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  WYATT WINS THIRD STRAIGHT IN ROCKINGHAM WHILE HONORING VIRGINIA TECH
Zizzo (Top Fuel), Cannon Jr. (Pro Modified), Montecalvo (Pro Stock) and Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car) also claim Ironmen at IHRA Spring Nationals

Rockingham Dragway has two events on the IHRA Nitro Jam™ season schedule. Jack Wyatt probably wishes it was more.

Wyatt, from Corydon, Iowa, won his third national event in as many attempts at the fabled quarter-mile strip in southern North Carolina, defeating Jon Capps in the final round to

capture the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car Ironman. Wyatt swept both events in Rockingham last season as well, winning in the spring and the fall.

It was even more special for Wyatt as he painted a tribute to the Virginia Tech shooting victims on his car for the weekend.

 

“We were driving down here when we heard what happened,” Wyatt said. “We were listening to the coverage on XM Radio and every time we stopped at a truck stop would get updates. It’s unbelievable something like that could happen. As I found out more what happened I just really knew I had to do something, and when we got here I started looking for a vinyl shop. If us winning this race helped one person I will feel good about it. If we don’t get a sponsor we are going to run the Virginia Tech logo on our car for the rest of the season.”

 

T.J. Zizzo, Lincolnshire, Ill., claimed the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel Ironman in Rockingham when he drove past Bobby Lagana Jr., Scarsdale, N.Y., with the Ironman on the line in Rockingham. Zizzo nosed past Litton in the points chase by slipping by Lagana in a very close final round.

 

“I knew it would be a driver’s race today,” Zizzo said. “Usually it is 90 percent crew and 10 percent driver, but today I knew I would have to be on my game. And that’s what happened…I had to drive the car to win. It feels good when you are able to do that because you know you did your job.”

 

Scott Cannon Jr., from Lyman, S.C., tore down the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified competition the morning after IHRA technical officials tore down his car. When he qualified almost a tenth faster than the rest of the field the officials were making sure everything was legit with his engine combination. He passed the thorough inspection with flying colors, then dominated the field in the elimination rounds.

 

Cannon Jr. drove past Kenny Lang in the final round, carding a 6.020 at 236.17 mph to top Lang’s tire shaking 7.669 at 124.66.

 

“My crew gave me a great race car this weekend,” Cannon said. “When you have as good a car as I had you just don’t want to screw it up. That is the worst feeling, when the crew does a good job and the driver doesn’t.”

 

Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Mark Thomas, from Louisville, Ohio, found the winner’s circle at Rockingham Dragway by stopping No. 1 qualifier Terry Munroe, from Beaver, Pa., in the final round. Thomas always enjoys racing at “The Rock.”

 

“I really love it here,” Thomas said. “It wouldn’t bother me if we raced here every weekend. The crowd is always great and the track is always in top condition. We have won four or five times here and have been to a bunch of finals. There is something special about this place.”

 

John Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., advanced to his second consecutive Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock final round to open the season. After falling short to Robert Patrick in San Antonio, Montecalvo was able to finish the deal when he dispatched defending world champion Pete Berner, Crete, Ill., in the final round. Montecalvo also won the Ironman at the World Finals in Rockingham last season.

 

“This is a great facility and we love racing here,” Montecalvo said. “That’s two in a row for us in Rockingham and two finals in a row to open the season. We have to keep the momentum going.”

 

The Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ will make its third stop of the season at Tulsa Raceway Park May 25 - 27 for the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals presented by Wolverine and Academy Sports + Outdoors.

 

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Sunday's final results from the Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway.  The race is the second of 12 in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

 

Top Fuel -- T.J. Zizzo, 4.772 seconds, 297.16 mph  def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.916 seconds, 266.85 mph.

 

Nitro Funny Car -- Jack Wyatt, Dodge Stratus, 5.188, 250.69  def. Jon Capps, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.229, 290.76.

 

Pro Modified -- Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.020, 236.17  def. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 7.669, 124.66.

 

Alcohol Funny Car -- Mark Thomas, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.798, 246.39  def. Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.852, 239.06.

 

Pro Stock -- John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.388, 218.83  def. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.398, 218.65.

 

Top Sportsman -- Terry Teets, Cavalier, 6.911, 200.92  def. Mike Kaufman, Corvette, 7.257, 184.02.

 

Top Dragster -- Marco Abruzzi, Dragster, 6.965, 190.38  def. Chad Hedgecock, Dragster, 9.810, 86.48.

