did a great job to put us here. I hope this is the start of a good year.”
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™ Drag Racing Series is an 11-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.
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® 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.”
Litton Heads Top Fuel Qualifying at Texas Nationals
Bob Gilbertson (Nitro Funny Car), Scott Cannon (Pro Modified), Laurie Cannister (Alcohol Funny Car) and Frank Gugliotta (Pro Stock) also claim provisional #1 qualifier slots at San Antonio Raceway
( Marion , Texas ; April 4, 2008) – Bruce Litton picked up right where he left off. The 2007 Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel World Champion, who clinched his first career title by winning the World Finals in Rockingham last season, made an early statement in the new season. He finished at the top of the qualifying sheet Friday and claimed the five Last Man Standing bonus points at the eighth-mile Amalie Oil Texas Nationals…the first event on the 2008 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam schedule.
Litton ran a crisp 3.125 at 271.95 mph to claim the provisional pole.
“My team is amazing,” the Indianapolis resident said. “I’m really thankful for them. I get to do all the talking and they get to do all the work. We’re happy to get a good lap under our belts tonight, now can go concentrate on getting ready for tomorrow.”
Bob Gilbertson ( Charlotte , N.C. ) also kicked off 2008 the way he finished 2007. The World Finals Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car champion grabbed the provisional Nitro Funny Car pole with a 3.353/255.92 pass Friday evening at San Antonio Raceway.
Defending Torco Pro Modified World Champion Scott Cannon ( Lyman , S.C. ) proved he is in mid-season form, using a strong 3.967/188.12 Friday evening qualifying lap to claim the provisional #1 qualifier position and Last Man Standing honors. Cannon claimed an incredible 20 Last Man Standing awards, and the five bonus points that come with them, during his 2007 championship season.
“We picked up right where we left off last season,” Cannon said. “We got a bunch of these Last Man Standing awards last year and were able to get one tonight.”
Laurie Cannister ( Johnstown , Ohio ) put her 1999 Camaro on the provisional pole in the Alcohol Funny Car class with a strong 3.842 pass at 196.85 mph during evening qualifying Friday. Cannister was almost a full hundredth quicker than Tony Bogolo ( Hamilton , Ohio ), who clocked a 3.851 at 189.95. Bogolo was the Last Man Standing in Alcohol Funny Car, however, since he posted the quickest winning pass of the evening.
“The track was good and the car went straight down,” Bogolo said. “I hope there’s more left in it because it’s going to take a lot more than that to do anything this weekend.”
Frank Gugliotta ( Mt. Airy , Md. ) is in a new Torco Pro Stocker this season, but if his Friday evening salvo is any indication he should be back in the thick of the championship points chase this season. Gugliotta drove his 2007 Mustang to a 4.117 at 175.21 to claim the provisional pole at the Texas Nationals. He also claimed the five bonus points for winning Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge honors.
“I have to take my hat off to my team,” Gugliotta said of his new Bob Yoak-owned racing operation. “The guys did a great job to put us here. I hope this is the start of a good year.”
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™ Drag Racing Series is an 11-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.
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® 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.”
