The Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series will return to Milan Dragway September 21 – 23 for the rain-delayed Suzuki Motor City Nationals presented by GM Performance Division and Heritage Newspapers. As the first of three races left on the series, Milan Dragway has become a very important stop for competitors chasing world championships.
Of the five professional categories, four remain very tight, with only a few rounds of competition separating the drivers. In Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel, T.J. Zizzo leads veteran racer Bruce Litton by 54 points. The two have battled all season for the top spot since they met in the final round at the first race.
Current Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified points leader Scott Cannon Jr. leads Ed Hoover by 46 points. Pat Stoken and Quain Stott are both within 90 points of the lead. The title is still up for grabs as Cannon tries to follow in his father’s footsteps as an IHRA Pro Modified world champion.
With two wins each in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class, Robert Patrick and Frank Gugliotta are No. one and two in the point standings. Gugliotta has been hot of late, having defeated Patrick last month in New Hampshire, but Patrick still holds a 35 point advantage. In addition, defending world champion Pete Berner still has a mathematical chance to take his second consecutive title. Patrick won at Milan in 2006.
Of all the professional categories, Alcohol Funny Car competitors are in the closest points chase. Mark Thomas, who has been to five of eight final rounds this season, leads Terry Munroe by a mere 18 points. Thomas, a six-time world champion, lost first round two weeks ago in Ontario and Munroe went on to win the event, and brings that momentum to Milan Dragway. Also still in the hunt is three-time former world champion Rob Atchison, 52 points back from Thomas.
The only class that is nearly locked up is Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car. Defending world champion Dale Creasy Jr. leads Jack Wyatt and the rest of the field, including Terry Haddock, Bob Gilbertson and Andy Kelley, by 280 points. Creasy has won five events this season.
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