EDMONTON, Alberta — Veteran racer Terry McMillen defeated first-time Top Fuel competitor Jeff O’Neill during the CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Racing Fuels. Both competitors came to Castrol Raceway seeking their first Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam victories.
Other professional winners included Terry Haddock (Nitro Funny Car), Ed Hoover (Pro Modified), Mark Thomas (Alcohol Funny Car) and Robert Patrick (Pro Stock).
McMillen, who entered Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel eliminations as the No. 7 qualifier, ran a 4.953 in round one to take out Mike Strasburg. His semifinal opponent was teammate Doug Foley, who had just dispatched Bruce Litton. Foley was No. 1 qualifier and had the event low e.t. of 4.581. However, in round two, Foley shook the tires at half-track, and McMillen took the stripe to advance to the finals.
O’Neill had a tough road to the finals as well. He took out point-leader T.J. Zizzo in round one with a 4.678, then Scotty Cannon with a 4.951, clocking impressive reaction times in each race.
Again in the final, O’Neill had the advantage off the line, but it wasn’t enough as McMillen took the stripe and won the race with a 4.729/291.
 “It’s just an unbelievable feeling to win this race,” said McMillen. “I’ve always said Edmonton is one of my favorite tracks. To come out here and win it is an awesome deal. Perseverance by the Torco team was a major factor today. We went out there and got it done. I just can’t say enough about my team, Evan Knoll (sponsor), Tim Lewis and Doug Foley (team co-owners).”
Haddock used a final-round 5.104 e.t. to take out current Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car point-leader Dale Creasy, Jr. in the final round. Creasy had a slight starting-line advantage but smoked the tires, and that was enough hand Haddock his first-career victory.
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified competitor Hoover took out former world champion Mike Castellana, low-qualifier Kenny Lang and winner of the last IHRA event Pat Stoken to advance to the finals against Carl Spiering, who was making his IHRA debut this season. Hoover left the starting line second but out-hustled Spiering in a great side-by-side race down the track. At the stripe it was Hoover winning his second Nitro Jam event of the season.
Thomas, the defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion, made it four final rounds in as many races and won his second event of the season. Entering the race with a 17-point lead, he advanced to the finals, defeating hometown favorite John Evanchuk in round one and Terry Munroe in round two. Thomas then defeated a red-lighting Roger Bateman for the victory, increasing his point-lead in the class.
Patrick ran a 6.418 to Pete Berner’s 6.419 in the finals to take the victory.