Edmonton: Saturday qualifying report

LARGEST SINGLE-DAY CROWD IN CASTROL RACEWAY HISTORY PACKS KNOLL-GAS NITRO JAM EVENT
Gilbertson Claims Top Nitro Funny Car Spot

EDMONTON, Alberta (July 7, 2007) -- Bob Gilbertson, Charlotte, N.C., earned the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car top qualifying honors before a standing-room only crowd at Castrol Raceway, the site of this weekend's CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels. As the last of the fans packed into the Knoll-Gas Nitro Jamr event, after backing up traffic for miles in both directions all day long, Gilbertson used a track record-setting 4.831 elapsed time at 312.13 mph to jump to No. 1 and claim the Last Man Standing bonus points.

Other No. 1 qualifiers include Doug Foley (Top Fuel), Kenny Lang (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Pete Berner (Pro Stock).

Steven Macklyn sits second in the Nitro Funny Car class behind Gilbertson. Paul Lee is No. 3, followed by Terry Haddock and points leader Deal Creasy Jr. Edmonton's Randy Bykowsky qualified No. 8, while Beaumont, Alberta's Jason Duchene did not make the field.

Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier Foley, of Sewell, N.J., ran a 4.581, 324.90, which also earned him the Last Man Standing. He's trailed by T.J. Zizzo, who ran a 4.609 Friday evening, Mike Strasburg and Scotty Cannon. Bobby Lagana Jr. sits on the bump spot with a 4.856 ET.

Grande Point, Manitoba's Lang covered the quarter-mile in 6.102 seconds, resetting the Castrol Raceway Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified track record previously held by Scott Cannon Jr. Lang picked up No. 1 qualifier honors as well as Last Man Standing. Ontario-native Carl Spiering is second, followed by current points leader Cannon. Calgary's Joe Delehay is No. 11 and Dewinton, Alberta's Gary Mason No. 14.

London, Ontario's Atchison maintained his No. 1 qualified Alcohol Funny Car spot from Friday with a 5.887, 241.97. Terry Munroe sits No. 2, followed by Calgary's Roger Bateman, who also earned the Last Man Standing bonus. Defending world champion Mark Thomas is fourth. Trevor Lebsack, of Slave Lake, Alberta, and John Evanchuk, of Edmonton, round out the field seventh and eighth respectively.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier Berner, of Crete, Ill., came into this race one point behind John Montecalvo for the championship standings lead. By taking the top spot with his 6.424, 217.11, as well as the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge bonus, he enters Sunday's elimination rounds with the lead. Robert Patrick holds the second spot, followed by two defending world champions, Steve Spiess and Brian Gahm.

Berner's 6.424 elapsed time and Gahm's 217.18 mph speed set the Castrol Raceway record.

Professional eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 p.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com. The CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels is the fourth of eleven events on the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.

-credit: ihra