BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- The job at hand was very simple for both Clay Millican and Mike Castellana. Go a couple of rounds in Budds Creek and clinch IHRA World Championships. The Ironmen they took home as well, just a couple of bonuses.

Millican (Drummonds, Tenn.) clinched his fifth consecutive IHRA Top Fuel World Championship when he was able to advance to the final at the President's Cup. Heading into the race he held a 193-point lead over second-place Doug Foley, and only had to put a pair of round victories in the books to close the mathematical door on Foley this season. Actually, when Foley (Sewell, N.J.) lost a pedal-fest in the semifinals to Bobby Lagana, Jr., Millican clinched the title.

Castellana ended the Torco Pro Modified points race when teammate Shannon Jenkins (who was second 79 points behind) and Carl Spiering (third 104 points behind) lost in the first round of eliminations. The '05 title is Castellana's first career World Championship.

Millican and Castellana joined Torco Pro Stock driver Steve Spiess, who clinched the World Championship in Epping, N.H. two weeks ago, in the IHRA record books.

"That was the goal, obviously, at the start of the year.to win the championship," Millican said. "The thing is, it takes a full year of work to do it and get it done early before going into Rockingham. I keep hearing the announcer, A.P. (Aaron Polburn) talking about how we're struggling. And I'm thinking I haven't really run that bad.yeah, we flipped over but after that we've been doing alright. I think we won Norwalk, I think we went 4.60 in Toronto which is the track record.anyway, all that aside. We haven't run as quick as we have, but Mike Kloeber took a new approach to how he was running the car and it is absolutely coming together."

Millican was able to defeat Lagana (Scarsdale, N.Y.) with a 4.702/312.06. Lagana posted a 4.816 at a career-best 317.57 mph.

"It's amazing what that team can do with what it has," Millican said about Lagana's low-budget Twilight Zone team. "We have a huge trailer with all kinds of equipment and they have a little trailer with just a car in it. But they are amazing and they're getting closer."

Castellana was able to win his fourth Torco Pro Mod Ironman of the season when Mike Stawicki broke and could not finish his pass in the final.

"This was a great weekend for us and it really says a lot about the crew," Castellana said. "They have been awesome this year, getting this car ready. We've had good times and bad times this year, but we'd always been able to pull through, get things together and get this car down the track."

Castellana and his crew got the car down the track Saturday night when it was most needed. After the first two Torco Pro Mod qualifying sessions, Castellana was on the outside of the field. He had to put a good number on the board to even be able to compete. He got the job done, vaulting into the #3 qualifying spot.

"That was the most pressure I have ever felt during my racing career," Castellana said of his Saturday evening run. "I was definitely nervous. We made some changes to the car, when the car tells you what it needs, you have to respond to it."

Jim Sickles (Caledonia, N.Y.) made things very interesting in the IHRA Funny Car World Championship points race with his victory in Budds Creek. Sickles entered the event trailing Rob Atchison by 66 points.he left Maryland trailing by just five. Sickles defeated Chris Foster in the final when Foster lit the red-light.

"We have ourselves a race right down to the wire," Sickles said. "We're hoping we can do the same thing in Rockingham now. We have a great race team and a great sponsor. Here we are, we've been consistent and that's what it takes."

Brian Gahm, who has struggled through most of the '05 season, took home the Torco Pro Stock Ironman when Spiess was unable to fire his car for the final. Gahm (Lucasville, Oh.) took the solo pass to secure the victory.

"You hate to win that way, but this is a big relief," Gahm said. "It just goes to show what kind of guys I have helping me. They never give up. We've struggled, but I think we're back on track. Our performance has turned 180 degrees."

RESULTS

BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Sunday's final results from the 14th annual Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway. The $1.1 million race is the 11th of 12 in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.702 seconds, 312.06 mph def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.816 seconds, 317.57 mph.

Pro Modified -- Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.227, 229.39 def. Mike Stawicki, Chevy Camaro, broke.

Funny Car -- Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.781, 244.38 def. Chris Foster, Dodge Avenger, broke.

