Got something we should cover? Click here to tell us! Close this box
CREASY CLINCHES IHRA FUNNY CAR TITLE;
ATCHISON, GAHM SET RECORDS
Dale Creasy Jr. earned his sixth win of the season to clinch his second-consecutive IHRA Nitro Funny Car world championship, with two events remaining in the season. Creasy defeated Bob Gilbertson in the Suzuki Motor City Nationals final round on a holeshot to win the race. Creasy, who prior to 2006 had never even won a race, tied-up his second world championship in two years by running a 4.977 ET, 306.95 mph, to Gilbertson’s better 4.962/321.12.
Scotty Cannon advanced to his second Top Fuel final of the season by defeating points leader T.J. Zizzo in round one and Canadian Todd Paton in round two. By taking out Zizzo, Cannon, who came into this race third, opened the door to make up some ground toward the world championship chase. His final round opponent was Bruce Litton, who entered the race second behind Zizzo. If Litton won the race, he’d jump to the points lead. He had the reaction time advantage, but Cannon was too quick, covering the track in 4.640 seconds at 320.58 mph to Litton’s 4.692/315.93.
Mike Janis started the day qualified fourth in Pro Modified and dispatched Mike Stawicki and Pat Stoken in rounds one and two. His third round opponent was points leader Scott Cannon Jr. Cannon had a huge reaction time advantage, but Janis stayed in it and covered the quarter-mile in 6.616 seconds to Cannon’s 6.895 to advance to the finals against Burton Auxier and stop the possibly first father and son win in professional classes in drag racing history. Janis was in his third final of the year; Auxier, his first since 2005. Janis used a 6.206/218.97 to take the win, his second of the season.
Rob Atchison’s road to the final started against first-round opponent Dale Brand, who used a 5.649 ET Saturday during qualifying to take the No. 1 spot and set the world ET record. However, in round one it was all Atchison, as he had the reaction time advantage and covered the track in 5.856 seconds to advance to the semifinals against points leader Mark Thomas. Atchison, London, Ontario, again had a slight lead off the line and crossed the finish in 5.818/243.33 to take out Thomas.
Atchison met fellow London-resident Paul Noakes in the final. So far this season Noakes was 2-0 against Atchison in final rounds. However, Atchison, himself a former three-time world champion, had the better car today and beat Noakes with a 5.885/245.45, to take his second race of the year.
Jeff Dobbins, who finished qualifying Saturday night not even in the Pro Stock field but as No. 17 qualifier, was ready to make the call Sunday as first alternate when Ron Miller withdrew before round one. Dobbins, Wilmington, NC, took out Rob Mansfield in round one, then defeated a red-lighting John Montecalvo to advance to the semifinals to face John Nobile. Dobbins, known for quick reaction times, had the race off the line and took the round with a 6.885.
In the final round, Dobbins faced Brian Gahm, who had set the world speed record in the semifinals with a 222.03. The reaction time went to Dobbins – 0.061 to 0.288 – and he won on a holeshot, covering the quarter-mile in 6.340 seconds to Gahm’s 6.339. Ironically, Gahm bettered the world record at 222.66 in the losing effort. (Creasy file photo by Ron Lewis / Janis photo by Brad Turk) [9/24/2007]
