PRO STOCK SHOWDOWN

There aren't many titles that Steve Spiess hasn't accumulated in this season of dreams, and he was sure not to let the title of Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown Champion escape him either. Spiess earned a cool $20,000 in extra spending money when he defeated fellow Illinois racer, Tony Gillig in the final round of Saturday's showdown.

"We definitely wanted the win tonight," Spiess said, "besides it is twice the money from an event win. This is something I've never conquered and it is a stepping stone among all of the accomplishments we have had already this year."

Spiess, the unofficial Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock World Champion, has seen his fair share of final rounds during the 2006 season, but the pressure associated with the finals of the showdown did not affect the newly crowned champion.

"I was cool as a cucumber most of the day today," Spiess admitted. "Sure I wanted to win, and we went out there and did it. I ran a 6.40 every time I went out there today; the car was running like a bracket car."

In order to qualify, Spiess grabbed six No. 1 qualifying spots along the way, which helped him to earn the No. 1 seed in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown. The pairing had him running the No. 8 qualifier, John Montecalvo in round one.

Without question, Montecalvo headed into the round knowing that he did not have horsepower that would rival that of Spiess. Montecalvo made a valiant effort off the starting line by earning a .011 light to Spiess' .066, but it wasn't enough to sustain the lead. Spiess capitalized on the power difference and scored the win with a 6.406, 216.97 run.

In a symbolic passing of the torch, Spiess was paired with 2004 Pro Stock World Champion, John Nobile in the semi-finals. Nobile was prepared to fight until the end for his chance to go to the finals in the showdown, but Spiess had different plans. Despite Nobile's better light (.056 to a .069), Spiess was able to fall back on the muscle that has powered him throughout the season and record a 6.403,215.86 run, which overshadowed Nobile's 6.474,215.31 pass.

On the opposite side of the ladder, Tony Gillig was busy knocking down the giants that stood before him. Entering the showdown in the No. 7 spot, he was the underdog in every round leading up to the finals. But Gillig had upset written all over his day, as his first opponent was No. 2 qualifier Robert Patrick.