A Great Start for Litton Pulls closer to T.J. Zizzo in the race for th

[rebelracewriter]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Media Contact: Mike Perry

 

(419) 706-8631

 

mperry@ihra.com

 

 

 

 

 

A Great Start for Litton

 

Pulls closer to T.J. Zizzo in the race for the Top Fuel championship

 

 

 

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Bruce Litton's Top Fuel Dragster didn't quite make the full distance on his first qualifying run at the IHRA World Finals presented by The U.S. Air Force at Rockingham Dragway Friday evening, but his engine lasted just long enough to make him the provisional No. 1 qualifier and earn five bonus points as "The Last Man Standing" for Top Fuel. Current Top Fuel points leader T.J. Zizzo could only manage a fourth-place in the first of three qualifying sessions for the IHRA finale, reducing his margin in the championship chase to just 21 points.

 

 

 

In other eliminators, Pete Berner earned the "Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge" bonus points to narrow No. 1-qualfier Robert Patrick's lead in the season-long points Pro Stock battle to just 14 points; while Bob Gilbertson, Mitch King and Rob Atchison King earned both the No.1 spot and the bonus points in Nitro Funny Car, Pro Modified and Alcohol Funny Car, respectively.

 

 

 

Litton coasted across the finish line with a 4.736 second, 251.44 mph run that put him atop the Top Fuel qualifying list, with teammate Jeff O'Neill second at 4.841 and 301.33, Scotty Cannon third at 4.856 and 282.78h, and Zizzo fourth with a tire-shaking

 

5.161 at 250.92 mph. Litton's bonus puts him one round and one point behind Zizzo with two qualifying runs remaining. Cannon is still mathematically in the chase, but he is 91 points behind Zizzo and Zizzo has not stopped earning points.

 

 

 

Patrick took the top spot in Pro Stock with a 6.354 second, 213.91 mph effort, with Berner and Brian Gahm close behind at 6.372 and 6.377, respectively Three drivers are still in the chase for the Pro Stock championship, Berner less than one round behind Patrick, with Frank Gugliotta still in the running, 46 points behind Patrick and qualified seventh at 6.431.

 

 

 

Atchison extended his championship lead over Mark Thomas to 32 points by taking the five-point "Last Man Standing" bonus for Friday night, as well as qualifying first with a 5.823 at 239.14. Terry Munroe is third in the points, but is not yet qualified after breaking before he could make a run, and Thomas is qualified seventh, barely in the field. Neal Parker, Laurie Cannister, and Paul Noakes round out the top four in the category after the first round.

 

 

 

Scott Cannon almost clinched the Pro Modified championship when he claimed a 41-point bonus to take a 75-point lead over Mike Janis for the season, but Cannon sits 16th after the first round, while Janis is solidly qualified third with a 6.127 at 235.64 mph. Chip King is finishing the season with strong performance, but is out of championship contention despite a session-best 6.081 second,

 

230.06 mph run, with Jim Halsey second at 6.121 and 228.42.

 

 

 

Gilbertson carded a strong 4.927 at 302.14 mph to take the provisional pole position for this event, with newcomer Cory Lee right on his heels at 4.931 and 305.22. Jack Wyatt and Jeff Diehl round out the tup four after the first round. Dale Creasy Jr. clinched the Nitro Funny Car championship two races ago and found himself fifth after the first round of qualifying.

 

 

 

Two more rounds of qualifying, at 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, will set the field for Sunday's eliminations.

 

 

 

-- Agate

 

 

 

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the IHRA World Finals Presented by The U.S. Air Force featuring UTI CHampionship Sunday at Rockingham Dragway, 11th of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.

 

Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

 

 

 

 

 

Top Fuel -- 1. Bruce Litton, 4.736 seconds, 251.44 mph; 2. Jeff O'Neill, 4.841, 301.33; 3. Scotty Cannon, 4.856, 282.78; 4.

 

T.J. Zizzo, 5.161, 250.92; 5. Bobby Lagana Jr., 5.586, 176.95; 6. Terry McMillen, 8.079, 87.94; 7. Dave Gallegos, 8.627, 84.91; 8.

 

Luigi Novelli, 12.833, 84.97.

 

 

 

 

 

Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.927, 302.14; 2. Cory Lee, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.931, 305.22; 3. Jack Wyatt, Stratus, 5.067, 283.19; 4. Jeff Diehl, Pontiac Firebird, 5.082, 301.07; 5. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.102, 277.43; 6.

 

Mitch King, Chevy Corvette, 5.183, 258.96; 7. Terry Haddock, Monte Carlo, 5.204, 275.73; 8. John Lawson, Chevy Camaro, 5.223, 233.76.

 

 

 

 

 

Pro Modified -- 1. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.081, 230.06; 2. Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 6.121, 228.42; 3. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 6.127, 235.64; 4. Matt Hagan, Camaro, 6.166, 229.63; 5. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.169, 232.63; 6. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.188, 229.59; 7. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 6.207, 221.71; 8. Jason Hamstra, Corvette, 6.213, 225.41; 9. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.244, 205.41; 10. Tommy Gray, Pontiac GTO, 6.248, 228.50; 11. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.250, 224.40; 12. Barney Squiers, Camaro, 6.277, 223.06; 13. Chris Russo, Corvette, 6.291, 227.08; 14. Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.317, 220.30; 15. Mark Nielsen, Camaro, 6.414, 227.80; 16. Scott Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.443, 215.55.

 

 

 

 

 

Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.823, 239.14; 2. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, 5.865, 237.21; 3.

 

Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 5.883, 237.21; 4. Paul Noakes, Ford Mustang, 5.887, 239.44; 5. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.920, 240.25; 6. Melinda Green-King, Mustang, 5.943, 232.47; 7. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 5.954, 238.98; 8. Trevor Lebsack, Mustang, 5.975, 233.24.

 

 

 

 

 

Pro Stock -- 1. Robert Patrick, Shelby Cobra, 6.354, 213.91; 2. Pete Berner, Pontiac GTO, 6.372, 213.98; 3. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.377, 216.72; 4. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 6.406, 217.00; 5. John Nobile, Mustang, 6.425, 214.08; 6. Rob Mansfield, GTO, 6.429, 214.11; 7. Frank Gugliotta, Chevy Cobalt, 6.431, 213.13; 8. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.434, 212.19; 9. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 6.439, 213.91; 10. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 6.442, 213.16; 11. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.457, 213.06; 12. Dan Sweeney, GTO, 6.465, 213.87; 13. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.466, 213.16; 14. Adelbertus Kelkboom, Escort, 6.490, 212.43; 15. Bert Jackson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.494, 212.23; 16. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 6.506, 212.79.

 

 

 

 

 

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 $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is an 11-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2007, 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 70 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 Kumho Street Warriorz. More information can be found at www.ihra.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.”

 

 

 

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