FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tom Coonly wins Friday, Ken Jozwiak wins Saturday during TNT Super Series double at Dunn Tire Raceway Park

Pair of Nova's sweep one of the toughest TNT fields yet!

LANCASTER, NEW YORK (July 8, 2009)  The Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series proved why it is known as one of the toughest sportsman series around during this past weekend's pair of events at Dunn Tire Raceway Park (DTRP) in Lancaster, New York.  The two events in one weekend, presented by Steve's Electric Co, saw 24 racers and incredible levels of competition.  Friday's qualifying sheet saw five racers make dead-on 7.00 passes and Saturday had seven more.  Four of them were in the first session!

Friday Results

Tom Coonly of Blasdell, NY earned his way to the winner's circle on Saturday morning after a rain delay caused Friday night's track activities to be postponed. Qualifying sixth with a 7.010, Tom had his 1975 Chevy Nova set on kill as he marched through the field to win his first Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series event.

In round one, Tom coasted to a win with a 7.12 when Paul Cochi of Amherst, NY missed the tree.  Round two saw him meet Tillsonburg, Ontario's Jamie Tupper and Tom took the win light with a .522 reaction and 7.033 elapsed time to Jamie's losing .493 red light and 6.994.  Third round pairing was Gary Kerl of Williamsville, NY and even though Gary tried his best with a .512 tree, his 6.962 breakout was no match for Tom's .515 light and 7.024 package.

In the semi-finals, Tom faced Ken Jozwiak of Alden, NY.  But Ken red-lighted his chances away with a .499 bulb so Tom aired it out the back door running a 6.986.

In the final round Tom faced number one qualifier and always tough competitor Bill Elekes of West Seneca, NY.  Almost dead even of the line (.537 to .536), Tom took the stripe first with a 7.014 to Bill's 7.050 effort.

This victory moves Tom up to fourth in the 2009 Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series standings.  "I gotta thank Jeff Gregoire and Jamie Stoneman," commented Tom in the DTRP winner's circle.  "It was a long off season making one or two changes to the car.  Between their advice, several thousand hits on the practice tree with JJ (Jablonski) and the helmet slaps in the lanes from Jamie, things finally paid off."  Tom was also quick to thank Jim, John and Dan Flanigan for roping him into drag racing ten years ago.  "And thanks to Joe's Transmission and all the TNT sponsors for giving us an amazing series to race in."

Tom has owned his 1975 Chevy Nova for two years now.  It's powered by a 461 big block Chevrolet backed with a powerglide transmission.  "I also have to thank Phil's Auto, Bison Powerwashing and Gillogly Chevrolet for the time off work.  This was my first win and to get a win in a series as competitive as this one is awesome!"

Specialty Awards - Friday

• Hoosier Tire Canada $50 certificate - Number One Qualifier
  • Bill Elekes (West Seneca, NY) with a perfect 7.000
• J&S Collision $50 - Closest to the Index (1st Round Loser)
  • Steve McCarrick (Phelps, NY) with a 7.005
• Dunn Tire Raceway Park FREE PASS - Best Reaction Time (1st Round Loser)
  • Jeff Sobczynski (Depew, NY) with a .512

Saturday Results

Saturday's event saw the series' first-ever event winner return to the TNT winner's circle.  Ken Jozwiak of Alden, NY who took the inaugural TNT race back in the summer of 2006 returned to victory with his 1969 Chevy Nova by defeating Jim Flanigan of Holland, NY by the smallest of margins - a mere .001 seconds.

Qualifying seventeenth, Ken faced Oakland, Ontario's David Surmatchewski in round one.  Ken had him covered on both ends of the 1/8 mile with a .515 light to a .522 and a 7.010 to Dave's 7.037.  Round two on the ladder put him up against number one qualifier Sam Lovetro Jr of Webster, NY.  An uncharacteristically late bulb for Sam at .565 was no match for Ken's .533.  Even Sam's near perfect 7.008 elapsed time wasn't enough to recover and Ken took full advantage, running a 7.029 and turning on the win light with a .011 margin of victory.

Round three saw the race day of Jason Vitez from Elma, NY come to an end when Ken put a .012 package on the board.  Ken cut down the tree with a .509 and ran a dead-on 7.003 to Jason's .537 and valiant 6.989 effort.

Semi-final pairing was Paul Young of Alden, NY who has been charging up the points standings in recent weeks.  Even though the advantage on the tree went to Paul with a .509 to a .534, it was Ken at the stripe with a 7.009 to Paul's losing 7.055.

In the final round, Ken met up with Jim Flanigan who was in his first ever TNT final.  And in the closest finish in the history of Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series final rounds, Ken took the win by .001 seconds with a .533 light and 7.038 ET to Jim's .526 reaction and 7.046 pass.

"I would like to thank my wife Stacey, my two daughters Morgan (5 yrs) and Sarah (7 mths) and my dad & mom," said Ken.  "And Eaton Aeroquip, Scott Jahren Paint and Jan-Cen Racing Engines for all their help.  I also want to thank Joe's Transmission and Steve's Electric for making this racing possible."

Ken has been racing for 15 years with this same car.  The 1969 Nova has a 496 big block Chevrolet with Dart heads and a Quick Fuel alcohol dominator making 832 hp.  "The TNT Series has a great bunch of racers in it," Ken continued.  "They are tough racers, putting up some very stout numbers in this series.  There were a half dozen dead-on 7.00 second runs in qualifying both days I believe, and that is unreal."

Specialty Awards - Saturday

• Hoosier Tire Canada $50 certificate - Number One Qualifier
  • Sam Lovetro Jr (Webster NY) with a 7.001
• J&S Collision $50 - Closest to the Index (1st Round Loser)
  • Dan Nealen (Williamsville NY) with a 7.017
• Dunn Tire Raceway Park FREE PASS - Best Reaction Time (1st Round Loser)
  • Kirk Parry (North Tonawanda NY) with a perfect .500

The 2009 Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series points chase now has 8 of 12 events complete.  The series takes a rest for a few weeks until Friday August 21 at Dunn Tire Raceway Park in Lancaster, New York and then to Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park on Saturday September 5 and Sunday September 6.  Visit www.tntsuperseries.com for all the details.

Current Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series Points Standings (Top 10)

About the 2009 TNT Super Series:

The Joe’s Transmission TNT Hot Rod Super Series is based on NHRA’s Super Street & IHRA’s Hot Rod classes.  The twelve event series runs on a 10.90 index in the 1/4 mile (7.00 in the 1/8 mile), guarantees a minimum of $500 for an event win, pays round money for EVERY round win, has contingency sponsors, event specialty awards and offers lucrative yearend rewards.  There are only two exceptions to the rulebook - no weight minimum and left-hand drive open-bodied cars are allowed.

Joe’s Transmission has been in business in Niagara Falls, Ontario since 1984.  They sell & install high performance parts & accessories however their specialty is building & repairing high performance transmissions.  Contact Joe and his team at (905) 374-6116 or visit them online at www.joestransmission.com

$50 event entry (plus spectator fee paid upon entry to track)

with more than 100% payback!

For complete TNT Super Series information including current news and driver profiles, visit www.tntsuperseries.com

photo credits - Dale Boeru, Ted Barnes

For more information, please contact:

Lewis Robinson

Media Relations Director

lewis@tntsuperseries.com

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