Kevin Jones (Top Fuel), Dale Creasy Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Thomas Carter (Alcohol Funny Car), and Bob Bertsch (Pro Stock) claim No. 1 qualifying spots after rain brings early end to second day of qualifying     

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (July 5, 2008) – For the second day in a row rain and lightning brought an exciting day of qualifying for the CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals to an early end.

The day which started with a huge crowd enjoying top-notch racing action under clear blue skies ended prematurely when, as Friday, strong winds blew rain into the area. And, as Friday, attempts to dry the track after an initial stoppage proved futile despite the best efforts of Castrol Raceway and IHRA staff.

Pro Stock and Alcohol Funny Car fields were set before the first showers struck, while Pro Mod has in the middle of its session. A revised ladder put Mike Janis, who carded a best pass of 6.173, 232.19, at the top of the list.

Pro Stock #1 qualifier Bob Bertsch

In Pro Stock, Bob Bertsch, with his Rislone Engine Treatment-backed team from Willis, Michigan, claimed top qualifying honors as well as the Last Man Standing bonus with a pass of 6.568 at 213.33 mph. Bertsch is the lone Pro Stock driver at Edmonton. His decision to attend the race was twofold. He lost crew member and friend John Weisler during the previous event, at Budds Creek, Maryland, and Weisler's widow urged him to continue racing.

Said Bertsch, "I needed to get back to the racetrack." He said he also had made a commitment to his sponsor, who had been counting heavily on the two Canadian races to promote a product recently introduced north of the border. "My sponsor asked me to go, and that's what I signed up for at the beginning of the year," he said.
 
He said that "it's weird" to be the only driver "competing" in the class this weekend. "Some moments it feels good, and other moments it feels sad," Bertsch said. Prior to his run tonight a moment of silence was observed in honor of his fallen friend.

Alcohol Funny Car #1 qualifier Tom Carter

Dr. Thomas Carter is the only competitor other than Laurie Cannister to have claimed an Alcohol Funny Car Ironman this season, taking the win at the Motor City Nationals at Milan, Michigan, in May. Carter, of Cuero, Texas, currently sits third in championship points behind Cannister and Rob Atchison.

Saturday evening he claimed both the No. 1 qualifying spot and Last Man Standing honors and the accompanying five bonus points by pacing his “Jawbreaker” 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to an elapsed time mark of 5.849 at 243.28 mph.

“We’ve been working to get this car to run since the beginning of the season and it’s finally performing the way we knew it could,” Carter said. “We have been working real hard and I have to thank my whole crew for their effort. They have done an outstanding job. And I’d also like to thank this great crowd here at Edmonton for coming out to see us.”

Top Fuel #1 qualifier Kevin Jones

The No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel was Kevin Jones, who claimed the spot on the strength of his 4.911, 275.96 pass in the class’ only session.

Nitro Funny Car #1 qualifier Dale Creasy Jr.

On the Nitro Funny Car front, defending champion and most recent event winner Dale Creasy Jr. laid claim to the top spot with his run of 5.319, 278.17.

EDMONTON, Alb. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway, the fifth of 10 events in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Kevin Jones, 4.911 seconds, 275.96 mph vs. 5. Spencer Massey, 6.328, 137.43; 2. Bruce Litton, 5.053, 276.63 vs. 6. Bobby Lagana Jr., 7.227, 108.86; 3. Tim Boychuk, 5.228, 207.46 vs. 7. Terry McMillen, 7.461, 113.24; 4. Mike Strasburg, 6.024, 153.53 vs. 8. Mitch King, 13.321, 65.98.

Nitro Funny Car -- 1. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 5.319, 278.17 vs. 5. Cory Lee, Pontiac Firebird, 5.785, 232.99; 2.

Steven Macklyn, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.341, 279.32 vs. 6. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 6.331, 159.57; 3. Jason Duchene, Chevy Camaro, 5.650, 230.53 vs. 7. Grant Downing, Monte Carlo, 6.445, 148.90; 4. Matt Hagan, Monte Carlo, 5.750, 259.51 vs. 8. Jeff Diehl, Monte Carlo, 6.899, 147.42.

Pro Modified #1 qualifier Mike Janis

Pro Modified -- 1. Mike Janis, Pontiac Firebird, 6.173, 232.19 vs. 9. Jason Stock, Chevy Corvette, 6.292, 226.09; 2. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 6.207, 231.36 vs. 10. Lee Frank, Corvette, 6.295, 221.27; 3. Scott Cannon, Firebird, 6.211, 231.28 vs. 11. Dan Vogt, Corvette, 6.323, 220.37; 4. Ed Hoover, Chevy Camaro, 6.230, 227.77 vs. 12. Joe Delehay, Camaro, 6.344, 227.04; 5. Tommy D'Aprile, Chevy Bel Air, 6.235, 230.57 vs. 13. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.421, 220.76; 6. Thomas Patterson, Dodge Charger, 6.240,

228.81 vs. 14. Ross Hogenson, Corvette, 6.481, 213.43; 7. Carl Spiering, Corvette, 6.243, 225.37 vs. 15. Gary Mason, Corvette, 6.809, 209.04; 8. Mike Castellana, Firebird, 6.291, 219.15 vs. 16. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 7.111, 142.03.

Alcohol Funny Car -- 1. Thomas Carter, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.849, 243.28 vs. 5. John Evanchuk, Pontiac Firebird, 6.004, 235.97; 2. Rob Atchison, Monte Carlo, 5.895, 241.37 vs. 6. Mark Thomas, Monte Carlo, 6.004, 233.92; 3. Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 5.902, 240.08 vs. 7. Scott McVey, Dodge Avenger, 6.024, 233.16; 4. Paul Noakes, Avenger, 5.968, 237.00 vs. 8. Jordan Pawlick, Avenger, 6.071, 227.84.

Pro Stock -- 1. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.541, 213.16 is unopposed.