Texas Speedzone - Knoll Gas Nitro Jam, Amalie Oil Texas Nationals @ San Antonio Raceway Friday

Knoll Gas Nitro Jam, Amalie Oil Texas Nationals, presented by NAPA Auto Parts @ San Antonio Raceway, 3/23-25/07
By J M Hallas

San Antonio, Tx. (March 23, 2007)
The International Hot Rod Association(IHRA) kicked off its 2007 drag racing season with 5th Annual Amalie Oil, Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts. Drivers from across the nation and Canada rolled through the gates of the beautiful San Antonio Raceway facility in Marion, Texas, just outside San Antonio to try their luck on the recently resurfaced 1/4 mile..

Conditions were less than ideal, as cloudy skies, high humidity and gusty winds kept times and speeds down during round one of Pro Qualifying for the Pro Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Alcohol Funny Cars.

Pro Stock Qualifying round 1

In Pro Stock, Robert Patrick was quickest of the 20 cars to take times. Patrick, from Fredricksburg, Va. put down run of 6.407 @ 216.69 mph in his 2007 Shelby Mustang powered by an 819 cubic inches Ford. Steve Spies was 7/1000th off Patrick's time to grab the second best time in his 2007 Chevy Cobalt.

1 Robert Patrick 6.407, 216.69
2 Steve Spiess 6.414, 217.25
3 Brian Gahm 6.429, 217.88
4 Rob Mansfield 6.443, 216.76
5 Rickie Smith 6.449, 215.65
6 John Nobile 6.457, 214.31
7 Michael Bruno 6.485, 216.86
8 Frank Gugliotta 6.486, 215.20
9 John Montecalvo 6.488 216.31
10 Mike Corvo 6.492, 214.35
11 Jeff Dobbins 6.512, 214.35
12 Cary Goforth 6.531, 215.17
13 Larry O'Brien 6.538, 198.50
14 Dan Sweeny 6.551, 21296
15 Pete Berner 6.553, 212.46
16 Elijah Morton 6.556, 211,06
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17 Ed Machacek 10.303, 84.39
18 Dean Goforth 10.373, 85.68
19 Chuck Demory 10.598, 84.11
20 Bob Bertsch 17.742, 42.47

Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying

Defending IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion and 2006 event winner, Mark Thomas headed the list of eight qualifiers with a pass of 5.901 @ 243.24 mph in his 2007 Chevy Monte Carlo. The Louisville, Ohio native and San Antonio Raceway track record holder was one tenth better than Terry Monroe driving the 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo.

1 Mark Thomas 5.901, 243.24
2 Terry Munroe 6.016, 234.74
3 Tim Stevens 6.018, 223.65
4 Laurie Cannister 6.078, 217.95
5 Rob Atchison 6.628 163.65
6 Larry Dobbs 11.036, 61.61
7 Tony Bogolo 12.800, 63.30
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8 Terry McMillen DQ crossed centerline, took out timing block @ 1000'

Pro Modified Qualifying

Ed 'Showtime' Hoover, from Gilbert, S.C. was best of the eighteen Pro Modifieds to take times laying down a pass of 6.179 @ 230.84. Hoover's time in the 1963 Chevy Corvette, with a 526 cubic inch Brad Anderson racing engine was 5/1000th quicker than the 1963 Chevy Corvette of Danny Rowe.

1 Ed Hoover 6.179, 230.84
2 Danny Rowe 6.184, 232.23
3 Scott Cannon 6.217 220.40
4 Jim Halsey 6.224, 227.61,
5 Burton Auxier 6.240, 222.80
6 Pat Stoken 6.255, 22470
7 Mike Janis 6.266, 235.64
8 Kenny Lang 6.281, 217.30
9 Eddie Ware 6.298, 228.85
10 Quain Stott 6.342, 228.77
11 Harold Martin 7.353, 139.73
12 John Russo 9.003, 116.11
13 Chip King 9.330, 92.35
14 Mike Castellana 10.371, 81.65
15 Shannon Jenkins 11.003, 86.57
16 Matt Hagan 11.487, 80.86-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Kirk Kuhns 12.460, 67.75
18 Raymond Commisso 13.375, 69.18

Pro Qualifying round 2
Second round Pro Qualifying started off on a somber note when word filtered through the pit area of Eric Medlin's passing. Medlin, a member of the John Force racing team succumbed to injuries suffered in a practice crash earlier in the week at Gainsville Raceway. The 2004 NHRA Rookie of the Year in Nitro Funny Car had five wins over his short career.

