Sat, 6 Oct 2007, 12:56 PM Pro Stock Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Dan Bennett

DINWIDDIE, Va. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Second annual Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Tommy Brown Runs 6.714/204.76, Now #13; Best prior run: 7.493/127.78, Was #23
Right Lane: Dave Northrop Runs 6.738/201.37, Now #17; Best prior run: 24.587/29.48, Was #24

12:27 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 74 percent, barometer 29.94 inches, adjusted altitude 1,508 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

We start the second Pro Stock session with a lot of racers intent on improving their position. Last night provided some good times for those with the correct setup, and a disaster to those who missed. Though it hasn't rained today, we have very thick air here with the humidity's haze easily seen in the treeline way off in the distance. We're almost totally overcast with an occasional few minutes of bright sunlight. Even with the infrared load, the track hasn't gained any appreciable heat and should be very good.

I neglected to mention in my earlier reports about the tremendous response to the Wally Parks memorial decal begin run on what seems to be 100% of the cars in competition here. It's a variation of the famous NHRA oval, but with the Wally Parks name in the center. It's a fitting tribute and heartwarming to see so many racers honoring the man who made this sport what it is today.

It's going to be one of those session. Northrop was in for a hundredth of a second or so until Brown crossed the finish line and bumped him back out.

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Left Lane: Craig Hankinson Runs 6.725/204.66, Now #17; Best prior run: 6.750/203.49, Was #19
Right Lane: V. Gaines Runs 6.722/205.04, Now #14; Best prior run: 7.134/194.24, Was #24

It's a surprise to see Gaines running this early in the session. Look for a big move here.

Neither team is going to be happy, and Gaines isn't going to last long in the 14th spot.

Craig Hankinson's incremental times: 60ft-0.995 sec., 330ft-2.811, 660ft-4.321/162.98mph, 1,000ft-5.623
V. Gaines' incremental times: 60ft-1.000 sec., 330ft-2.809, 660ft-4.321/162.65mph, 1,000ft-5.623

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Left Lane: Bob Benza Runs 6.753/204.70, Now #20; Best prior run: 6.748/204.54, Was #20
Right Lane: Jim Cunningham Runs 6.864/199.70, Now #24; Best prior run: 6.857/199.85, Was #24

Ford fans' hero in the right lane, Family Guy Benza in the left. Benza gets a lot of help from his kids, and that's very cool to me.

Cunningham misses the front half, Benza has trouble on the back half.

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Left Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 6.721/206.07, Now #14; Best prior run: 6.729/205.19, Was #18
Right Lane: Adam Flamholc Runs 14.499/56.77, Now #23; Best prior run: 6.790/203.61, Was #23

The Swedes impressed a lot of people last night. Can they continue? Krisher looks to change his recent downturn in performance. Most people agree that he can fly when he hits the setup.

Flamholc's GTO darts to the wall at the hit. Krisher moves hard toward the center line but gets things straightened out to bump in for now.

Mike Edwards is on the bump spot at 6.725.

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Left Lane: Jim Yates Runs 6.712/204.66, Now #14; Best prior run: 6.725/204.94, Was #17
Right Lane: Tom Hammonds Runs 6.700/205.51, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.775/199.29, Was #22

Hammonds finally gets a good run off, straight and quick. That position just may hold.

Yates doesn't pick up nearly what he needs and will have one more session.

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Left Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 6.712/205.44, Now #15; Best prior run: 6.725/205.57, Was #18
Right Lane: Max Naylor Runs 6.679/203.92, Now #7; Best prior run: 6.771/203.98, Was #22

I mentioned the surprise of Gaines running early in the session, but it's probably more surprising to see Naylor in this position considering how he's been running.

Naylor gets a bunch of it this time and goes deep into the field. Edwards' GTO turned toward the center line right at the hit though he was able to get it pointed downtrack.

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Left Lane: Greg Stanfield Runs 6.692/205.91, Now #10; Best prior run: 6.707/204.26, Was #13
Right Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 6.735/206.39, Now #14; Best prior run: 6.708/206.13, Was #14

Stanfield ran very well here last year, and in fact for a period of time held the national record. Their data must still be useful, as he turns in a nice pass this time around.

WJ repeats his recent habit of barely getting past the 16th position.

Jim Yates is on the bump spot at 6.712.

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Left Lane: Jason Line Runs 6.675/206.42, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.704/207.15, Was #12
Right Lane: Kenny Koretsky Runs 6.692/205.69, Now #12; Best prior run: 6.705/205.01, Was #13

They're picking up as the session goes on. Two side by side 60s.

Jason Line's incremental times: 60ft-0.986 sec., 330ft-2.789, 660ft-4.289/164.07mph, 1,000ft-5.582
Kenny Koretsky's incremental times: 60ft-0.994 sec., 330ft-2.797, 660ft-4.300/163.67mph, 1,000ft-5.597

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Left Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 6.660/206.73, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.677/206.29, Was #7
Right Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 6.681/206.61, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.689/206.45, Was #10

AJ shows the rest of the field how it's done and Mopar fans everywhere rejoice.

That was a very nice looking pass.

Allen Johnson's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.781, 660ft-4.278/163.99mph, 1,000ft-5.569

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Left Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 6.663/205.85, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.674/206.57, Was #6
Right Lane: Justin Humphreys Runs 6.656/206.89, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.681/206.54, Was #10

Humprey goes into the second spot and this time Bob Glidden fans (his crew chief / consultant) jump for joy. The team was testing last week at Budds Creek and it looks like they found something good.

Justin Humphreys' incremental times: 60ft-0.988 sec., 330ft-2.781, 660ft-4.277/164.49mph, 1,000ft-5.566

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Left Lane: Richie Stevens Runs 6.646/207.15, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.673/206.54, Was #6
Right Lane: Greg Anderson Runs 6.652/206.99, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.674/207.11, Was #7

These two were only separated by a thousandth yesterday.

It's a very good race and Stevens appeared to drive away from Anderson on the top end.

Richie Stevens' incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.769, 660ft-4.267/164.07mph, 1,000ft-5.557
Greg Anderson's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.776, 660ft-4.273/164.25mph, 1,000ft-5.562

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Left Lane: Dave Connolly Runs 6.645/206.67, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.649/207.24, Was #2
Right Lane: Jeg Coughlin Runs 6.645/207.27, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.661/207.27, Was #6

The yellow terrors stage side by side.

Now that's impressive. Not only do you have the dominating car, you have a clone of it running in the other lane. We have to go to the speed tiebreaker to decide which Cagnazzi car gets to be first. Yates holds on the bump at 6.712

Dave Connolly's incremental times: 60ft-0.980 sec., 330ft-2.772, 660ft-4.267/164.41mph, 1,000ft-5.556
Jeg Coughlin's incremental times: 60ft-0.985 sec., 330ft-2.778, 660ft-4.271/164.69mph, 1,000ft-5.558

Trust me, there are a lot of Pro Stock crew chiefs with a lot on their collective minds right now, along with a pretty major frown. That's the chiefs who are NOT in the Cagnazzi camp, however.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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