GRAND BEND, Ontario — Scotty Cannon made his money in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class, winning a record 28 national events and taking home six world championships. At the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam event Sunday at Grand Bend Motorplex, Cannon was able to win another Ironman, but it was unlike any of his previous ones.
Cannon stepped into Top Fuel this season, driving Evan Knoll’s ’06 Hadman dragster.
Sunday, during the Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol, he was able to break through and head back to the IHRA winner’s circle for the first time in 10 years by stopping Jim Cavaleri in the final round. Cannon clocked a 4.967 at 293.92 miles per hour to better Cavaleri’s 5.071 at 256.06.
“I really have to thank the Canadian fans,” Cannon said. “They were just incredible. It’s been 10 years since I’ve won one of these, but this win was just as sweet as the last one.”
Last season, Dale Creasy, Jr. won his first national event when he knocked off Bob Gilbertson in the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car final at the Mopar Canadian Nationals. That victory started a journey for Creasy that ended with his capturing the Nitro Funny Car world championship.
One year later, Creasy was back in the winner’s circle at Grand Bend Motorplex after defeating first-time finals participant Mitch King. It was Creasy’s fifth national victory and kept him in the lead in the season championship point chase.
Ray Commisso pulled off an upset when he drove his brand-new 1967 Camaro to a Pro Modified victory. He was able to get past Mike Janis in the final round to become the second-consecutive No. 13 qualifier to post a triumph on the Nitro Jam tour. Commisso blew up after crossing the finish line, but that didn’t matter as he got to the stripe before Janis.
 Paul Noakes won the battle of local talent when he knocked off Rob Atchison in the Alcohol Funny Car final. Noakes, a school teacher from London, Ontario, defeated three-time world champion Atchison by running a clean 5.947 at 241.50 mph. Atchison posted a 6.024 at 242.41.
Steve Spiess, the 2005 Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock world champion, won a Nitro Jam national event for the first time since the 2005 Skull Gear World Nationals when he defeated Frank Gugliotta in the final round at the Mopar Canadian Nationals. Spiess carded a 6.389 at 219.22 mph to claim the championship against Gugliotta, who lifted out of the run.