Pro Stock Qualifying round 2
Robert Patrick was able to slightly better his round one time and stay on top of the Pro Stock qualifying chart. Patrick knocked 1/100th off first pass, while Rob Mansfield moved past Spiess and Gahm to grab the second position.

Ed Machacek 6.716, 207.10
Rob Bertsch 7.100, 179.55

Pete Berner 25.503, 26.48
Chuck Demory 31.582, 15.862

Dan Sweeney 6.622, 210.44
Dean Goforth 6.508, 217.21

Larry O'Brien 6.482, 214.25
Elijah Morton 6.490, 212.53

Mike Corvo 6.445, 217.00
Cary Goforth 6.471, 216.83

John Nobile 6.450, 215.93
Jeff Dobbins 6.486, 213.64

Rickie Smith 6.457, 216.38
John Montecalvo 6.492, 216.13

Brian Gahm 6.793, 166.91
Frank Gugliotta 6.485, 213.98

Steve Spiess 6.445, 216.99
Mikew Bruno 6.522, 200.11

Robert Patrick 6.391, 216.72
Rob Mansfield 6.410, 217.35
Standings after round 2
1 Robert Patrick 6.391, 216.72
2 Rob Mansfield 6.410, 217.35
3 Steve Spiess 6.414, 217.25
4 Brian Gahm 6.429, 217.88
5 Mike Corvo 6.445, 217.00
6 Rickie Smith 6.449, 216.38
7 John Nobile 6.450, 215.93
8 Cary Goforth 6.471, 216.83
9 Larry O'Brien 6.482, 214.25
10 Michael Bruno 6.485, 216.86
11 Frank Gugliotta 6.485, 213.98
12 Jeff Dobbins 6.486, 213.64
13 John Montecalvo 6.488, 216.31
14 Elijah Morton 6.490, 212.53
15 Dean Goforth 6.508, 217.21
16 Dan Sweeney 6.551, 212.96
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17 Pete Berner 6.553, 212.46
18 Ed Machacek 6.716, 201.10
19 Bob Bertsch 7.100, 175.55
20 Chuck Demory 10.598, 84.11

Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying round 2

Mark Thomas was able to make his round one time stand through round two of Alcohol Funny Car qualifying

Terry McMillan 6.044, 235.31
Larry Dobbs 5.969, 236.42

Tony Bogolo NT/NS stopped at 1000'
Rob Atchison 6.301, 237.59

Terry Munroe 5.947, 236.39
Laurie Cannister 10.250, 6.834

Mark Thomas 6.000, 241.84
Tim Stevens 10.445, 87.26

Standings after round two
1 Mark Thomas 5.901, 243.242 Terry Munroe 5.947, 235.39
3 Larry Dobbs 5.969, 236.42
4 Tim Stevens 6.018, 223.65
5 Terry McMillen 6.044, 235.31
6 Laurie Cannister 6.078, 217.95
7 Rob Atchison 6.301, 237.59
8 Tony Bogolo 12.800, 63.30

Pro Modified qualifying round 2

Raymond Commisso, driving the 1967 Camaro with a 526 cubic inch Hemi, was one of the first pair to take a run in Pro Modified round two. The Toronto Canadian's run of 6.102 @ 233.96mph was quick enough to put him on top of the charts and bump round one's Ed Hooover to second.

