Pro Stock guys sure know how to make a Championship chase interesting. The 2009 season has been
evidence of this all along and Montecalvo is assuring that it'll be no different as the season end
approaches. After the last national event, Montecalvo pulled within 19 points of leader Frank
Gugliotta. Tonight at the President's Cup Nationals, Monte gained another five points on the Flying
Meatball as he won the Quarter-Max Last Man Standing Pro Stock Challenge. These five points will no
doubt play a crucial role in the Championship outcome.
"We know we have to make every lap count," tells Monte. "With those five bonus points on the line
every Friday and Saturday night qualifying session, we're well aware that they can play a big part
in where we stand at the end of the year. That puts us within 14 points of Frank. We'll take every
little bit we can gain on him."
Along with the five bonus points, the Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge winner gets a $500 check from
Quarter-Max. "Thanks to Rick Jones [owner of Quarter-Max] for putting this deal together. We run an
RJ car, and it's nice to get some money back from Rick. I sure gave him enough," Monte jokes.
This is a big weekend for Monte and his Chevrolet Cobalt team not only for the Championship
implications but also for the Elite 8 Pro Stock Shootout to be contested on Saturday. Drivers
earned their way into the Shootout through points accumulated based on qualifying positions
throughout the season. Montecalvo was runner up of the Pro Stock Shootout in 2008. Montecalvo will
face off in round one against the guy he deems "The Sheik" who also happens to be the Shootout
sponsor- Richard Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports.
"This is a big weekend for us. It's great to have a place in the Shootout and it would be really
cool to win that thing this year. We were awfully close last year. I've got to thank Richard
Freeman for putting up the money for the Shootout, but I sure would like to take him out first
round, too!
"The Shootout is exciting and we're going to give it our all, but our main focus is on Sunday. We
want to take over the points lead and that's what we're going after. We've got one race left after
this, and it sure would be nice to go into the World Finals as the points leader."
