Top Dragster driver bests large field at TMP's Cayuga Dragway
CAYUGA, ONTARIO (May 23, 2010) - In the first Quick 32 Sportsman Series event presented by NAPA Auto Parts of 2010, Paolo Giust bested a large field to win in his Top Dragster.
"This has been an awesome day," said Giust, who is from Osgoode, Ontario. "We were having some starter problems earlier, but the car was deadly consistent. It has been a great day."
The event was round one of the 2010 series, held at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario.Giust won the Quick 32 Sportsman Series final round over the Top Sportsman car of Steve Corriveau of Smithville, Ontario, 7.019 at 184.75 mph over the 7.707, 173.32 run of Corriveau. Both drivers recorded identical 0.036 reaction times for the final round.
Giust won the Top Dragster final in his 2009 Race Tech entry over Jim Rubino of Buffalo, New York, in his Bos dragster with a 6.97-second pass over Rubino's 7.017. Corriveau defeated 2002 Cavalier driver Bill Wilson of Ingersoll, Ontario, 7.536 to 7.360 by virtue of Corriveau's 7.51 dial-in against Wilson's 7.360 dial-in.
In the Top Dragster semi-finals, Scott Wildgust of Wartburg, Ontario lost to Rubino, and Jamie Tupper of Tillsonburg, Ontario lost to Giust. On the Top Sportsman side, Wilson took out Steve Parkhurst of Belleville, Ontario, and Phil Sampson lost to Corriveau.
The opening event saw a record number of entries in both the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman divisions, with 18 Top Dragsters and 19 Top Sportsman cars on hand vying for the top 16 on each side.
Johnny Hipwell of Fonthill, Ontario won the $600.00 first prize for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Consolation Race for non-qualifiers that offers a guaranteed payout at each Quick 32 Sportsman Series event.
Another record that was broken was a new low time at a Quick 32 Sportsman Series race. The Top Dragster Series record of 6.191 seconds by Todd Hope of Norwich, Ontario in his dragster was lowered by former Alcohol Funny Car driver Paul Noakes of London, Ontario, who set a new benchmark of 6.048-seconds to qualify number one and winning the $500.00 Marydel Homes – qualifying and record setting bonus. Noakes' car was essentially his former Funny Car wrapped in a 1948 Fiat body and ran in the Top Dragster class.Although Noakes qualified number one in the 16-car field, he was eliminated in first round action as he broke out, giving the win to Bill Moloughney of Shawville, Quebec. Others who were taken out in the first round were Melanie Simmons of Orillia, Ontario, Sam Christian of Kenmore, New York, Jamie Bridge of Napanee, Ontario, Jim Flannigan of Holland, New York, Michael Hinbest of Orangeville, Ontario, Buddy Forrest of Rochester, New York, and Tony Positano of Toronto, Ontario. First round winners included Gary Basaraba of Sudbury, Ontario, Michael Kalin of Youngstown, New York, and Mitch Elliot of Woodstock, Ontario.
On the Top Sportsman side, again number one qualifier and winner of the Marydel Homes Qualifying Bonus, Ray Leyton of Alberta, was taken out in the first round, as well as Jeff Gabel of Stratford, Ontario, 2009 Quick 32 Sportsman Series Champion Kevin Wicke, also of Stratford, Don Nelson of Villa Nova, Ontario, Spencer Hyde of Stratford, Darren Grubb of Kincardine, Ontario, Doug Cadman of Courtland, Ontario, and Mike Digby of Stirling, Ontario.
Advancing to the second round were Tom Bene of Smithville, Ontario, Dan Aitken Jr of Belle River, Ontario, Tom Orr of Shawville, Quebec, and Darryl McMillen of Kincardine, Ontario.
Eric Latino of Port Perry, Ontario won the opening round of the 2010 Pro Modified Racing Association season over Derek Hawker of Corbyville Ontario.
