Tom Coonly takes TNT Super Series to Rockingham's IHRA Tournament of Champions

WNY racer all set for shot at world championship!

BLASDELL, NEW YORK (April 26, 2010)

Tom Coonly of Blasdell, New York is a qualifier for the 2009 IHRA Tournament of Champions (TOC) in the Hot Rod class.  It's been a long winter since the first attempt at the TOC race was rained out last fall and Tom is ready to make the trip back to "The Rock" for his shot at a world title.  The event, which will determine the 2009 IHRA sportsman world champions, has been re-scheduled to Apr 30-May 2 at the Rockingham, North Carolina IHRA Nitro Jam.

Tom qualified for the TOC at last August's Pittsburgh Sportsman National and gives a bunch of the credit to the Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series.  A regular in the series, Tom scored two final round appearances in 2009 and finished fifth in the overall TNT points chase out of 47 competitors.  "Having a competitive series so close to home helps keep me fresh and also gets me dialed in for all sorts of weather conditions," commented Tom.

As for the trip to Rockingham, the Nova is all set.  "We had Jan-Cen Motorsports (Elma, NY) freshen the engine.  There were alot of runs on that piece.  I mean ALOT of runs.  And Wayne Sipos looked at the rest of the driveline so with everything fresh, I expect the car will pick up a bit," he added.  "I've been hitting the practice tree trying to knock the rust off myself after a long winter."  In fact, Tom was seen testing already this spring at Norwalk Raceway and Empire Dragway.

Tom wanted to thank everyone involved in his racing operation.  "I wouldn't even be this far if it wasn't for Jeff Gregoire.  I owe him alot!"  Sponsors on the 1975 Chevy Nova include Phil's Quality Auto, Gillogly Resale & Trailer Sales and Bison Power Washing.

The Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series for 2010 kicks off Friday May 14th at Dunn Tire Raceway Park in Lancaster, NY and then to Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario for May 22-23rd.  Be sure to visit www.tntsuperseries.com for the latest in series news and 2010 rule updates.