Raymond Commisso 6.102, 233.96
Matt Hagan 12.604, 99.27

Kirk Kuhns 6.394, 217.29

Shannon Jenkins 6.328, 222.77
John Russo 6.216, 230.90

Mike Castellano 13.267, 62.41

Chip King 18.543, 56.00
Harold Martin 6.415, 195.14

Quain Stott 6.232, 232.35

Eddie Ware 6.243, 228.46
Pat Stoken 6.364, 220.30

Mike Janis 9.534, 92.09
Scott Cannon 9.812, 104.23

Burton Auxier 11.914, 86.77
Danny Rowe 10.055, 83.73

Jim Halsey 8.573, 108.30
Ed Hoover 6.154, 231.12

Standings after round 21 Raymond Commisso 6.102, 233.96
2 Ed Hoover 6.154, 231.12
3 Danny Rowe 6.184, 232.23
4 John Russo 6.216, 230.90
5 Scott Cannon 6.217, 220.40
6 Jim Halsey 6.244, 227.69
7 Quain Stott 6.232, 232.35
8 Burton Auxier 6.240, 222.80
9 Eddie Ware 6.243, 228.46
10 Pat Stoken 6.255, 224.70
11 Mike Janis 6.266, 235.64
12 Kenny Lang 6.281, 211.30
13 Shannon Jenkins 6.328, 222.77
14 Kirk Kuhns 6.394, 217.28
15 Harold Martin 6.415, 195.14
16 Chip King 9.330, 92.35
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17 Mike Castellano 10.371, 81.65
18 Matt Hagan 11.487, 99.27

Top Fuel Qualifying round 1

In a huge surprise, Scotty Cannon in only his fourth pass in a Top Fuel car set quick time turning a 4.851 @ 299.00mph in the 2007 Hadman Chassis with a 500 cubic inch Brad Anderson race engine. Favorites Bruce Litton and Doug Foley both had problems and were forced to shut off early in their runs.

1 Scotty Cannon 4.851, 299.00
2 Bobby Lagana jr. 5.020, 258.42
3 Bruce Litton 5.501, 167.95
4 Scott Weis 5.644, 176.67
5 Mitch King 6.774, 123.51
6 Chris Karamesines 8.711, 98.29
7 T J Zizzo 9.892, 81.50
8 Scott Palmer 11.499, 85.16
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9 Jim Cavalieri 15.615, 59.37
10 Terry McMillen 15.963, 37.36
11 Doug Foley NT/NS stopped on track @ 1000'

Nitro Funny Car round 1
Gary Densham backed up his 2006 Amalie Oil Texas Nationals victory, by setting fast time in Nitro Funny Car qualifying. Densham's run of 4.863 @ 307.23mph was 3/100th faster than runner-up Del Worsham.

1 Gary Densham 4.863, 307.23
2 Del Worsham 4.893, 274.79
3 Bob Gilbertson 4.932, 283.25
4 Terry Haddox 4.952, 279.90
5 John Capps 5.037, 266.95
6 Andy Kelly 5.064, 282.24
7 Jack Wyatt 5.180, 243.99
8 Todd Simpson 5.321, 265.01
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9 Dale Creasy jr. 10.164, 89.57
10 Paul Lee 13.271, 59.98
11 Mitch King 15.959, 64.55
12 Cruz Pedregon NT/NS broke on line

Sportsman Qualifying

Quick Rod(final)
Bart Nelson, Tx. 1999 Dragster (8.90 index) 8.910, 180.04

Super Rod(final)
Philip Wallen, N. Richland Hills, Tx. 1992 Baretta(9.90 index) 9.900 158.58

Hot Rod(final)
Sam Rufenacht, Round Rock, Tx. 1966 Chevy Nova (10.90 index) 10.909, 129.92

Stock Eliminator(final)
Dempsey Pendarvis, Gonzalos, La. 2000 Firebird 10.459

Super Stock(final)
Slate Cummings, Hammond, La. 2007 Cavalier 9.064

Top Dragster(final)
Mike Manners, Willis, Tx. 2006 Massey 6.319, 214.62

Top Sportsman(final)
Greg Lair, Canyon, Tx. 2004 Grand Am 6.686, 206.01

Bob Motz Jet Kenworth, 7.007, 214.59

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------San Antonio Raceway records

Top Fuel
Clay Millican, 4.583
Doug Foley, 321.27

Nitro Funny Car
Cruz Pedregon, 4.765, 321.12

Pro Stock
Brian Gahm, 6.354
Rick Jones, 219.33

Alcohol Funny Car
Mark Thomas, 5.811
Rob Atchison, 246.71

Pro Modified
Rick Distefano, 6.062, 237.50