Another case of, 'Has it been THAT long..."

Greg Moore died on Halloween Day, 10 years ago. There's a story on AutoWeekRacing.com that pulls from a book by Dan Proudfoot and Gordon Kirby, written shortly after the Canadian's death.

UPDATE: Jeff Pappone of the Globe & Mail offers his memories of Greg Moore here. Toronto Star / Wheels writer Norris McDonald chimes in here.

Pro Stockers Reap Rewards At DIRTcar NE Night Of Champions!

Weedsport, NY – October 31, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director

The 34th Annual DIRTcar Racing Northeast ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet arrives in just two more weeks. When the doors of the Turning Stone Resort & Casino swing open on November 14, top point chasers in the 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Series will be in full force to share in a number of post-season awards.

“This has been our best season yet and we’re looking forward to continued growth in 2010,” remarked Pro Stock Series Director Brian Mulligan, who is already gearing up for his third full term guiding DIRTcar Northeast’s top full-fender touring division. “Increased car counts have generated plenty of interest this year which has helped attract more sponsorship support, something that all our teams can be very proud of.”

Mulligan spearheaded a special season-ending awards program that will reward nine drivers that comprised the list of those attending 100% of the events. Top wheelmen Pete Stefanski, Joey Ladouceur, P.J. Peters, Don Carlson, Dion Oakes, Rob Yetman, Stephane Lebrun, Roch Aubin and Sean Corr contended at all nine tour stops and will receive $50 certificates from Allstar Performance, along with three more drivers that will be recognized Saturday night for their own special achievements.

Partnering with EMS (Eric's Machine Shop) chassis builder and body dealer Eric Marin, marketing specialist Mulligan created a second special reward package for those same drivers that logged perfect attendance. The names of all nine will be thrown into a hat at the upcoming DIRTcar NE Banquet, with one drawn to receive a Five Star Body.

Throughout the season Mulligan also executed an exclusive ‘National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus’ leader award presentation at each series show. Working closely with Corky Stockham to fulfill a program that rewarded every series race halfway leader with a $100 certificate, the complimentary certificates can be presented to any participating vendor for an equivalent discount at the 30th National Parts Peddler Trade Show & Auction, Nov. 20-22, at the New York State Fairgrounds.

NPPN Halfway Leaders in 2009 were overall Hoosier-VP Mr. DIRTcar Champion Stefanski (2 races), Ladouceur (4), Carlson, Jody Swamp and Ghislain Valade.

For additional information, please contact Pro Stock Series Director Brian Mulligan (613/938-6751) or call the DIRTcar Northeast office (315/834-6606) in Weedsport during normal business hours. Visit www.dirtcar.com online anytime to find race results, point standings, upcoming events and learn more about the entire circuit.

Memphis Motorsports Park closes.... NASCAR dates moved to Nashville and Gateway

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DVD) announced today that it was ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it would not be promoting any events in Memphis in 2010. As previously announced, the Memphis facility had been under an agreement of sale to Gulf Coast Entertainment but Gulf Coast was unable to secure financing.

“This was a difficult decision for us, but one that ultimately was dictated by economics,” said Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports.  “We greatly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Memphis employees and their efforts to make Memphis such a great destination for the racing community – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies.  For all concerned, including the Memphis community, it is truly sad to see Memphis Motorsports Park taken off the racing schedule.  NASCAR has approved the realignment of our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events from Memphis Motorsports Park to our Nashville and Gateway facilities.”

The realigned events and dates are as follows:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Nashville Superspeedway
April 2, 2010
(together with NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 3, 2010)

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gateway International Raceway
October 23, 2010

An ASA race scheduled for next weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park will still be held at the track. Ticket refunds for 2010 events will be mailed out to fans in the next few weeks. The Company is expected to release its earnings for the third quarter on Monday, November 2 and will disclose additional financial details relative to the closure of its Memphis facility shortly.

From Gary Camp │ Director of Public Relations // Dover International Speedway

Sunset Speedway Upgrade Gallery by www.davefranksphotos.com

This is a photo gallery from a few days ago at Sunset Speedway. Thanks to Dave Franks for sharing his work. You can see Dave's website here.

