Creasy motors into Milan looking for improvement and remembers a friend

BEECHER, Ill. - With the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series just past the half way point, Dale Creasy Jr. and his Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny car head into the Suzuki Motor City Nationals determined to find a better outcome than last season.

Creasy recalls last years event where he qualified third among an impressive field of his peers. Fourteen Nitro Funny Cars attempted to qualify for the eight car field. Creasy would bow out in the first round to Vinny Arcadi. "We need to do a little better this year," Creasy said of his 2006 performance. "We just want to keep moving forward. We'll have Steve (Creasy) back this weekend, so we'll be ready to go."

The first round loss from 2006 brings back memories for Creasy. It was the last time that he would face Vinny Arcadi in head to head competition. Arcadi would finish his career best season fourth in IHRA points before losing a battle with cancer later that same year. "Vinny was a good guy," Creasy remembered. "He had a great season that was full of excitement. He set the track record in Edmonton while skinning the wall. Then he comes to Milan takes us out the first round and then burnt his car to the ground in the semi-finals. It was a close loss to Doug Kalitta. We all miss Vinny, but we'll never forget him."

Creasy will pair up with friend Terry McMillen for a Thursday morning radio appearance on WDTW, The Fox. Lucky listeners will have a chance to win tickets to the Nitro Pit Party that includes lunch with McMillen and a behind the scene tour of the Creasy Family Motorsports operation. "We've had a lot of fun bringing these winners into our pits," Creasy said. "The cool part about the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam is that every ticket gets fans access to the pits. This just gets these fans right in there. They're right there with us while we're working on the car. It's a pretty cool experience."

Qualifying for the Suzuki City Motor City Nationals begins Friday, September 24 and is followed by two more qualifying rounds on Saturday before Sunday eliminations.

Dale Creasy, Jr. and his championship Torco powered Nitro Funny Car, partner with high quality and performance companies like; Torco Race Fuels, Oakley, Red Line Oil, MSD, Crane Cams, BME, Fram Autolite, Polydyn TX7, TEK PAK, VSI, GM Performance and Beaver Shredding.