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BUDDS CREEK, MD (September 30, 2006) – The Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class has always been a fan favorite at Maryland International Raceway. Saturday, at the President’s Cup Nationals, Robert Patrick ( Fredericksburg , Va. ) cleaned up…clocking a 6.320 at 221.20 mph to claim the top qualifying spot. In the process, in the last round of Saturday night qualifying, he also defeated Frank Gugliotta ( Mt. Airy , Md. ) in the final round of the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock Showdown to claim the $20,000 first prize.
“It was tough,” Patrick said of his big day at MIR. “The main thing is we have to go four rounds tomorrow. I’m a little bit whipped and I have to pull back in to get back to where I have to be. I’m tired now, but I have to try to go four rounds tomorrow to try to win this race. I have a good team and if I can do my job tomorrow I think we have a good chance.”
Bob Gilbertson (Charlotte, N.C.) continued his strong late-season surge by climbing to the top of the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying sheet with a 4.762 pass at 323.35 mph. Both the elapsed time and speed for Gilbertson are pending IHRA World Records. He must run within one percent of those numbers to officially break his own records, set in Epping , N.H. earlier in September.
Paul Lee, who Gilbertson defeated in the final at the IHRA Canadian Nationals in Cayuga last Monday, claimed the #2 qualifying position with a career-best 4.803 at 316.38 mph.
T.J. Zizzo ( Lincolnshire , Ill. ) claimed the #1 qualifying spot in the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel class by putting down a 4.619 ay a track record 325.61 mph. Zizzo finished in front of Boise , Idaho resident Rick Cooper who clocked a 4.635 at 320.13 to lock down the #2 spot. Five-time defending IHRA Top Fuel World Champion Clay Millican (Drummonds, Tenn. ) will enter eliminations third.
Scott Cannon ( Lyman , S.C. ) highlighted the quickest Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified field in IHRA history by carding a 6.019 pass at 238.89 mph to claim the pole. Ray Commisso ( Toronto , Ont.) took the #2 spot with a 6.033 at 239.44 mph. Ed Hoover finished on the bump spot with a 6.165…the quickest #16 qualifier in history.
Fred Tigges ( Holbrook , Mass. ) headlined a surprising Alcohol Funny Car qualifying field that should throw the season championship points race into turmoil. Rob Atchison, who entered the President’s Cup Nationals as the season points leader, failed to make the show and will be forced to watch Sunday eliminations. Tigges clocked a 5.749 at 244.74 mph to grab the pole while Mark Thomas, who entered the event second in the points standings, qualified second with a 5.778 at 247.61.
Professional eliminations for the Torco President’s Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway begin Sunday at 11 p.m. Final rounds start at 4:15 p.m.
Patrick Highlights Record-Setting Pro Stock Field
Grabs #1 qualifier spot as well as $20,000 Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Showdown win at President’s Cup Nationals; Gilbertson, Millican, Cannon and Tigges claim poles at Maryland International Raceway
BUDDS CREEK, MD (September 30, 2006) – The Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class has always been a fan favorite at Maryland International Raceway. Saturday, at the President’s Cup Nationals, Robert Patrick ( Fredericksburg , Va. ) cleaned up…clocking a 6.320 at 221.20 mph to claim the top qualifying spot. In the process, in the last round of Saturday night qualifying, he also defeated Frank Gugliotta ( Mt. Airy , Md. ) in the final round of the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock Showdown to claim the $20,000 first prize.
“It was tough,” Patrick said of his big day at MIR. “The main thing is we have to go four rounds tomorrow. I’m a little bit whipped and I have to pull back in to get back to where I have to be. I’m tired now, but I have to try to go four rounds tomorrow to try to win this race. I have a good team and if I can do my job tomorrow I think we have a good chance.”
Bob Gilbertson (Charlotte, N.C.) continued his strong late-season surge by climbing to the top of the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying sheet with a 4.762 pass at 323.35 mph. Both the elapsed time and speed for Gilbertson are pending IHRA World Records. He must run within one percent of those numbers to officially break his own records, set in Epping , N.H. earlier in September.
Paul Lee, who Gilbertson defeated in the final at the IHRA Canadian Nationals in Cayuga last Monday, claimed the #2 qualifying position with a career-best 4.803 at 316.38 mph.
T.J. Zizzo ( Lincolnshire , Ill. ) claimed the #1 qualifying spot in the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel class by putting down a 4.619 ay a track record 325.61 mph. Zizzo finished in front of Boise , Idaho resident Rick Cooper who clocked a 4.635 at 320.13 to lock down the #2 spot. Five-time defending IHRA Top Fuel World Champion Clay Millican (Drummonds, Tenn. ) will enter eliminations third.
Scott Cannon ( Lyman , S.C. ) highlighted the quickest Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified field in IHRA history by carding a 6.019 pass at 238.89 mph to claim the pole. Ray Commisso ( Toronto , Ont.) took the #2 spot with a 6.033 at 239.44 mph. Ed Hoover finished on the bump spot with a 6.165…the quickest #16 qualifier in history.
Fred Tigges ( Holbrook , Mass. ) headlined a surprising Alcohol Funny Car qualifying field that should throw the season championship points race into turmoil. Rob Atchison, who entered the President’s Cup Nationals as the season points leader, failed to make the show and will be forced to watch Sunday eliminations. Tigges clocked a 5.749 at 244.74 mph to grab the pole while Mark Thomas, who entered the event second in the points standings, qualified second with a 5.778 at 247.61.
Professional eliminations for the Torco President’s Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway begin Sunday at 11 p.m. Final rounds start at 4:15 p.m.