Potential Ban on Leaded Fuel Sales

Canada's Gasoline Regulations have prohibited the production, import and sale of leaded gasoline since 1990. Since 1994, the Regulations have exempted the use of leaded gasoline in competition vehicles. The exemption expires on December 31, 2009, after which time production, import or sale of leaded gasoline for use in competition vehicles will no longer be allowed in Canada.

Environment Canada intends to consult with stakeholders in early November 2009, on whether to continue to allow the use of leaded gasoline in competition vehicles.

If you would like to be included on the stakeholder distribution list, please send an email to OGAED@ec.gc.ca with your name and email or mailing address.

Mini Grid Halloween Sidewalk Sale takes place Oct. 31

On Saturday, Oct. 31 (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Mini Grid is hosting its Spookiest Sale Ever! You'll know you're close to the "The 50% OFF Sidewalk Sale" when you hear Scott Maxwell screaming about the low prices all the way up Mt. Pleasant Road (south of Eglinton Ave., in North Toronto).

Click on the image below to see the flyer for the event.

Info: 608 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 2M8
Phone 416-488-7663 // Fax 416-488-4292 // www.minigrid.com

NASCAR: Canadian J.R. Fitzpatrick Talladega Truck Series Advance

J.R. Fitzpatrick
#29 Equipment Express Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Advance

Fitzpatrick To Make First Start at Talladega

CAMBRIDGE, ON (October 28, 2009) – J.R. Fitzpatrick will make his first start at the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway this weekend in the Mountain Dew 250. That’s quite a contrast from his last time in the driver’s seat at Kawartha Speedway, a .375 mile oval and the last race on the NASCAR Canadian Tire series schedule.

“I can’t wait to get there and see this place first hand,” said Fitzpatrick. “I had great success at my first race at Daytona and love the superspeedway racing. I really enjoy the drafting and the whole chess match that takes place with this style of racing. Brad (Keselowski) and Wayne (Setterington) have been great to work with and I am really looking forward to giving them a good finish.”

Fitzpatrick will be driving the #29 Equipment Express Chevrolet of Brad Keselowski Racing. This will be the first time the two have worked together and the excitement is mutual.

“I am very excited about having J.R. in my truck,” said Keselowski, the 2008 Nationwide Series Champion. “I really like having a young, fresh driver in my equipment and think we really have a package we can win with. We have a really good truck and J.R. is a good superspeedway racer so maybe he can pull off a surprise win like I did in the spring Sprint Cup race here.”

Crew Chief Wayne Setterington had the same outlook. “I am really looking forward to this weekend. With the experience J.R. gained leading the most laps and finishing fourth at the Daytona race in the spring he gained a lot of experience. If we put ourselves in the right position I believe we have a shot at winning.”

About J.R. Fitzpatrick: John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick got is first taste of racing in karts at the age of six, moving quickly into CASCAR Juniors and late models by the age of 13. He is Canada’s youngest ever national stock car race winner and the youngest ever National Champion. Fitzpatrick began his NASCAR career in the Camping World Truck Series and recorded a career best 4th at his first Daytona start. In just a handful of starts he has 3 top ten starting positions. In 2009 he also competed in two Nationwide Series races and ran regularly in the top ten. He has one victory this season, in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at the famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.


Pre-Race Schedule
Friday:    Final Practice: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., EST
Qualifying: 5:10 p.m., EST
·         TV: The Mountain Dew 250 can be seen on SPEED at 4:00 p.m., EST
·         Radio: The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will broadcast live at 4:00 p.m., EST

From Jason Sharpe // Fitzpatrick Motorsports // jasons@jrfitzpatrick.com 

TW Steel to Partner Renault F1 Team

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (28 October, 2009) – TW Steel, the international Dutch watch brand specializing in oversized watches, is pleased to announce a three-year partnership with the Renault F1 Team in which the brand becomes the Enstone-based squad’s ‘Official Timing Partner’.

While the deal is effective from 2010 through to 2012, TW Steel will actually make its Formula One debut with the Renault F1 Team at this weekend’s 2009 season finale, hosted at the brand new Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, Friday 30th October – Sunday 1st November.

TW Steel, the name meaning ‘The Watch in Steel’, will enjoy prominent branding at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the R29’s nose cone, front-wing flaps, leading edge of the side-pods as well as on the drivers timing monitors and garage wall. As of next season and beyond, the brand logo will also appear on team uniforms and driver racesuits.

