Gugliotta, who most recently won at Budds Creek, started off
slow, but found the right combination to get his third event
win of the season. He is known for his late season surges.
"The Rock has not been good to me," Gugliotta explained.
"I've never had any luck here. We struggled Friday night
and Saturday and the first round (Sunday) morning. We pulled
a clutch out of the box and got lucky, pulling a .38 and said,
'Alright, maybe we can play ball today.'"
Gugliotta got the final round win over Patrick. "Records
are nice," Gugliotta said, "But I really like the
wins. You don't get an Ironman for the numbers."
Taking the No. 1 qualifying position at Rockingham also gave
Spiess the lead in points for the 2006 Torco Race Fuels Pro
Stock Showdown. Going into next season, the top ten also include:
2. John Nobile; 3.Rick Jones; 4. Jerry Haas; 5. Robert Patrick;
6. Frank Gugliotta; 7. Dan Seamon; 8. Brian Gahm; 9. Toiny
Gillig; and 10. Pete Berner. The 2006 Showdown will be hel
during the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals held
Sept. 22-24 in Budds Creek, MD.
FUNNY CAR
The most dramatic finish of all, however, was that provided
by Canadian Rob Atchison. In danger of losing his championship
to New York's Jim Sickles, who had won three consecutive races
leading into the World Finals, Atchison responded by winning
for the first time at Rockingham, a track on which he historically
had struggled.
In addition, he lowered the national record to 5.685 seconds,
becoming the first IHRA Funny Car driver to break the 5.70
barrier. The win and record sealed a third consecutive championship
for the veteran from London, Ontario.
Asked about his plans for 2006, Atchison said, "We've
got tons of tricks left. We've just gotten started."
PHOTO EXTRA
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