 

Quick Rod -- Gary Williams, Dragster, 9.145, 138.83  def. Marc Gottlieb, Dragster, 9.159, 161.34.

 

Super Rod -- Jason Ayers, Vega, 9.886, 149.71  def. Rusty Cook, Corvette, 9.873, 158.89.

 

Hot Rod -- Scott Morgan, Camaro, 10.862, 138.20  def. Doug Ramsey, Camaro, 10.854, 135.58.

 

Super Stock -- Steve McCreary, Sunfire, 10.137, 131.06  def. Emily Stott, Camaro, foul.

 

Stock -- W.G. Lankas, Firebird, 10.629, 111.31  def. Mark Lewis, Nova, foul.

 

 

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Final round-by-round results from the Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway, the second of 12 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

 

 

TOP FUEL:

 

ROUND ONE -- Michael Gunderson, 4.877, 305.08 def. Mitch King, 4.985, 295.08; Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.698, 308.92 def. Bruce Litton, 5.672, 164.69; T.J. Zizzo, 4.883, 314.46 def. Scotty Cannon, 4.919, 273.55; Doug Foley, broke def. Scott Weis, broke; Scott Weis, 5.444, 189.10 def. Doug Foley, 9.330, 86.65; Michael Gunderson, 4.877, 305.08 def. Mitch King, 4.985, 295.08; Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.698, 308.92 def. Bruce Litton, 5.672, 164.69; T.J. Zizzo, 4.883, 314.46 def. Scotty Cannon, 4.919, 273.55; Scott Weis, 5.444, 189.10 def. Doug Foley, 9.330, 86.65; Michael Gunderson, 4.877, 305.08 def. Mitch King, 4.985, 295.08; Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.698, 308.92 def. Bruce Litton, 5.672, 164.69; T.J. Zizzo, 4.883, 314.46 def. Scotty Cannon, 4.919, 273.55; Scott Weis, 5.444, 189.10 def. Doug Foley, 9.330, 86.65;

SEMIFINALS -- Zizzo, 4.776, 302.08 def. Weis, 5.191, 227.11; Lagana Jr., 14.678, 64.54 def. Gunderson, foul;

FINAL -- Zizzo, 4.772, 297.16 def. Lagana Jr., 4.916, 266.85.

 

 

NITRO FUNNY CAR:

 

ROUND ONE -- Jon Capps, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.249, 246.21 def. Paul Lee, Monte Carlo, 11.230, 82.73; Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 9.485, 87.16 def. Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, broke; Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo, 5.224, 239.14 def. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 5.827, 179.64; Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.169, 261.88 def. Andy Kelley, Pontiac Firebird, 13.872, 81.22;

SEMIFINALS -- Capps, 5.098, 293.22 def. Creasy Jr., 8.179, 100.79; Wyatt, 5.207, 236.92 def. Gilbertson, 6.467, 174.57;

FINAL -- Wyatt, 5.188, 250.69 def. Capps, 5.229, 290.76.

 

 

PRO MODIFIED:

 

ROUND ONE -- Pat Stoken, Chevy Camaro, 6.212, 226.09 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.272, 236.55; Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.012, 235.06 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 13.588, 62.73; Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.218, 227.57 def. Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 6.644, 165.60; Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, 6.390, 228.19 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 7.164, 159.06; Steve Vick, Corvette, 6.327, 221.96 def. John Russo, Camaro, foul; Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.150, 233.16 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.698, 185.10; Matt Hagan, Camaro, 6.459, 228.23 def. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 10.053, 81.62; Mike Castellana, Ford Mustang, 6.209, 227.46 def. Kelly Martin, Chevy Bel Air, 6.827, 220.66;

QUARTERFINALS -- Vick, 6.791, 157.93 def. Hagan, 6.869, 229.35; Cannon, 6.047, 232.95 def. Halsey, 6.282, 228.65; Lang, 6.189, 233.32 def. Stoken, 6.274, 227.27; Castellana, 6.253, 228.07 def. Rowe, 6.730, 227.04;

SEMIFINALS -- Lang, 6.403, 224.92 def. Castellana, 10.832, 84.11; Cannon, 6.026, 222.18 def. Vick, broke;

FINAL -- Cannon, 6.020, 236.17 def. Lang, 7.669, 124.66.

