“THE TRINIDAD ROCKET” SETS IHRA WORLD RECORD

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On Friday 29th January, 2010, at the IHRA Palm Beach Nitro Jam at Palm Beach International Raceway, Sheldon Bissessar, “The Trinidad Rocket”, set a new world record and wins the event to a sold out crowd.
With Friday in the books as the largest night crowd in decades, resulting in one of the most massive attendances at Palm Beach International Raceway history, Bissessar and his PSTL/IRON MAN CHASSIS Party Time Racing Team achieved what most would be considered impossible.
The event began with Sheldon defeating Dean Brazell in the elimination rounds, having an almost full second advantage over his competitor, and paving the way to the final round where he faced Edward “Fast Eddie” Careccia. Displaying lightning reflexes and phenomenal driving skills, Bissessar won his game yet again and made another awesome run, blistering the quarter mile in 5.79 secs. @ 240 mph! Careccia knew a good light was critical to stand a chance against the “Rocket” from Trinidad, and facing such a formidable opponent, a man in possession of extraordinary driving skills, “Fast Eddie” left the line before the tree was activated. Anxiety got the better of him, but it would not have mattered, Edward Careccia was up against Sheldon Bissessar, “The Trinadad Rocket”, one of the fastest reacting drivers in the world, just doing what he does best.
The event ends with Bissessar setting the “IHRA Top Dragster” world record. He qualifies no. 1 and wins the first ever Elite 8 Top Dragster Showdown; a category which comprises of the 8 fastest Top Dragsters in the world, and one in which he emerges the champion. This accomplishment has made Sheldon Bissessar the first non-American in the history of drag racing to win this event, a feat that will always be remembered, never be forgotten, and will remain in drag racing archives forever. Sheldon “The Rocket” Bissessar has proven to be an amazing human being, and a man that Trinidad & Tobago can be truly proud of.

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Sheldon Bissessar and Aaron Sipple officially opened up the season with a huge win and an even bigger record. And after all the blogging, arguing, and debating, IHRA opened up with a truly entertaining show!
Bissessar kicked off 1st round qualifying Friday night with an off the trailor 3.75 eighth mile / 5.80 quarter mile run at 238mph thanks to the ASE/IRONMAN Chassis tune-up of Aaron Sipple. That first pass would officially set the new record for the IHRA Top Dragster if Sheldon backed it up within 1%.

Second round brought about some more excitement and drama as Bissessar's Lenco reverser locked up during the burnout, bringing the 2200lb top dragster to a dead stand still. Back in the pits, Sipple discovered it was a result of a busted gear in the CS2 reverser. Luckily Tom Wirth, a local Florida racer and a customer of ASE / IRONMAN Chassis was on hand. Tom, the owner of legendary and retired record holding Gary Watters' altered, located another local racer, Larry Clark who generously offered transmission parts for the team's use.

While at first unsure of being able to make third round, thanks to huge team efforts from the Partytime Racing Team, and a special thanks to Tom Wirth and Larry Clark, Sipple was tightening down everything at the last minute while sitting in the staging lanes. Bissessar and Sipple wowed the crowd yet again after such an intense turn around and still running a consistent 5.85. The IRONMAN Chassis and Partytime Racing Team ended the night winning the first round of Top Dragster Eliminations while resetting the world record for Top Dragster at an amazing 3.74 / 5.79.
Saturday, Bissessar chose to sit out the Top Dragster 2nd round in order to focus on IHRA's newly established Elite 8 for the 2010 season. Sheldon took first round, even after lifting, running through the traps at a 5.86. 2nd round was won with a 5.81, and Sheldon took the first win of the IHRA Elite 8 with a 5.82 against Eddie Careccia, a standout contender in the finals, who ran out of CO2 and rolled the beams.
Despite the drama of a new program, a fireball explosion for one of the Prostalgia Funny Cars, and an incredible side by side run of Shockley's Jet Semis, it was Bissessar and Sipple who were the talk of the town at the opening IHRA event! Setting standards and new limits, the dynamic duo are aimed at making their mark on the 2010 season. IHRA President, Aaron Palburn, personally congratulated Bissessar and stated that "He had a very unique and special opportunity going." Sipple and Bissessar were surrounded in the winner circle by a huge following of fans, friends and supporters who were all in agreeance that 2010 will be a standout year!