“I believe our partnership with the Renault F1 Team provides a tremendous global platform for TW Steel,” commented TW Steel Chief Executive Officer, Jordy Cobelens. “Formula One has immense appeal for a young, ambitious brand such as ours and we look forward to activating our relationship with the Renault F1 Team and ultimately engaging the consumer worldwide through a targeted marketing programme. This is an exciting time to be involved in Formula One and we look forward to continued success both on and off track through our new partnership.”

At the signing of the agreement, Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Jean-Francois Caubet said: “We are delighted to join forces with TW Steel as the official timing partner of the Renault F1 Team. Over the next three years we look forward to building a close and dynamic relationship as we strive to reach the highest level of performance on the racetrack. The partnership brings great value for both the Renault F1 Team and TW Steel and confirms the team’s positive outlook for the years ahead. I have no doubt that we will enjoy an exciting and successful future together.”

TW Steel leads the oversized watch market having launched in The Netherlands in 2005 with a simple four-watch collection. Despite rapidly emerging as an innovative, bold lifestyle brand, now available worldwide in over 50 countries, TW Steel’s roots are based firmly on family foundations.

The company is led by 27-year-old Jordy Cobelens, as Chief Executive Officer, while his father, Ton Cobelens, fulfils the role of Chief Design Officer. Together they ensure that TW Steel’s collections are reflective of, and available for all tastes and occasions without compromise to design or build.

Give PT some love

Paul Tracy is an active Twitterer. He's having some fun lobbying the folks at Monster Energy to step up and sponsor him, presumably in IndyCar next season. Who knows if it will help, but he thinks it is.

So why not give a fellow Canuck a hand and chime in with some comments of support? Click here (and then go to Shout Outs) to show PT some love in front of some people who can help.

Flamboro Speedway News - FROST FEST 150

Flamboro Speedway finale.... not final

HAMILTON, October 26, 2009 – Forget the cooling temperatures and the colour changing leaves, most Canadian stock car fans know that the summer season has come to an end when Flamboro Speedway closes the gates after the Oktoberfest Classic. 

The annual grass roots racing festival held at the corner of Brock Road and Concession 5 in Millgrove, attracts fans and competitors from all across the province to take part in what is regularly the last and largest racing event in southwestern Ontario.  The classic weekend this year was no exception, with hundreds of drivers competing in an exciting mix of races including two spectacular 50 lap main events for the Grisdale Late Models.  After a dismal summer of rain and wet, the blue skies and sunshine of Oktoberfest left fans and drivers wanting more from the 2009 season; And they’re going to get it.

This Sunday for only the third time in the past decade, Flamboro Speedway will host the late season FROST FEST 150.  The event will feature one hundred and fifty laps of main event competition, shared between the wild four cylinder racing Mini Stocks and Ontario’s favourite fender banging Thunder Cars.  Both classes provided highlight races at the Oktoberfest Classic weekend. 

Visiting driver Doug Butler of Holland Landing prevailed over local favourites Dave Bailey, Matt Dean and Willis Mahood in the Mini Stock main event, and the Flamboro drivers will have a second chance to finish their season in the winners circle.  The Thunder Car main event continues to raise chatter, after Bright’s Shawn Chenoweth dominated 39 and a half laps of the 40 lap race, only to be spun out by visiting driver Marty Monette in the final turn.  As both cars struggled for control to cross the finish line, newly crowned three-time division champion Randy ‘the Rocket’ Rusnell flew on to claim the checkered flag, climb the fence in victory and then celebrate further with a blinding burnout in front of the grandstand.

The newly scheduled Frost Fest was a late addition to the Flamboro Speedway schedule, only announced at the Oktoberfest Classic two weeks ago.  No sponsor support had been planned, but since the announcement of the continued racing season a number of community partners have joined the speedway to present the chilly November event.  Ray’s Towing of Hamilton and Burlington – who provide auto care and assistance for competitors at the speedway all summer long – have announced their participation; along with The Source For Home Comfort, providers of quality wood and gas fireplace products, from Greensville.  Hoosier Racing tires will also be partnering to present the Thunder Car races.

The new sponsor support has allowed the speedway to make available bonus cash prizes to the day’s competitors.  Should any one Thunder Car driver win all three of the 30 lap features in one car, he or she would claim an additional $3,000 prize on top of the event’s purse.  Similarly, should any one Mini Stock driver win both of the 30 lap features in one car, he or she will claim an additional $1,000 prize on top of the event’s purse. 

