EPPING, N.H. — Last season Bobby Lagana, Jr. won his second career IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Top Fuel event at New England Dragway, claiming a final-round victory over his drag-racing mentor and idol, Chris Karamesines.
This year, the opponent was different, but the outcome was the same after a finals victory over T.J. Zizzo Sunday during the Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers.
Other professional winners included Dale Creasy, Jr. (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car) and Frank Gugliotta (Pro Stock).
Lagana carded a 4.980 at 285.23 miles per hour to secure the win over Zizzo, who ran a 5.714 at 171.93. Despite losing, Zizzo leaves the race No. 1 in the point chase over Bruce Litton.
“I really just wanted to qualify so we could come out here and have some fun on Sunday,” said Lagana. “My dad, he came down to top-end crying. He was so happy. Problem is, now he wants to take a lap in the car.”
Mike Smith’s Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car debut was a success, but in the end he came up just short. Smith fell to Creasy, Jr., the defending world champion, with the Ironman on the line. Creasy took a free run down the quarter-mile strip when Smith broke after his burnout and could not get his car into gear.
Mark Thomas advanced to his fifth final round of the campaign and built his national points lead by topping Rob Atchison in the final. Atchison did defeat Paul Noakes, whom he fell to in the last two national events, in the semifinal but could not get past Thomas in the money run. Atchison is now second in the points, trailing Thomas.
Mike Janis claimed his 16th career Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified Ironman, his first of the season, by stopping defending world champion Quain Stott in the final round. Notably the Pro Modified field proved diversity is back in the class as seven of the 16-car field were nitrous-powered entries.
Janis won by clocking a 6.087 at 235.64 mph after setting the world speed record earlier in the event with a 240.21 pass.
Frank Gugliotta continued his march toward the top of the national points standings, winning his second-consecutive national event. Gugliotta, who defeated Larry O’Brien in the final round last weekend in Martin, topped current points leader Robert Patrick in the final round in Epping.
Gugliotta carded a 6.417 at 220.22 mph to defeat the red-lighting Patrick.