Jones pilots new Cobalt into spotlight
(8-24-2005) NORWALK, OH - With all of the attention being focused on Steve Spiess and his Chevy Cobalt these days, it was easy for Rick Jones to sneak into the spotlight with his Cobalt as well.
Jones, a chassis builder out of Illinois, is responsible for building the Cobalt that Spiess has been rewriting the record books with. And at the recently completed Northern Nationals, both Spiess and Jones faced off in the final round. For Jones the situation couldn't have been any better than to have two of his Cobalt's running side-by-side in the championship round.
Spiess and Jones are not the only two Cobalts that are sitting in the 2005 Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown field, as longtime bow-tie driver, John Montecalvo is currently ranked fifth in the showdown standings. Spiess in the No. 1 spot and Jones in the No. 8 position, cap both ends of the hopeful contingent.
Robert Patrick's consistent performances throughout the season have him sitting securely in the No. 2 spot, while reigning World Champion, John Nobile, is battling for the No. 3 slot.
Former shootout winner, Frank Gugliotta is hoping to get another shot at the prize money in 2005. Known also as the "Flying Meatball" Gugliotta is currently No. 4 in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown standings.
Pete Berner and Tony Gillig round out the tentative field in the No. 6 and No. 7 spots.
The current standings for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown are as follows:
1. Steve Spiess
2. Robert Patrick
3. John Nobile
4. Frank Gugliotta
5. John Montecalvo
6. Pete Berner
7. Tony Gillig
8. Rick Jones
9. Brian Gahm
10. Jerry Haas
As qualifying gets underway at the Torco – Skull Gear World Nationals, drivers in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock class will have the opportunity to earn qualifying points towards the showdown when action gets underway at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 26th.
Participants in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown began earning points for this year's contest at the 2004 Amalie Oil Northern Nationals. The culmination of their qualifying efforts for the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown will be contested in Budds Creek, Md., during the Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals.
Torco Race Fuels also presented a total bonus of $1,000 to the top four qualifiers in the Pro Modified Shootout. Based on final qualifying position the No. 1 qualifier received $400 followed by $300 for No. 2, $200 for No. 3, and $100 for No. 4.
The winner of the shootout will receive $20,000, while the runner-up is set to obtain $9,000. Semi-finalists will pocket $2,500 and the quarter-finalists will net $1,500 each.
For more information on Torco Race Fuels or the Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock Showdown, Please contact Torco Race Fuels Competitionplus.com via Paula Motolik at (440) 221-9164.
Photo courtesy of Competition Plus