And in both cases, should no one driver complete this daring feat, then the bonus monies will be shared by the top five overall performers in each division.  Fans are welcome to visit the speedway’s website, www.flamborospeedway.itgo.com, for complete event and purse details.

The thunder will roar for a final time – we think – this Sunday, November 1st at Flamboro Speedway.  The competitor gates will open at 11am; the spectator grandstand will open at 1pm and the first race of the day is scheduled for a 2pm green flag start.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WWW.DAVEFRANKSPHOTOS.COM

1) Randy 'the Rocket' Rusnell discusses the last lap turn of affairs that help put him in victory lane at the Oktoberfest Classic.

2) Four cars wide in just three lanes spells trouble for the Mini Stocks at Hamilton's asphalt arena, Flamboro Speedway.

From Joshua Paxton // The Branding Company, for Flamboro Speedway

Lonnie Sommerville Racing Wraps up 2009 Racing Season

Saint John, NB Canada 10/27/09- The 2009 racing season has finally come to a close for the Lonnie Sommerville Racing team. While a majority of his fellow Canadian competitors called it quits almost a month ago, Sommerville had a few PASS South events still left on his calendar. In the two events, Sommerville notched a pair of eleventh place finishes leaving the team a bit disappointed with their results yet satisfied knowing what departments of their race team they need to look at improving on.

“We had a real good car at both races, so that alone gets you pretty excited when you are down here racing against some of the best super late model racers in the country. Even though our finishes weren’t what we wanted it was still a good trip for us. We really learned some stuff that I know will make us a better race team come next season and at the end of the day that’s what its all about, improving to be the best,” stated Sommerville.

The first event of the team’s southern swing was the Mason Dixon 250 at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, the same track that both Ward and Jeff Burton grew up racing at. A sixteenth place starting position would be where Lonnie would take the green flag from after winning the qualifying heat race for those who did not time trial inside the top fifteen. After methodically making his way up to the second position, Sommerville was hoping his team would catch a caution in the closing laps allowing his crate motor powered Chevy Impala to bolt on fresh rubber. However; the cautions didn’t fall as hoped putting Sommerville a lap down and out of contention for the win.

With the South Boston event in the books the Lonnie Sommerville Racing team knew that they would have their work cut out for them racing with a crate powered #23 A.E. McKay Builders Chevy machine around the half mile that makes up the Greenville-Pickens Speedway. As anticipated, a qualifying effort toward the middle of the pack would add to the team’s work load to get to the front. Time after time Sommerville would have to drive twice as hard to pass the higher horse powered machines. In the end, with only two cautions to slow the event, Sommerville made it to the eleventh place position to cap off the season.

“This wasn’t exactly how we wanted to finish out the year but overall in the grand scheme of things we had a great year. To win two of the three biggest short track races in the Maritimes this year was just awesome. My team worked hard all year long and put countless hours in this program all for the love of the sport and for me to say thank you would never be enough. My sponsor Andrew McKay and his A.E. McKay Builders company has done so much for this race team and really taken us to an elite level race team, not just here in Canada but throughout the states as well. Another aspect of this team this year has been the fans, I think sometimes in short track racing they get overlooked but for me they are a huge part of our team,” added Lonnie.

From Tex Motorsports Marketing // www.texmotorsports.com // Contact: Chris Ragle

Flamboro Frost Fest 150 this coming Sunday

One last chance to see some racing this season.... Sunday, Nov. 1 at Flamboro Speedway. Click here for a PDF of the weekend schedule.

DIRTcar: Black Rock '09 Sportsman Series Finale To Lawson, Raabe Retains Mr. DIRTcar Title

Dundee, NY – October 24, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director // Rick Young Photo Attachments

The 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship came to an end Saturday night at Black Rock Speedway and it was Donnie Lawson doing what he had done all season long to win the Owasco Beverage Labatt 30 Championship while Chris Raabe did all that he needed to capture a second straight overall season title.

As Lawson dueled with ’09 Black Rock DIRTcar track champion Todd Henderson to collect the $1,000 top-prize, Raabe kept series runner-up Ryan Susice in sight throughout the event to earn an even bigger honor when he sits at the head table during DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s ‘Night of Champions’ awards banquet in November.

