PR-IHRA-GRAND BEND - Sickles returns to the winner's circle

GRAND BEND, Ont. - Jim Sickles found his way back into the Funny Car Winner's Circle at this past weekend's Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ont. A three-time winner
in '04, Sickles and his crew were struggling to figure out their clutch with little success thus
far. That all changed in Grand Bend.
Sickles defeated Fred Tigges in the final to claim his fourth career Ironman.
"We felt we could come out this season and do well, but we struggled this season," Sickles said.
"We were behind the eight-ball a little bit. We are a team that usually tries not to make any
mistakes and that strategy worked this weekend."

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Terry McMillen, Dodge Avenger, 6.108, 230.80 def. Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird,
11.215, 71.07; Frederick Tigges, Chevy Camaro, 5.902, 238.51 def. Thomas Carter, Camaro, 5.982,
235.76; Chris Foster, Avenger, 5.983, 236.01 def. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 6.343, 179.44;
Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.913, 238.76 def. Mark Thomas, Avenger, 5.931, 238.43;
SEMIFINALS -- Tigges, 5.891, 240.12 def. Foster, 5.951, 237.63; Sickles, 5.922, 239.44 def.
McMillen, 6.126, 224.77;
FINAL -- Sickles, 5.932, 239.31 def. Tigges, 8.093, 115.23.

POINTS

Funny Car

1. Rob Atchison, 343; 2. Jim Sickles, 320; 3. Mark Thomas, 301; 4. Terry McMillen, 292; 5.
Chris Foster, 278; 6. Thomas Carter, 263; 7. Terry Munroe, 188; 8. Melinda Green-King, 156;
9. Frederick Tigges, 115; 10. Larry Dobbs, 96.