Billy Ryan and Dave Gunn – TNT Super Series Winners at Cayuga

First time TNTSS win for both drivers gets them into the REVS Full Throttle Powersports Race of Champions!

CAYUGA, ON – This past weekend saw a terrific show in the opening rounds of the 2016 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series. Billy Ryan from Marion, New York and Dave Gunn from Hamilton, Ontario each took their first win in the extremely popular sportsman series. Jan-Cen Motorsports support helped draw 27 cars into the water box for round one.

Billy Ryan – photog Stacee RichardsSaturday May 21 – Results

The Hoosier Tire Canada #1 Qualifier Award went to Art Jones who posted a 10.903 to nail top spot. Jones then marched through the field to the final where he faced Billy Ryan.

Ryan’s trip to the final saw him defeat Dave Gunn in round one where his .004 tree made easy work. Tom Reed went red to him in round two and in round three, Ryan took .005 at the stripe to put Alex Lepp in the trailer.

Semi-final action had Ryan up against former TNTSS champion Dave Surmatchewski. Ryan was .018 on the tree and ran 10.908 pushing Surmatchewski under to 10.886.

In the money round, Ryan left green with an .020 and Jones right behind him at .031. On the big end, Ryan took the win in a double breakout, running 10.898 to Jones’ 10.859.

“I would like to thank my family, the D’Agnolo family, Ken Jones Carburetors and Abruzzi Converters,” said Ryan after his first win in TNTSS competition. He also was promoting #forwesley. “My buddy Wesley Hawkins is battling cancer. This win is for him.”

Ryan also thanked Jan-Cen Motorsports for presenting the weekend and Joe’s Transmission for sponsoring the series.

“On Sunday morning, I woke up to a flat tire. Turns out I was running on the cords on Saturday night!” he added.

Ryan’s 1995 Pontiac Grand Am is powered by a 331 small block Chevrolet and can run 9.84.

Specialty Awards – Saturday

Hoosier Tire Canada $100 certificate – Number One Qualifier
Art Jones (Webster, NY) with a 10.903
J&S Collision $50 cash – Closest to the Index (1st Round Loser)
Ron D’Alessandro (West Seneca, NY) with a 10.909
VP Fuels $50 certificate – Best Losing Package
2nd Round – Matt Costabile (Cayuga, Ontario)
3rd Round – Steve McCarrick (Phelps, NY)

Dave Gunn – photog Stacee RichardsSunday May 22 – Results

On Sunday, Ron D’Alessandro found the tune and shot to the top of the list with a 10.903 qualifier to claim the $100 Hoosier Tire Canada certificate..

This day, it was Dave Gunn’s turn. He once again faced Billy Ryan in round one. Both drivers set on kill, Gunn went trip zip on the tree to Ryan’s .004 and won in a double breakout.

In round two, Gunn was .008 to Ryan Boniferro’s .010 and again won on a double breakout. Next was the bye where Gunn kept drilling the tree with a .001.

Kevin Orr went red in the semi’s and Gunn drove it out to a 10.890, advancing to the final. There he faced Jim Thomson who was just a bit too quick and went .002 red, handing the win to Gunn.

“First of all, I would like to thank Ted Barnes for running such a great series,” said Gunn. “Also Joe Boniferro of Joe’s Transmission for sponsoring the series since inception and Charlene Lepp for coordinating all aspects of the series this weekend.”

Gunn was quick to thank his wife Glenna for as he puts it, “letting me do what I love to do, racing, these past 31 years”.

“I would also like to thank my sponsors, long time friend Mark Lawrence at Gary’s Transmission, St. Ann’s, Ontario and Matt Devries of Matt’s Auto Service, St. Ann’s, Ontario.”

“It’s been a pleasure and a lot of fun racing this series with such a great group of guys,” he added. “In my 39 years of racing, I enjoy this series the most as the competition is fierce and friendly.”

Dave went on to mention our thoughts are with Wayne Sipos, a long time TNTSS competitor and friend. Wayne suffered a serious on-track incident on Saturday. He is well but his ’59 Corvette is not.

Specialty Awards – Sunday

Hoosier Tire Canada $100 certificate – Number One Qualifier
Ron D’Alessandro (West Seneca, NY) with a 10.903
J&S Collision $50 cash – Closest to the Index (1st Round Loser)
Kirk Parry (North Tonawanda, NY) with a 10.909
VP Fuels $50 certificate – Best Losing Package
2nd Round – Ron D’Alessandro (West Seneca, NY)
3rd Round – Bill Elekes (West Seneca, NY)

To learn more about the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series and how you can become a part of it, visit www.tntsuperseries.com or www.facebook.com/TNTSuperSeries and sign up for the mailing list.

About the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series (TNTSS):

Since it began in 2006, the TNT Super Series has grown into one of the strongest, most competitive sportsman drag racing series in North America and has catapulted many competitors to success on the national and divisional stages.

The TNTSS is a self-governing organization with input from its teams. Based on NHRA’s Super Street & IHRA’s Hot Rod classes, competitors run on a 10.90 index in the 1/4 mile (7.00 in the 1/8 mile) and race for a guaranteed purse that pays back more than 100% of the racer’s entry fees. The yearend points fund provides cash & prizes to the top eight finishers and the Series Champion receives a prize package worth over $4000.00.

The TNTSS is committed to providing the highest level of competition backed by solid media support to showcase its participants across North America. Events are contested at various drag racing facilities in southern Ontario and western New York and put on a spectacular show for the drag racing fan.