“I’d have to say this is the biggest win of my career,” declared second-generation driver Lawson from Woodhull, N.Y. following his sixth DIRTcar victory of the season at the Yates County oval. “Even though we’ve won some 358 (Small-Block Modified) races, this has to rank right at the top being a tour show.”

Competing for just the third time ever at Black Rock, Raabe was content to escape with a 16th-place finish which was good enough to outlast Susice in the final points chase with only 45 marker separating the talented twosome after 17 extra-distance tour stops.

“We’ve had a lot of trouble here at Black Rock, flat tires and stuff, so going home in one piece and with another championship is still okay in the big picture,” figured Raabe, 18, after joining Steve Hall (1996 & ’98) and Russ Hefti as the only repeat Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman champions in 20 years, with Hefti (2005-06) the first driver to claim back-to-back titles. “It kinda stinks sometimes racing for points, you can’t take chances anywhere. When you get under a guy you gotta back out of it, so just finishing actually becomes more important than where you finish when its all over.”

Canadian invader Luke Carleton jumped out to an early advantage from his pole-position start and held off an early bid by third-place starter Lawson aboard his Morgan's Auto Repair no. 11 Bath Chiropractic Associates/TEO mount. Western New York traveler Mark Chiddy got upside to bring out a rare red flag on lap 4 and on the ensuing restart it was Lawson ducking under Carleton to take the top spot exiting turn two.

Unable to qualify through his heat and the consolation round, Raabe had filled out the final row of the 30-car starting grid then watched as Susice pitted after the stoppage to replace a soft tire and rejoin the rear of the field. Going into the event, Susice needed a victory to stand any chance of stealing away the overall Mr. DIRTcar points crown, while 20th or better for Raabe would lock up the title outright for the ‘Teenage Tornado’ from Napanee, Ont. aboard owner Gary McColman’s no. 01 Scott’s Industrial Services-TyRoute Communication/TEO entry.

Back under green with Lawson moving to the point, Carleton was quickly shadowed by Henderson, Steve Gray and Black Rock regular Loren Lincoln. Susice and Raabe were mired near the back of the pack in their own battle when the lone female qualifier, Katelyn Kane, was tapped from behind in turn four by Chris Silvers to require the only caution of the race on lap seven.

Henderson closed in on leader Lawson a third of the way through and when the halfway mark was reached had moved the HR3 no. 18H Valvoline/Bicknell machine out front in pursuit of his second checkered flag of the season. Henderson used the lapped car of Jeff Hand as a moving pick, sweeping high out of the fourth corner with Lawson sandwiched in between to nose ahead as the threesome crossed the stripe to complete lap 14. Lincoln, Carleton and Gray were scored next when the scoreboard flashed 15 with radar once again showing rain in the distance.

Traffic remained thick as the leaders navigated through the open lanes. This time it was Lawson blasting high out of turn four using the lapped car of Silvers to forge the final lead change as Henderson dropped to second with 19 laps complete.

With Lawson and Henderson running uncontested in the top two slots, Gray overtook Carleton for fourth on lap 22 and set his sights on third-place Lincoln in the closing stages. Not only did Gray complete his climb up to the show position on the final circuit, Justin Wright mirrored the move as he slipped past Carleton with 17 cars finishing the distance in the 25-minute main.

“I thought (Todd) had me, I’m not good in lapped traffic and he knows it,” remarked Lawson, following his 12th victory of the season in Dundee. “I was just able to get it back this time.”

“I knew there was a guy up high, so for him to get a shot up there would’ve been hard because there was a guy blocking the top lane. I Knew if I could just ride behind ---think it was the #65 car (Boyd MacTavish)--- I would be alright. Still wasn’t comfortable about it, saying I was would be a lie. You just hope it’s the right choice, and I’ve made the wrong decision in lapped traffic a lot of times in my life so far,” Lawson admitted.

Winner of a tour-best five Mr. DIRTcar Championship trail races this season, Raabe chose to ride it out once the feature got underway as a Top-20 finish was all he needed to claim the overall title.

“All in all it was a great season, 20 wins, a couple track titles and a 2nd consecutive Mr. DIRT Championship, that’s pretty neat,” said Raabe, who last year became the youngest overall champion in DIRTcar’s 34-year history, and this time around is now the youngest ever to garner consecutive crowns.