Pro Stock -- Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 12.897, 65.60 def. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, broke.

Pro Stock Showdown (contested Saturday) -- Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.406, 216.17 def. Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.453, 215.17.

Top Stock (contested Saturday) -- Matt Morgan, Camaro, 9.606, 138.12 def. Joseph Aluise Jr, Belvedere, 9.854, 132.44.

Top Sportsman -- Eric Steffey, Camaro, 7.207, 192.41 def. John Prime, Camaro, 7.012, 193.07.

Top Dragster -- Tony Ward, Dragster, 6.989, 182.43 def. Ricky Adkins, Dragster, 7.180, 160.65.

Quick Rod -- James Albertson, Dragster, 8.900, 167.14 def. Todd Burks, Dragster, 8.894, 156.90.

Super Rod -- Bernard Weaver, Daytona, 9.941, 143.28 def. Mike Bradford, Mustang, 10.160, 130.56.

Hot Rod -- John Dustin, Mustang, 10.868, 133.99 def. Steve Corker, Camaro, 10.850, 130.81.

Super Stock -- Scotty Stillings, Grand Am, 11.531, 77.72 def. Dennis Steward, Daytona, 10.270, 129.27.

Stock -- Scotty Stillings, Camaro, 10.724, 115.60 def. Michael Beard, Dart, 11.181, 113.18.

BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Final round-by-round results from the 14th annual Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, the 11th of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Todd Paton, 4.941, 260.01 def. Louie Allison, 14.535, 78.35; Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.817, 312.50 def. Bruce Litton, 4.796, 309.13; Doug Foley, 4.734, 306.46 def. Rick Cooper, 4.801, 316.97; Clay Millican, 4.618, 320.20 def. Roger Dean, 10.746, 71.69; SEMIFINALS -- Lagana Jr., 6.644, 259.91 def. Foley, 12.642, 55.25; Millican, 4.646, 310.77 def. Paton, broke; FINAL -- Millican, 4.702, 312.06 def. Lagana Jr., 4.816, 317.57.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 6.206, 223.73 def. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 15.392, 71.46; John Russo, Camaro, 6.175, 228.46 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.275, 226.01; Scott Cannon, Studebaker, 6.175, 227.61 def. Dennis Radford, Chevy Corvette, 10.025, 87.82; Jim Halsey, Camaro, 6.225, 225.97 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.262, 230.02; Steve Bareman, Corvette, 6.155, 229.86 def. Eddie Ware, Willys, 10.579, 101.52; Mike Janis, Dodge Stratus, 6.522, 224.55 def. Carl Spiering, Corvette, 6.635, 217.63; Mike Castellana, Chevy Cavalier, 6.811, 222.84 def. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 7.051, 178.87; Mike Stawicki, Camaro, 6.167, 224.43 def. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 12.684, 64.45; QUARTERFINALS -- Cannon, 6.196, 227.61 def. Halsey, 6.437, 223.91; Castellana, 6.161, 230.76 def. Russo, 6.224, 226.62; Stawicki, 6.189, 224.25 def. Janis, 9.675, 105.99; Harper, 6.230, 227.96 def. Bareman, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Stawicki, 6.203, 226.70 def. Cannon, 6.209, 227.23; Castellana, 6.178, 220.30 def. Harper, 7.863, 121.34; FINAL -- Castellana, 6.227, 229.39 def. Stawicki, broke.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Jim Sickles, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.759, 245.18 def. Thomas Carter, Chevy Camaro, 6.010, 230.53; Chris Foster, Dodge Avenger, 6.324, 185.21 def. Rob Atchison, Pontiac Firebird, foul; Mike Comella, Chevy Corvette, 5.936, 239.10 def. Frederick Tigges, Camaro, 5.975, 237.00; Larry Dobbs, Corvette, 5.928, 236.63 def. Neal Parker, Monte Carlo, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Sickles, 5.790, 244.78 def. Dobbs, 15.140, 49.11; Foster, 6.222, 221.89 def. M. Comella, foul; FINALS -- Sickles, 5.781, 244.38 def. Foster, broke.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Daniel Seamon, Ford Escort, 6.438, 215.96 def. Rick Jones, Chevy Cobalt, 6.479, 214.93; Tony Gillig, Ford Mustang, 6.489, 213.37 def. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 7.123, 148.41; Bert Jackson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.508, 212.96 def. John Nobile, Ford ZX2, 6.496, 213.81; Elijah Morton, Escort, 6.467, 214.14 def. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.441, 215.44; Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.505, 214.55 def. Pete Berner, Mustang, 6.490, 212.79; Ed Machacek, Cavalier, 6.464, 213.98 def. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, broke; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.422, 216.17 def. John Konigshofer, Mercury Cougar, 6.501, 214.96; Frank Gugliotta, Escort, 6.408, 217.63 def. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 6.507, 211.93; QUARTERFINALS -- Gahm, 6.475, 216.17 def. Morton, 6.490, 213.98; Machacek, 6.448, 214.93 def. Jackson, 6.519, 212.26; Spiess, 6.413, 216.58 def. Gillig, 6.468, 214.01; Gugliotta, 6.434, 216.76 def. Seamon, 6.457, 216.27; SEMIFINALS -- Gahm, 6.474, 215.17 def. Gugliotta, 6.446, 217.84; Spiess, 6.410, 216.38 def. Machacek, 6.508, 214.04; FINAL -- Gahm, 12.897, 65.60 def. Spiess, broke.

