Ontario Circuit Regulars Take GBM Titles

Sportsman racing action during last weekend’s IHRA Mopar Canadian Nitro Jam included very strong showings by Canadian based drivers.    London’s Jory Elliott and Tillsonburg’s Jamie Tupper being among them….

Elliott Takes “Project Car” to Winners Circle Again  

In a span of just nine days, Jory Elliott, driving his Super Stock A Modified, put new sponsor Project Track Champion in the Winner’s Circle twice, with the second of those victories coming this past weekend at the MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario where he took home the Ironman trophy for his triumph in Super Stock competition.
 
“It was a good feeling to get my first win last week in Napierville, but to come to my home track, at one of the biggest drag races in all of Canada and win is just unbelievable,” said an ecstatic Elliott.

Bob Elliott's understudy and son Jory won the IHRA Ironman on Sunday in Super Stock

 
With a little luck, and a deadly consistent race car, Jory and his father, who also serves as crew chief, navigated the field better than anyone on race day. “They say you have to get one lucky round to win one of these things and we definitely did in the first round on Saturday night. That was my first time ever racing with a blinder at night and I left on the second bulb. Luckily the guy in the other lane red-lighted first,” said Elliott. “I made a promise to myself right then and there that I wouldn’t let that happen again and that my driving wasn’t going to be the reason we went home without that trophy at the end of the weekend.”
 
For Elliott’s mother and father, Gloria and Bob, who are the namesake behind the legendary Northern Force team, this is the first IHRA national event victory, something that Elliott says was a goal of his from the time he took over driving duties in August of 2010. “The bottom line is I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for my parents and I’m so thankful to them for giving me this opportunity. I made it a personal goal when I got behind the wheel to not only represent my dad and his reputation in the sport as best I could, but also to get him and my mom a win that they had never been able to get in their five decades of racing.”
 
With the victory comes an invitation to the Summit Tournament of Champions in Memphis, Tennessee later this year, where the 2012 IHRA World Champion’s will be determined. “It still hasn’t sunk it that we get a chance to go and race for the world championship,” said Elliott. “I’m not even sure we can afford to make that trip with our budget pretty well used up for the year with the obligations we have to fulfill here, but we’re sure as heck gonna try and raise the money to get down there.”
 
The next event for the team and the final one on their planned 2012 schedule is August 4-5 at St Thomas Raceway Park where they will compete with the CAN-AM Stock/Super Stock Series.
 
For more information about Project Track Champion visit www.project-track-champion.com.
 
Photo by:  Dale Boeru 
 

Jamie Tupper wins TNT Super Series at Grand Bend 

29 of the best Sportsman racers in the northeast assembled on Friday at the Grand Bend Motorplex for a unique Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series event.

This is the second time that the 10.90 sportsman drag racing series has held an event as part of the IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals weekend.  Presented by Rosehill Auction House, the TNTSS event drew competitors from across Ontario and the north-eastern United States.

When the dust settled, it was Jamie Tupper from Tillsonburg, Ontario taking the victory and earning a spot in the Performance Improvements Race of Champions.

Jamie Tupper won the special Friday night TNT Super Series event

In round one on Friday night, Jamie defeated Paul “Racer” Brown who missed the tree and lost in a double breakout 10.901 to a 10.876.  Then George Mayer went red by .003 sending Jamie into round three where he faced Larry Pulver.  With only .004 separating them off the line, Jamie ran closer to the index at 10.929 to Larry’s 11.015.

In the semi’s, Jamie lined up against last year’s event winner Rob Holden.  Rob had a significant advantage off the line .010 to .047 however Jamie drove around him at the stripe running dead on 10.907 to Rob’s 10.957.

On the other side of the ladder, Sam LoVetro Jr was marching his way through the field defeating Rudy Matthews, Chris VanBaalen and Ted Barnes.

When the two met in the final round, Sam had the advantage on the tree with a .022 to a .068 reaction.  But Jamie ran on the good side of the index, taking the win with a 10.935 to Sam’s too fast 10.878.

“I want to thank my wife, Sheila for supporting me in my racing whether she can come with me or not,” said Jamie in the Grand Bend winner’s circle.  “Also Laura Shepherd for being a great pit crew on the weekend and Tom Coonly for helping me set the car up to run Hot Rod.”

Jamie was quick to thank series sponsor Joe Boniferro of Joe’s Transmission along with Mo and Joe Passero of Rosehill Auction House for presenting the race.

“We got lucky in the last round. The dew came in and the track went away,” Jamie added.

He then went on to win an Ironman in the Top Dragster class as well.  Jamie is no stranger to the winner’s circle with some of his biggest successes coming as multiple victories in the northern Ontario Show Me The Money tour.

Jamie’s car is a 2000 Corvette with a 565 Chevrolet for power.  “This was my first time racing this car in Hot Rod so it was exciting to get the win.  Thanks to Kerry Kershaw and all of my friends for their support and advice,” he added.  Jamie owns and operates J&S Collision and is a long-time supporter of the TNT Super Series.  J&S Collision has sponsored the closest to the index specialty award for years.

With seven races complete on the 2012 schedule, Chris VanBaalen now sits in the championship points lead with a 17 point margin ahead of second place Jon Jablonski.

The next stop on the 2012 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series schedule is St Thomas Raceway Park in Sparta, Ontario on Saturday and Sunday August 4-5.  Kevin Orr Mechanical is presenting a double race weekend including a special RACER BARBEQUE hosted by Laurie Orr on Saturday night. 

Visit www.tntsuperseries.com for full details.

Photo by:  Bryan “Pepe” Epps