“Last year we had about the same number but this season we won more bigger races. We also won out West where Ryan was probably the favorite. Going in we were really looking to match what we accomplished last year so our success this season just reinforces what we did and shows it wasn’t a fluke,” added Raabe, who already plans to be back in 2010 trying to ‘threepeat’ unless additional sponsorship support during the off-season allows otherwise.

Finishing behind Raabe (1651) and Susice (1606) in the final 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship point standings are Jipp Ortiz (1494), Justin Wright (1074), Dan Wiesner (1316), B.J. Willard (1282), Adam Turner (1249), Greg Panunte (1243), Mark Chiddy (1156) and Sammy Reakes IV (1096), who won the ’09 opener at Black Rock in April.

IHRA: Three winners, three champions crowned at IHRA World Finals

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Three different winners and three different champions were crowned in the professional categories during final eliminations at the IHRA World Finals Sunday at Rockingham Dragway. Del Cox Jr. (Top Fuel), a rookie, and John Montecalvo (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock), a seasoned vet, each clinched their first career championships while Kenny Lang (Pro Mod) claimed his second consecutive title during the wild weekend.

And while all three were busy winning championships, Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Chris Russo (Pro Modified) and Bob Bertsch (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) took care of winning the race during the championship finals Sunday in Rockingham, N.C.

Less than favorable conditions on the track also created a unique situation as all of the classes were forced to switch to eighth mile racing to finish Sunday’s eliminations.

In other on-track action Davey Boyd picked up the win in the Summit SuperSeries No Box championship by defeating Todd Hohn and Scotty Phillips won the Summit SuperSeries Box championship with a win over Joey Anderson.

On top of picking up a championship, Lang also won the Mickey Thompson Ten Grand Slam over Tony Pontieri.

Despite three champions being crowned and five victories awarded, the finals of the Champion System Sportsman Nationals presented by VP still needs to be finished on Monday, along with the crowning of champions in all of IHRA’s seven sportsman categories, the Elite 8 Pro Stock Shootout and the Summit All-Star race.

Racing will get underway at 9 a.m. on Monday and will end with the crowning of sportsman champions Monday night.

TOP FUEL

Bruce Litton may not have had a shot at winning the championship on Sunday, but he did the next best thing.

With Del Cox Jr. locking up the 2009 IHRA Top Fuel World Championship on Saturday, Litton went out and made the best of his situation and took something into the offseason to build upon by winning the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway on Sunday.

Litton eliminated Cox in the semifinals and then took down top qualifier Todd Paton in the final to pick up his third win of the season and the 16th victory of his career.

“We didn’t win the war, but we won the battle here today,” Litton said. “We came here with the idea of doing the best we could, winning the race and maybe having a chance at the championship. That didn’t work out the way we had hoped, but we are pleased to be able to get the win here tonight.”

Litton ran a 3.327 elapsed time at 259.66 miles per hour to get around Paton who ran a 5.739 E.T. at 85.87 mph in the eighth mile final.

“I have won an eighth mile race before so that is a positive, but I also remember that the car that Del Cox drives had won an eighth mile event as well so that weighed on me a little bit,” Litton said. “But we were able to get it done and this gives us a lot of momentum going into next year.”

Litton defeated Paton, Cox and Dom Lagana to reach his sixth final of the season.

“Your last race is always one that sticks with you. Ending a season with a win will stick with you for a while,” Litton said. “You always want to end on a positive note and being such a short offseason we look forward to coming back and doing this again next year.

“I am just so grateful for Lucas Oil, Riley Children’s Hospital, United Trailers and all of the people who help make this operation what it is.”

While Litton took home the win, Cox picked up the championship in his first year on tour by winning four consecutive races starting at midseason. Thanks to that streak Cox was able to overcome a nearly triple digit deficit in early July and will now walk away from The Rock with a convincing championship victory.

“It is unreal. This has been a dream of mine since I was eight years old and now to be here now is just incredible,” Cox said. “I have to give it up for all these guys who have been working their butts off and for all of our sponsors. RG Industries, Bexar Waste, Lucas Oil, Setco – everyone has helped make this possible.

“And for Spencer and my entire family to be here and be a part of this is just incredible.”

