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IHRA: Montecalvo Proves to be the Top Chevrolet in Darlington

10 May 1999

DARLINGTON, SC-- In a sea of Blue Oval competition, John Montecalvo flew the Bowtie Banner proudly. The veteran Pro Stock racer from Center Moriches, N.Y., waded through a stout field of Pro Stock competition to finish as a semi-finalist at the rain-delayed IHRA Prolong Winter Nationals in Darlington, SC. He went one round in competition further than any GM Pro Stocker at the event.

Montecalvo posted a 6.66/207.91 and that was good enough for the fifth position in the record-setting sixteen car field.

He used a 6.731/205.82 to easilly squelch the efforts of fellow Chevrolet pilot Tim Nabors. He then used the momentum to outreact Steve Speiss and won by a 6.760/204.94 to 6.756/205.04 margin.

Montecalvo knew that he needed to gain momentum out of the gate against a quicker and faster Ford driven by Chris Holbrook. His gamble bit him as his Monte Carlo lit the redlight and handed the automatic victory to Holbrook.

The next event for the Citgo team will be the IHRA Amalie Oil Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill., on June 18-20. Montecalvo, along with the rest of the Pro Stock contingent, will take assault on the Cordova Raceway Park racing surface for the fourth professional race on the IHRA/Snap-On Tools Championship Series. Each contestant will be afforded two qualifying attempts on Friday and another two on Saturday. Final eliminations are slated to begin on Sunday.

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