 

 

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

 

ROUND ONE -- Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.797, 241.58 def. Rocky Hummel, Chevy Camaro, 8.546, 98.20; Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.804, 246.17 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.979, 221.16; Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.906, 235.15 def. Trevor Lebsack, Ford Mustang, 5.920, 237.00; Terry Munroe, Monte Carlo, 5.866, 237.21 def. Bunny Burkett, Dodge Avenger, 16.943, 46.33;

SEMIFINALS -- Munroe, 6.439, 235.23 def. Atchison, 7.033, 181.59; Thomas, 5.845, 244.83 def. Parker, 6.816, 201.04;

FINAL -- Thomas, 5.798, 246.39 def. Munroe, 5.852, 239.06.

 

 

PRO STOCK:

 

ROUND ONE -- Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.425, 216.48 def. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 21.162, 41.51; Anthony Paone, Pontiac GTO, 6.398, 216.03 def. Rickie Smith, Chevy Cobalt, 6.370, 218.97; Mike Corvo Jr, Cobalt, 6.345, 215.34 def. Frank Gugliotta, Mustang, 6.521, 177.58; Pete Berner, GTO, 6.342, 219.86 def. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.396, 217.70; Doug Kirk, Mustang, broke def. John Nobile, Mustang, broke; Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.345, 218.62 def. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.401, 218.34; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.361, 218.90 def. Rob Mansfield, Cobalt, 6.365, 217.95; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.331, 219.22 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 10.509, 116.65;

QUARTERFINALS -- Bertsch, 6.476, 213.67 def. Paone, broke; Montecalvo, 6.374, 218.65 was unopposed; Patrick, 6.471, 217.70 def. Corvo Jr, foul; Berner, 6.391, 220.08 def. Spiess, 9.682, 91.66;

SEMIFINALS -- Berner, 6.392, 219.40 def. Bertsch, 21.300, 36.30; Montecalvo, 6.391, 219.04 def. Patrick, 9.881, 97.21;

FINAL -- Montecalvo, 6.388, 218.83 def. Berner, 6.398, 218.65.

 

 

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway, the second of 12 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll - Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series -

 

Top Fuel

 

1.  T.J. Zizzo, 214; 2.  Bruce Litton, 169; 3.  Doug Foley, 142; 4.  Bobby Lagana Jr., 125; 5.  Scotty Cannon, 123; 6.  Scott Weis, 87; 7.  Michael Gunderson, 73; 8.  Mitch King, 55; 9.  Terry McMillen, 47; 10.  (tie) Jim Cavalieri, 10.

Luigi Novelli, 10.

Scott Palmer, 10.

 

Nitro Funny Car

 

1.  Dale Creasy Jr., 185; 2.  Jack Wyatt, 182; 3.  Jon Capps, 139; 4.  Terry Haddock, 134; 5.  Bob Gilbertson, 123; 6.  Gary Densham, 101; 7.  Andy Kelley, 99; 8.  Del Worsham, 60; 9.  Paul Lee, 47; 10.  Mitch King, 45.

 

Pro Modified

 

1.  Scott Cannon, 161; 2.  Danny Rowe, 148; 3.  Ed Hoover, 146; 4.  Kenny Lang, 119; 5.  Pat Stoken, 95; 6.  (tie) Mike Castellana, 91; Jim Halsey, 91; 8.  Quain Stott, 90; 9.  Kirk Kuhns, 84; 10.  Burton Auxier, 80.

 

Alcohol Funny Car

 

1.  Terry Munroe, 222; 2.  Mark Thomas, 215; 3.  Rob Atchison, 122; 4.  Larry Dobbs, 102; 5.  Tony Bogolo, 79; 6.  Neal Parker, 73; 7.  Tim Stevens, 69; 8.  Laurie Cannister, 58; 9.  Bunny Burkett, 52; 10.  Trevor Lebsack, 49.

 

Pro Stock

 

1.  John Montecalvo, 201; 2.  Robert Patrick, 195; 3.  Pete Berner, 133; 4.  Rob Mansfield, 120; 5.  Steve Spiess, 95; 6.  Mike Corvo Jr, 80; 7.  Rickie Smith, 78; 8.  Frank Gugliotta, 70; 9.  Brian Gahm, 64; 10.  Elijah Morton, 55.

  CAPPS CLAIMS TOP SPOT IN ROCKINGHAM IHRA SPRING NATIONALS RACE
Foley, Cannon Jr., Munroe and Mansfield also qualify at the top of their
classes in front of one of the largest crowds in Rockingham Dragway history
ROCKINGHAM, NC - The perfect weather and ideal racing conditions made for a sizzling evening qualifying session at the IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol in Rockingham, N.C.
With the race teams taking advantage of the spring-like air, the North Carolina racing fans
took advantage as well…filling Rockingham Dragway to capacity in what ended up being one of the largest crowds in the history of the fabled drag strip.

