Port Charlotte, Fla. - When Tommy D'Aprile zipped up his fire suit and strapped on his helmet at the beginning of the 2006 eMax Drag Racing series, he knew that his goals were set high. Some critics even dismissed the goal as lofty preseason banter.
Surely a rookie driver, in the highly competitive Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified series, couldn't qualify for a shootout race with only half of the opportunities as other teams. Technically, the critics were right. Unfortunately, it took Mother Nature and a postponed race to keep D'Aprile and the Even Knoll sponsored "Support Our Troops" Corvette from the Shootout.
In just five races, D'Aprile was able to race to the front of the pack, grab the current number five position in points and the provisional starting position in the Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout, just 10 points from a starting roll in the $51,000 challenge. "We're disappointed," commented D'Aprile. "We had the chance to get in there. I'm confident that we could have done it had Toronto not been rained out. But, the next best thing for us is to get the win for Quain." D'Aprile's teammate and car owner, Quain Stott is schedule to face Mike Janis in the first round of the shootout.
"We really wanted to get Tommy into the shootout and almost got it done in five races," added Stott. "I think they're having a great year already. He may not be in the shootout, but that may be the car to beat on Sunday."
D'Aprile will now steer the "Support or Troops", LeeBoy Equipment Corvette towards a bigger target, a shot at the championship. "Our other goal for this season was to finish in the top ten," said D'Aprile. Right now we're in a pretty good position (currently 5th). But, we can't take anything for granted. There's a bunch of cars piled up here between the first and fifth positions, anything less than going rounds for us will not be acceptable."
Qualifying for the 25th Annual Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals begins at the US 131 Motorsports Park on Friday, August 4, with eliminations beginning Sunday.
In just five races, D'Aprile was able to race to the front of the pack, grab the current number five position in points and the provisional starting position in the Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout, just 10 points from a starting roll in the $51,000 challenge. "We're disappointed," commented D'Aprile. "We had the chance to get in there. I'm confident that we could have done it had Toronto not been rained out. But, the next best thing for us is to get the win for Quain." D'Aprile's teammate and car owner, Quain Stott is schedule to face Mike Janis in the first round of the shootout.
"We really wanted to get Tommy into the shootout and almost got it done in five races," added Stott. "I think they're having a great year already. He may not be in the shootout, but that may be the car to beat on Sunday."
D'Aprile will now steer the "Support or Troops", LeeBoy Equipment Corvette towards a bigger target, a shot at the championship. "Our other goal for this season was to finish in the top ten," said D'Aprile. Right now we're in a pretty good position (currently 5th). But, we can't take anything for granted. There's a bunch of cars piled up here between the first and fifth positions, anything less than going rounds for us will not be acceptable."
Qualifying for the 25th Annual Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals begins at the US 131 Motorsports Park on Friday, August 4, with eliminations beginning Sunday.
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