For years the drivers of the quickest and fastest Pro Stock cars in the world have went head-to-head in some sort of shootout during the season to determine the best of the best in mountain motor Pro Stock racing.
Since the inception of the class nearly four decades ago it has become tradition to pair many of the best drivers in a playoff-style shootout with the winner taking home their share of a lucrative purse and bragging rights for the entire year.
And while this year seems no different than any other, you can’t help but get the feeling that something stands out about this year’s event.
Maybe it is the near record season that has seen six different winners in seven races, maybe it is the rivalry that has developed between many of the competitors and maybe it is the involvement and sponsorship of the shootout by the biggest race team in the IHRA.
Whatever the reason, it is perfectly clear that this year the stakes are higher than ever.
“It has definitely been a crazy year with a lot of great racing. It’s going to be a good fight,” said John Montecalvo. “I have a great team and I know we have what it takes to win this thing. Right now all eyes are on Frank. I can’t wait to get to Maryland.”
This year, the Elite 8 Pro Stock Shootout is sponsored by Elite Motorsports and will have a $40,000 purse up for grabs. Teams have been accumulating shootout points since the season opener in Baton Rouge with the cutoff to qualify coming last weekend at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals.
Points are based solely off of qualifying creating quite a jumble in the Shootout standings compared to the championship standings.
“I think the Elite 8 Shootout is a great deal and I look forward to being a part of this for years to come,” said Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman. “The whole field is competitive so it should make for one hell of a shootout.”
This year’s Elite 8 Pro Stock Shootout will take place during Saturday’s “Night of Fire” at the IHRA President’s Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway the weekend of September 25-27.
Drivers will be placed on a bracket based on points with the winner taking home a cool $20,000 thanks to the IHRA’s incredible partnership with Elite Motorsports.
Topping the charts heading into Maryland is two-time world champion Pete Berner.
Ironically, in a field set on qualifying Berner has not qualified first all season long, but an incredible 3.1 qualifying average places him first on the ladder. In seven races Berner has qualified second three times and has never qualified lower than sixth.
And he will certainly be considered a favorite entering the event with two national event wins coming at Maryland International Raceway in 2004 and 2007.
Just behind him is the man who is also leading the Pro Stock championship standings Frank Gugliotta. Thanks to two pole positions and five starts inside the top three through seven races, Gugliotta will be placed second on the ladder.
Gugliotta, who is also a member of the three-car Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team along with Freeman and J.R. Carr, admits that he doesn’t mind taking a little extra money from his team owner. Gugliotta, who lives in Mt. Airy, also looks forward to representing his home state at the event.
“I first want to thank Richard for putting up the money – I can’t wait to get in his pocket,” Gugliotta said. “It is very close between the top four or five people compared to years past. This year will be a dogfight, that much is certain. I can’t wait to get down to Budds Creek and put on a great show.”
An average qualifying position of 3.7 gives Gugliotta the second spot. He is also the only driver with repeat victories this year, but two first round losses in the last three races has seen him take a bit of a hit in the championship standings.
Just behind Gugliotta is the surprise of the field, rookie driver Mark Martino.
In his first year on the tour, Martino has surprised everyone with three semifinal appearances and an impressive 7-7 win-loss record, but it is his consistency in qualifying that places him third on the ladder.
Martino averages a 4.7 qualifying spot and is coming off of his first pole position of the year at New Hampshire. But he isn’t just fast on Saturday, as evident by his sixth place spot in the championship standings with two races remaining.
“We are excited to be a part of it, but we actually kind of surprised that we qualified third for it,” Martino said. “Our big intention this year was just to get the car qualified and we have done just that. Ever since we brought Eric Luzinski on board back in June we haven’t qualified any lower than fifth.
“It is hard to describe the year we have had. My whole crew has been busting their butts this year and working hard. Sitting sixth shows the effort we have made. Going against the big teams will be tough, but no matter what happens we will still consider this a great year.”
Rounding out the top half of the bracket is the man who is No. 2 in points John Montecalvo. Montecalvo is just 19 points behind Gugliotta in the championship standings, but a bit of inconsistency in qualifying places him fourth on the ladder.
Rounding out the rest of the Elite 8 Shootout qualifiers are Freeman, most recent national event winner Bob Bertsch, Carr and Cary Goforth.
In the opening round Berner will be matched up with Goforth, Gugliotta will face teammate Carr, Martino will have Bertsch and Montecalvo will square off with Freeman.
“Anybody can win this thing. Just look at Bob who came out of nowhere to win at New Hampshire. Everybody has raised their level of racing and that is the reason it is so close,” Freeman said. “That is the thing that attracts me and my group to racing. It is just fun to go up against so many talented racers. I can’t wait to get down there and get going.”
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