Fri, 16 May 2003, 11:25 PM McAmis Leads First-Day Supernationals Qualifying

By Bobby Bennett, www.competitionplus.com Photo copyright 2003 Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Tim McAmis admitted that his first qualifying run was not the kind of pass that one would care to write home about, but in the end it got the job done. The former World Champion from Hawk Point, Mo., had the right stuff as he pushed the Sanders Brothers 1963 Corvette to the top spot with an impressive 6.126, 231.79.

Tim McAmis

McAmis took advantage of incredible atmospheric conditions that measured as much 1,000-feet below sea level during the first session. Persistent rain brought a halt to Friday's racing and cancelled the second session.

This marks the finest effort for McAmis in qualifying since winning the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., back in March.

Roy Hill finally had the kind of day that he's hoped for since deciding to make the jump to Pro Modified from the Pro Stock ranks. The Odoban-sponsored driver pushed his Howard Moon-tuned entry to a 6.159, 230.57, which stands as his personal best. Al Billes also recorded a 6.159, but his slower 229.47 mile per hour trap speed relegated him to the third spot.

Points leader Mitch Stott rounded out the top half of the field as he pushed the Radiac-sponsored entry to 6.160, 229.00.

Current record holder Fred Hahn was the fifth quickest as he cranked out a 6.195, 213.33.

Aussie Troy Critchley made great strides as he pushed the AMS Staff Leasing entry to spot in the provisional field with a 6.241, 226.05.

Eighteen-year old Zack Barklage was one of the unfamiliar names in the field after the first session as he thundered to a 6.261, 225.75.

Second-generation Pro Modified racer Wayne Torkelson stepped up with a 6.268, 224.25 in his classic Thunderbird.

For the first time in the history of the AMS Pro Modified Challenge, all eight qualifying spots in the field were occupied by supercharged entries.

Friday Pit Notes -

That's a first - When McAmis belted out the low elapsed time of the day, he became the only other driver outside of Hahn to lead qualifying.

Personal Bests A Plenty - The incredible atmospheric conditions opened up a collection of personal bests and most notable of the group belonged to Bill Hill, who ran a 6.335 in a legal Pro Modified combination. Hill's quickest run in Nitro Coupe stands as a 6.29. One weekend after performing one of Pro Modified's most incredible 360-degree spins, 18-year old Zach Barklage recorded a 6.261, 225.75.

Where's Shannon? - The defending World Champion Shannon Jenkins sat out Friday's qualifying because it was scheduled on the same day as graduation for one of his children. He will fly in on Saturday for the two remaining sessions.

Smith absent, new car coming for Chi-town - Rickie Smith may not come right out and say that a nitrous car doesn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell on this weekend, but one can draw the conclusion that he thinks it. The veteran drag racer and winner of the first-ever NHRA Pro Modified event has parked his '63 Corvette for this event. However, Smith will return for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago with a brand-new nitrous-injected, 1968 Camaro.

Here's the odds - For every nitrous car in attendance this weekend, there are seven blower cars. This marks the weakest attendance of the nitrous combination in any Pro Modified national event since the inception of the class in 1990. Considering the program is on an invitation-only basis, officials were very much aware of what they had.

And then there was one - Had the final qualifying session run as scheduled, there would have been only one nitrous car participating. With Jenkins absent and Cody McManama changing an engine, Mike Castellana would have been the lone entry.

The Information Highway - As publicized, Ed Hoover showed up at E-town with a supercharged car. Late last season, Hoover purchased a new engine from Mike Janis and his JanCen Race Engines. On this weekend, Hoover will have assistance from someone familiar with a Janis engine combination. Assisting Hoover in finding his groove is former Janis crewchief Jerry Highway. Highway was on the Janis team that won the championship in 2001.

The air up there - With the threat of rain looming on the horizon, the Pro Modified racers were licking their chops early with air that was 1000-feet below sea level.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Nov 06- LAS VEGAS - Top Alcohol Funny Car Final, Round 4 Eliminations
Nov 06- LAS VEGAS - Competition Eliminator Final, Round 5 Eliminations
Nov 06- LAS VEGAS - Top Dragster Final, Round 5 Eliminations
Nov 05- POMONA 2 - Event Preview
Nov 02- LAS VEGAS - Summary of Eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car
Nov 02- LAS VEGAS - Summary of Eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster
Nov 02- LAS VEGAS - Summary of Eliminations in Competition Eliminator
Nov 02- LAS VEGAS - Summary of Eliminations in Super Stock
Nov 02- LAS VEGAS - Summary of Eliminations in Stock Eliminator
Nov 02- LAS VEGAS - Summary of Eliminations in Super Gas