All Cox needed to do to lock up the championship was get in the show and he did just that on Saturday with the No. 2 qualifying spot. He then dispatched of teammate Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the first round to officially secure the title.

“It is just like anything, you put your boxing gloves on and you put your faith in your team and that is how we were able to overcome where we were earlier this year,” Cox said.

Cox went into the weekend hoping to make it five wins a row on top of picking up the championship, but he went red against Bruce Litton in the semis.

“It is kind of hard for me because we are here to win and I hard the car to win the day, but I messed it up,” Cox said. “But if you don’t go red every once in a while you aren’t trying.”

While Cox picked up his first title, team owner Mitch King wrapped up his second consecutive team championship after winning the title last year with another rookie – Spencer Massey. Between Cox and Massey the Bexar Waste dragster has visited victory lane nine times in the past two years including five times this season.

“We were talking that my car alone has been to 11 finals in 20 races over the past two years. That shows how good this crew really is,” Cox said. “You have to give it up for Paul Smith, he is the brains behind the whole operation. And Mitch King owning the deal, I can’t say enough good things about him. Everyone here does an incredible job.”

Litton moved to the final with a victory over Del Cox Jr. as Cox left early and lit the red bulb. Despite the distraction Litton had a tremendous run in the semis with a 3.210 at 265.01 miles per hour. Paton moved to the final with a victory over Bobby Lagana Jr.

In the opening round of Top Fuel wins by Cox and Litton set up a semifinal matchup between the two best dragsters in IHRA.

After going head-to-head all season long it was only fitting the top two drivers in points meet on Sunday. Cox reached the semis with a win over Rhonda Hartman-Smith while Litton drove around Dom Lagana.

In the other semifinal matchup Lagana advanced when Mitch King failed to show and Todd Paton survived a scare against Smax Smith. While Paton made a very solid run, Smith ran into trouble at the eighth mile mark and darted across the centerline into Paton’s lane.

Neither car made contact, but Smith went up in flames moments after passing Paton.

PRO MOD

When it comes to consistency, no one is better than Chris Russo.

Not always the quickest or fastest during the race weekend, Russo makes a living by making consistent passes down the race track and so far that approach has worked wonders for him.

Already with one win this season using his conservative approach, Russo showed why is one of the best in Pro Mod racing today on Sunday with his second victory of the season at the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.

“We know we might not always be the fastest, but we really try to put down consistent laps,” Russo said. “A lot of times consistency is just the way to go and today was one of those days. We caught it at just the right time and just built on it from there.”

Russo knocked off IHRA newcomer Adam Flamholc in the final with a consistent 4.142 elapsed time at 179.25 miles per hour while Flamholc ran a 6.005 after getting into trouble early.

“I never thought I would get one win in a season so getting two is just incredible,” Russo said. “When I was fortunate enough to get the win in Dallas I knew I needed to savor it because these things are so hard to get I knew I might never see it again.

“I know that sounds a little dramatic, but it is true. There are a lot of people who have raced for a lot of years who have never won one and to get two in our first year is amazing.”

Russo defeated Flamholc, Kenny Lang, Benny Alfonso and Andrew Parise to take home his second career victory.

“We spent most of the year struggling. We would qualify well and then lose in the first round. We just couldn’t put it together until tonight,” Russo said. “I didn’t think we had much of a chance coming into this weekend, but sometimes it is just your day.”

Missing from the final was IHRA World Champion Kenny Lang who wrapped up his second consecutive championship on Saturday. Lang was looking for his ninth consecutive final and fourth consecutive victory, but fell short when his car wiggled against Russo in the semifinals.

Despite not going to the final Lang still accomplished what he set out to do and that was win a second IHRA championship.

“It is great to be able to get back-to-back championships. Winning a championship is something that is so rare and we were able to accomplish twice,” Lang said.

All Lang needed to do to seal the title was show up and he did just that and more, taking the No. 1 qualifying spot on Friday and advancing to the semifinals on Sunday to run away from a once tight points battle with veteran Ed Hoover.

Hoover, who held a slim chance at the title entering this weekend, failed to qualify on Friday.

 “It has been great racing him all season long. It was a shame he didn’t make the field this weekend,” Lang said. “We enjoyed racing him this year and he made it incredibly tough on us, but our team came together and put together a great finish to the season.

 “Last year was great, but this seems so much sweeter. To go to eight final rounds and win as much as we did is incredible.”

