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CAYUGA, Ontario -- Doug Foley earned his first career Top Fuel win Sunday at the Third Annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario. Foley, of Sewell, N.J., defeated Louie Allison in the final round with a 4.854 ET at 305.22 mph to win the event.
Mike Janis, Lancaster, N.Y., Pro Modified; Jim Sickles, Caledonia, N.Y., Funny Car; and Robert Patrick, Fredricksburg, Va., Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock were winners in their respective categories. The first round of Top Fuel resulted in a number of upsets, including Todd Paton's win from the No. 8 qualifying position over points leader Clay Millican, Allison defeating No. 2 qualifier Tim Cullinan and "Doc" John Sipple defeating Bruce Litton. Foley defeated Bobby Lagana Jr. with a 4.810 ET at 301.54 mph. In the semifinals, Foley faced Paris, Ontario-native Paton. Fresh off his win over Millican, Paton had the starting line advantage, but had trouble getting down the track and Foley took the win. Allison defeat Sipple with a 4.874 ET to advance to the final round versus Foley. In Foley's first final Top Fuel final round, he defeated Allison with a 4.854 ET. "This is our seventh race in the Top Fuel car and to win it is just amazing," said Foley. "We've had a lot of help from Bruce Litton and he gave us a great car to begin with. My team has been watching Litton and (Clay) Millican and how their teams function. We want to be a top team. "Saturday morning it was raining and we weren't sure if we would get another qualifying chance, which would leave us out of the field," said Foley. "We got the qualifier, made the field and then used the data from the quality runs we made at Milan Dragway to give us a base for race day."
The semifinal match-up was Harper versus Quain Stott and Janis versus Ed Hoover. Harper had just defeated Quain's brother Mitch, and in a very similar race, defeated Quain. Janis used a 6.254 ET to defeat Hoover and advance to the final against Harper. Janis was first off the starting line and beat Harper to the finish with a 6.258 ET. "It was like throwing darts at the wall this morning to figure out the tune-up," said Janis. "We took what happened during the last round at Milan Dragway and that combination worked. The car was great first round and once we had it figured out, we stuck to that game plan."
Thomas defeated Neal Parker in round two to set up the semifinal match-up with Atchison. Atchison ran an event top speed 241.24 mph but Thomas used a better reaction time to take out the defending event champion. Sickles' second round opponent was Alberta-resident Trevor Lebsack. He advanced past Lebsack and then defeated Terry Munroe in the semifinals to meet Thomas in the final round. Sickles used a reaction time advantage to defeat Thomas and win his first IHRA event since August 2003. "We've just kept plugging away at this car," said Sickles. "After struggling two weeks ago, we came here without a tune-up but made it work. "Thomas and Atchison are really flying down the track. When I won at Norwalk (Raceway Park) last year, we dominated. But this year, we just aren't where we need to be yet," added the 44-year-old Sickles.
In round two, Patrick took out Larry O'Brien then faced Ron Miller in the semifinals. Miller had just defeated reigning world champion Brian Gahm, but couldn't match Patrick's 6.547 ET. Montecalvo defeated Pete Berner in round two with a 6.534, 214.42 and a red-lighting Mike Bell in round three to advance to the finals against Patrick, whose last event win was in 1996 at Norwalk Raceway Park. Patrick had the reaction time advantage and it made the difference. Montecalvo had the better ET at 6.553, but Patrick's 6.550 and his better reaction time won the round. "My crew made some great calls today and that made the difference," said Patrick. "My car was putting out a lot of power and when I had to I cut some good lights. It's great to be back in the winner's circle. "It's great to come back home (to IHRA) and win a race. Even when we lose, I enjoy racing," added Patrick. "We'll give it everything we have and try to get a top five finish for the year." The next event on the 2004 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series is the 23rd Annual Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., August 12 - 14, 2004. CAYUGA, Ontario -- Sunday's final results from the Third annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. The $1.1 million race is the seventh of 12 in the 2004 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. Top Fuel -- Doug Foley, 4.854 seconds, 305.22 mph def. Louie Allison, 6.125 seconds, 148.67 mph. Pro Modified -- Mike Janis, Chevy Corvette, 6.258, 227.19 def. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.491, 216.83. Funny Car -- Jim Sickles, Dodge Avenger, 5.952, 238.81 def. Mark Thomas, Avenger, 5.947, 240.04. Pro Stock -- Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 6.550, 213.50 def. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.533, 215.03. Top Stock -- Paul Mercure, Chevy Camaro, 9.885, 134.64 def. Jim Morgan, Ford Mustang, 10.006, 135.18. Top Sportsman -- Marco Abruzzi, Chevy Camaro, 9.826, 93.84 def. Gary Wojnowski Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 11.388, 77.25. Top Dragster -- Dave Elrod, Dragster, 7.498, 179.06 def. Jim Bersani, Dragster, 6.987, 188.10. Super Stock -- Mark Howes, Plymouth Belvedere, 10.346, 130.25 def. Joe Covert, Buick Regal, 9.220, 145.27. Quick Rod -- Becky Jaques, Chevy Lumina, 8.898, 153.79 def. Jim Cowie, Dragster, 8.879, 165.58. Super Rod -- John Hickman, Chevy Camaro, 9.890, 142.49 def. Billy Leber, Chevy Corvette, 9.873, 156.46. Hot Rod -- Vernon Rowland, Chevy Chevette, 10.882, 135.01 def. Sam Lovetro Jr, Chevy Nova, 10.864, 131.52. Stock -- Michael Beard, Dodge Dart, 11.292, 111.11 def. Craig Marshall, Dart, 11.065, 117.50. ET Bracket -- Steve Doornbosch, Pontiac Firebird, 9.356, 139.59 def. Brian Cassidy, Chevy Chevelle, 9.588, 139.52. ET No Box -- Steve Doornbosch, Pontiac Firebird, 9.345, 144.78 def. Kevin Goodacre, Chevy Malibu, 10.812, 116.62. ET Box -- Brian Cassidy, Chevy Chevelle, 9.582, 139.70 def. Bill Wilson, Chevy Camaro, 8.962, 149.71.
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