Cayuga: Round nine preview

IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource Next Event on Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series

NORWALK, Ohio (August 28, 2007) -- Last season at the venerable drag strip in Cayuga, Ontario -- Toronto Motorsports Park -- fans witnessed the heated competition in Nitro Funny Car, a class returning to the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series after a 14-year layoff.

Dale Creasy Jr. and Jack Wyatt were No. one and two in the standings nearly all season long. As they entered the IHRA Canadian Nationals, only three races remained to earn championship points, making it a very important stop for both competitors.

While Creasy won the race and left with the points lead, the championship chase ended a month later in North Carolina as the closest in IHRA history. Creasy edged Wyatt by a mere five points.

This season as drivers enter the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource, September 7 -- 9, Creasy has a somewhat controlling lead on the Nitro Funny Car class.

However, the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel battle is the closest it's been since Paul Romine topped Clay Millican by seven points in 2000. After finishing runner-up that season, Millican went on to claim an unprecedented six-consecutive world championships.

This year, the story has changed. T.J. Zizzo, a relative newcomer, leads veteran driver Bruce Litton by only 28 points, less than two rounds of competition. It's been a back-and-forth battle all season. Litton held the lead after defeating Zizzo in the Top Fuel final at the first race of the year. Zizzo came right back and won the second race, and held the lead until Litton took it back at the beginning of August, only to lose it at the very next race.

Other points chases to watch:

* Scott Cannon Jr. leads the Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class over veteran Ed Hoover

* Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Mark Thomas leads three-time former world champ Rob Atchison, London, Ontario

* Robert Patrick leads the Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class by less than 50 points over Frank Gugliotta

The IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource will feature the Chevrolet "Night of Fire" Saturday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. The "Night of Fire" features the final round of professional qualifying under the lights and a jet-powered racecar to cap-off the day. Professional eliminations begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

The IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource will be held at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, September 7-9. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com or www.torontomotorsportspark.com.

-credit: ihra