PRO STOCK SHOWDOWN (contested Saturday):

ROUND ONE -- John Nobile, Ford ZX-2, 6.474, 214.72 def. Pete Berner, Ford Mustang, 6.479, 214.04; Frank Gugliotta, Ford Escort, 6.473, 217.98 def. Rick Jones, Chevy Cobalt, 6.481, 215.72; Tony Gillig, Mustang, 6.438, 214.89 def. Robert Patrick, Ford Cobra, 10.435, 85.31; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.406, 216.97 def. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 6.581, 209.46; SEMIFINALS -- Gillig, 6.448, 215.27 def. Gugliotta, 6.424, 217.91; Spiess, 6.403, 215.86 def. Nobile, 6.474, 215.31;

FINAL -- Spiess, 6.406, 216.17 def. Gillig, 6.453, 215.17.

BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 14th annual Torco Race Fuels President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway, the 11th of 12 events in the 2005 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 1,359 (clinches 2005 championship); 2. Doug Foley, 1,121; 3. Bruce Litton, 997; 4. Rick Cooper, 829; 5. Louie Allison, 731; 6. Bobby Lagana Jr., 494; 7. Roger Dean, 444; 8. Todd Paton, 372; 9. (tie) Paul Athey, 357; Chris Karamesines, 357.

Pro Modified

1. Mike Castellana, 832 (clinches 2005 championship); 2. Shannon Jenkins, 668; 3. Jim Halsey, 658; 4. Carl Spiering, 642; 5. Mike Janis, 562; 6. Dennis Radford, 529; 7. Ed Hoover, 524; 8. Quain Stott, 523; 9. Burton Auxier, 518; 10. Harold Martin, 496.

Funny Car

1. Rob Atchison, 1,071; 2. Jim Sickles, 1,066; 3. Mark Thomas, 806; 4. Thomas Carter, 676; 5. Chris Foster, 639; 6. Terry McMillen, 604; 7. Terry Munroe, 492; 8. Frederick Tigges, 460; 9. Melinda Green-King, 292; 10. Larry Dobbs, 287.

Pro Stock

1. Steve Spiess, 1,083 (clinches 2005 championship); 2. Frank Gugliotta, 777; 3. Robert Patrick, 734; 4. (tie) Rick Jones, 694; Daniel Seamon, 694; 6. Tony Gillig, 687; 7. Pete Berner, 567; 8. Brian Gahm, 556; 9. John Montecalvo, 539; 10. John Nobile, 529.