In the quarterfinals Lang continued to march through the field with a win over Harold Martin, while his opponent Russo advanced over Benny Alfonso. In the other semifinal match it was a pair of newcomers battling to advance to their first final in IHRA competition.

Flamholc advanced to the final with a win over Fred Scriba while Farber defeated the turbocharged machine of Andy Jensen.

ELITE MOTORSPORTS PRO STOCK

No class in all of IHRA drag racing produced more drama this season than the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock class.

And that certainly didn’t change on Sunday.

With three drivers in contention for the championship at the start of the day it was only fitting that it would all come down to one race to decide the 2009 IHRA World Championship as John Montecalvo held on for his first career championship and Bob Bertsch took home the victory Sunday at the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.

Even more ironic is the fact that it was Bertsch’s final round appearance that clinched Montecalvo’s championship.

Needing to keep even with Frank Gugliotta or advance farther to clinch, Montecalvo was upset in the quarterfinals when he shook the tires and Ned Katuran moved on.

Moments later Gugliotta won his quarterfinal matchup, leaving him one round away from overtaking the points lead and claiming the ’09 championship.

“I couldn’t leave the trailer. What was I going to do? Frank is a friend of mine so if he lost I am not going to jump up and down and if he won I couldn’t just go to the tower and jump off – even though that is what I felt like doing – I just stayed in the trailer and waited,” Montecalvo said.

But in the semifinals Bertsch was able to drive around Gugliotta in a tremendous drag race, advancing to the finals and giving Montecalvo his first championship after nearly two decades behind the wheel.

“I really didn’t believe it had happened. All I heard was ‘we won’ and everyone came back to the trailer screaming and I thought this couldn’t be,” Montecalvo said. “When I finally realized it was true I really didn’t know how to react. This is something I have been after for so long and to be able to finally get it done is just overwhelming.”

Bertsch then advanced to the final where he met and defeated Pete Berner after Berner went red. Bertsch ran a convincing 4.124 elapsed time at 176.10 miles per hour in the final.

“It is just hard work by my crew and me working on myself. It is a good way to go out at the end of the year,” Bertsch said. “We have been working all year little by little, we haven’t made any drastic changes, it has just come together really well over the last three races.”

Bertsch defeated Berner and Gugliotta – both championship contenders – Rocky Watford and Carl Baker to pick up his second win in the last three races.

And all eyes were on Bertsch’s semifinal matchup with Gugliotta.

“I knew whatever I did one group of people was going to be happy and another group was going to be a little sad, but I try not to focus on that and simply race the track. That is what I did tonight,” Bersch said.

When all was said and done, however, it was Montecalvo’s championship that stole the show.

After nearly two decades trying to be a world champion Montecalvo was finally able to see his dream realized thanks to a little help from his friends.

“So many people came up to me and said it is not over and that was just very hard to believe. When I finally found out, I really didn’t believe them at first,” Montecalvo said. “I have got a lot of racing friends up in the sky and every time I race I pray to them to keep me safe and successful and I truly believe they were looking over me today.”

Montecalvo spent most of the season trailing the field, but was able to take the points lead for the first time last month when Gugliotta suffered his third first round loss in four races. He then did just enough to assure that his name would go down in history as the 2009 IHRA Pro Stock champion.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. Over the years it has been one thing or another that has prevented us from winning it, but this is finally our time,” Montecalvo said.

Bertsch put an end to Gugliotta’s championship hopes in the semifinals with a solid run as Gugliotta left the line late and wiggled down the track to give Bertsch the win and Montecalvo the championship.

Bertsch ran a 4.101 to Gugliotta’s 4.205.

In the other semifinal matchup Berner easily dispatched of Ned Katuran with a blistering 4105 second pass in the eighth mile.

While two of the three professional categories had their champions locked up entering Sunday, the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock bunch still had unfinished business and it all started in the semis.

Needing just one round win to seal his first ever championship, Montecalvo smoked the tires in his semifinal matchup with Ned Katuran and Katuran easily picked up the victory and in turn opened the door for Gugliotta.

Gugliotta kept himself alive with a win over Trevor Eman. In the other two semifinal matchups Berner won a close one against Richard Freeman and Bob Bertsch easy got around Rocky Watford.

From Larry Crum / IHRA