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Palm Beach International hosts sold out Nitro Jam
In the first ever Elite 8 showdown Benoit and Bissessar walked away winners.
Benoit won the Top Sportsman edition of the Quick 8 shootout with a victory over Matthew Buck, while Bissessar, the IHRA’s fastest sportsman, won the Top Dragster shootout over Edward Careccia.
Benoit defeated Buck with a 6.512, 212.49. He reached the final with a victory over Gary Bingham and a bye run.
Top Dragster champion Bissessar defeated Careccia with a blistering 5.820, 233.56. He also claimed wins over Dean Brazell and Daniel Seidel.
With the first Nitro Jam of the season in the books the series moves to Baton Rouge for the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam March 6-7.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Dragster at the 2010 Nitro Jam Series, IHRA Palm Beach Nitro Jam:

Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed

1. Sheldon Bissessar Sipple 5.804 238.76
2. Edward Careccia Horton 6.086 233.84
3. Stanley Albritton Miller 6.634 197.10
4. Ron Raymond Bos 6.694 197.97
5. Daniel Seidel Stevens 6.697 200.02
6. Bob Bridges '23-T Ford 6.730 205.22
7. Charlie Cullotto Tube Carz 6.780 197.74
8. Dean Brazell Miller 6.781 196.33
9. Al Miller Miller 6.802 196.07
10. Wade Lanier Bos 6.803 193.85
11. Michael Kalin Mullis 6.844 199.73
12. Claude DeBonis Worthy 6.849 193.63
13. Wayne Hofmann Bos 6.904 197.91
14. Casey Spradlin Spitzer 6.920 192.14
15. Rocky Elson Bos 6.925 189.28
16. Richard Shipp Tube Carz 6.947 194.66
17. Mark Brown Spitzer 6.950 194.18
18. Gary Williams Undercover 7.003 190.54
19. Tom Wilkinson Tube Carz 7.003 190.75
20. Steve Furr Worthy 7.022 189.39
21. John Weidner Worthy 7.049 191.54
22. Steve Dweck Horton 7.243 185.95
23. Ed Toolis Diamond 7.441 178.92
24. Larry Clark Bos 8.059 150.48
25. Robert Hall FrontMotor 8.382 110.63



(W) Sheldon Bissessar TD 5.75 -0.118 5.793 0.043
was unopposed

Bissessar, from Trinidad, set the Top Dragster ET record earlier today and reset it on this bye run.
Elite 8 Top Dragster Results
Qualify Round
Elimination Round 1 2 3

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Elimination Round 1 ( Monday 5:50 PM )
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Elite 8 Top Dragster at the 2010 Nitro Jam Series, IHRA Palm Beach Nitro Jam:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed

(W) Edward Careccia (Horton) 0.310 6.196 229.35
(L) Charlie Cullotto (Tube Carz) -0.002(R) 8.647 115.18

8:02 p.m. Top Dragsters, in heads-up competition - first to the line wins. Edward Careccia wins on a red light.
(W) Sheldon Bissessar (Sipple) 0.066 5.868 230.25
(L) Daniel Seidel (Stevens) 0.044 6.955 161.25

The record holder was a bit off his record pace here, but still a full second quicker than his opponent.
(W) Dean Brazell (Miller) 0.108 6.805 196.19
(L) Stanley Albritton (Miller) 0.151 6.899 197.33

This was the closest race of the round so far, but Brazell won by over a car length. He faces Bissessar in the semifinals.
(W) Ron Raymond (Bos) 0.067 6.768 198.17
(L) Al Miller (Miller) 0.054 6.898 194.88

Miller had the better light, but Raymond ran him down in the first hundred feet and wqon by over a car length. He will face Careccia next round.

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Elimination Round 2 ( Monday 5:50 PM )
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Elite 8 Top Dragster at the 2010 Nitro Jam Series, IHRA Palm Beach Nitro Jam:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed

(W) Edward Careccia (Horton) 0.152 6.204 230.06
(L) Ron Raymond (Bos) 0.164 7.340 183.72

8:59 p.m. Careccia was the quicker car and had no problems, easily besting Raymond to move into the final round.
(W) Sheldon Bissessar (Sipple) 0.148 5.819 230.80
(L) Dean Brazell (Miller) 0.197 12.579 67.17

On paper, Bissessar had about a full second advantage over Brazell. He hooked it up and streaked away, Brazell throwing in the towel before half track. Sheldon Bissessar's incremental times: 60ft-0.945 sec., 330ft-2.502, 660ft-3.769/193.54 mph, 1,000ft-4.869. He will face Careccia in the final round.

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Elimination Round 3 ( Monday 5:50 PM )
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 3 eliminations in Elite 8 Top Dragster at the 2010 Nitro Jam Series, IHRA Palm Beach Nitro Jam:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed

(W) Sheldon Bissessar (Sipple) 0.164 5.820 233.56
(L) Edward Careccia (Horton) -9.999(R) NT-Left Before Tree

10:00 p.m. Careccia knew he needed a good light to have a chance against the rocketship from Trinidad and he left before the tree was activated. It probably didn't matter, Bissessar was on his game again and mmade another awesome run.