Jon Capps, Las Vegas, Nev., gave the capacity crowd a thrill when he blasted to a 4.974 at 289.94 mph to claim the top qualifying spot in the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car class. Capps, piloting the Vegas Fuel ’05 Monte Carlo in just his second-ever national event, waited until Saturday evening to put his best foot forward. He was sitting on the bump spot after the first two qualifying sessions, but his clean Saturday evening pass put him at the top of the qualifying sheet and also secured him Last Man Standing honors.

 

“We needed those bonus points after what happened in San Antonio,” Capps, who was assessed a black flag penalty at the season-opening Texas Nationals, said. “The track was great. IHRA and the staff at Rockingham Dragway did a great job of getting this track ready.”

 

Capps actually clicked off early on his run but still was able to clock the quickest time of all qualifying sessions.

 

“It started to labor a little bit so I clicked it off early,” Capps said. “I didn’t want to hurt any parts because we want to go rounds tomorrow.”

 

Doug Foley, Sewell, N.J., held the top spot in Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel as his Friday evening 4.552 at 320.74 mph Friday night held up after both Saturday sessions. Texas Nationals champion Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, was second on the sheet with a 4.631, 314.61 pass while T.J. Zizzo, Lincolnshire, Ill., was third. Zizzo was the Top Fuel Last Man Standing, grabbing five bonus points for posting the quickest ET of all winning drivers during the Saturday evening qualifying session.

 

“That’s what we’re excited about, that’s what matters,” Zizzo said of the five bonus points. “Those extra points could end up meaning a whole lot at the end of a tight world championship points race.”

 

Foley will face Scott Weis in the first round of eliminations Sunday afternoon. Litton will square off with Bobby Lagana Jr. while Zizzo will do battle with Scotty Cannon. No. 4 qualifier Michael Gunderson will face No. 8 qualifier Mitch King in the remaining first round match-up.

 

Scott Cannon Jr. was the only Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified car to run in the five second range at Rockingham…and he did so twice. Cannon, Lyman, S.C., claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot with a 5.992 pass Saturday morning before a 5.998 pass Saturday evening garnered him Last Man Standing honors.

 

“We had her jacked up,” Cannon said. “We didn’t do too good at the last race and we wanted to get the Last Man Standing. We need all the points we can get.”

 

Rob Mansfield, Bradenton, Fla., had a very profitable Saturday evening qualifying session. In fact Mansfield didn’t do too badly Friday night, either. He qualified at the top of the sheet with a stout 6.333 at 217.98 mph in the Saturday evening session. He also was the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge, claiming five bonus points for the second consecutive night.

 

“This is pretty special,” Mansfield said. “It was a nice run that felt really good. The crew did an excellent job and I’m really proud of them. It was a difficult run, trying to focus on the tree with that big ball of sun at the end of the track, but I got through it and it worked out.”

 

Steve Spiess, Manhattan, Ill., posted a 6.342, 219.12 pass Saturday evening to claim the second qualifying spot while Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg, Va., ended up in the third position with a 6.355. Mansfield will face San Antonio finalist John Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., in the first round of eliminations Sunday morning.

 

Jeff Dobbins, Wilmington, N.C., did not qualify for the field, but he did not walk away empty-handed as his 0.016 reaction time earned him the Wayne-Dalton “Turn on the Lights” award.

 

Terry Munroe, Beaver, Pa., came out swinging this season. After his win in San Antonio at the Texas Nationals he said his race team was serious about chasing the world championship this season. He backed up this talk by claiming the Alcohol Funny Car pole at the IHRA Spring Nationals…his second No. 1 qualifying effort in as many attempts this season. 

 

Munroe drove his ’05 Monte Carlo to a 5.804 in Friday qualifying, a number that stood up after both Saturday qualifying sessions. Defending world champion Mark Thomas, Louisville, Ohio, ended up second on the qualifying ladder with a 5.813, 245.94 pass. Though he was second on the sheet he did claim Saturday Last Man Standing honors and the five bonus points that come with it.

 

“I love this track,” Thomas said. “I have won more at this track than any other on the IHRA tour. I love coming here and it has always been very good to me.”