Sun, 5 Sep 2010, 12:50 PM Pro Stock Qualifying Notes, Session #4

By Dan Bennett

CLERMONT, Ind. - Notes from round 4 qualifying in Pro Stock at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil 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: Allen Johnson Runs 6.580/210.28, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.587/209.75, Was #4
Right Lane: Vinnie Deceglie Runs 13.436/60.85, Now #13; No Prior Run

12:09 p.m.

Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 33 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 2,622 feet, track temperature 99 degrees.

We just saw a good session in Motorcycles, and some of the racers ran fairly close to their best times from yesterday. We're still enjoying exceptionally good weather, with the added bonus that the barometer is beginning to recover and the air is drying out quickly.

Pro Stock track prep these days amounts to a quick spray on the top end so it looks like the season's earlier problems with down track traction has been addressed.

It's Sunday, so we're qualifying the full 16.

Due to bad runs in the last session, we start with a couple of Mopars that we're used to seeing much later in the session.

Deceglie doesn't get up on the tires and the car torque drives to the right. Johnson goes to the top.

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Left Lane: Greg Anderson Runs 6.602/209.62, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.602/209.20, Was #8
Right Lane: Mark Martino Runs 6.722/205.76, Now #13; No Prior Run

Martino also has problems off the line. Anderson repeats from his earlier best.

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Left Lane: John Gaydosh Jr Runs 6.836/200.62, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Bob Glidden Runs 6.703/205.91, Now #13; No Prior Run

Glidden seems to have a guest on the starting line as John Force is standing directly behind the car. He runs good enough for the 13th spot for now, but I don't think he'll stay there.

Vinnie Deceglie is on the bump spot at 13.436.

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Left Lane: Kevin Lawrence Runs 6.789/202.73, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Steve Schmidt Runs 14.325/55.21, Now #18; No Prior Run

Schmidt doesn't get off the line very well, as the engine bogged, coughed, and grunted. Wrong gear?

Lawrence gets in and puts Gaydosh on the bump.

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Left Lane: Vincent Nobile Runs 6.668/206.35, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Richie Stevens Runs 6.642/208.68, Now #13; No Prior Run

Nice pass with big speed for Richie. Nobile's right behind him.

Richie Stevens' incremental times: 60ft-0.992 sec., 330ft-2.788, 660ft-4.279/165.23 mph, 1,000ft-5.562.

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Left Lane: Mark Hogan Runs 16.374/41.74, Now #22; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Erica Enders Runs 6.673/206.83, Now #15; No Prior Run

Martino is now on the bump, which is changing every pair in these great conditions. At this point in the session, you need to be going in at 10th or better to have a chance to remain when the dust settles.

Hogan goes nowhere and clicks it off by 150 feet. Enders gets in but not enough to be confident in her chances. She puts teammate Bob Glidden on the bump spot at 6.703.

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Left Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 12.535/67.39, Now #21; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Rickie Jones Runs 6.632/207.85, Now #13; No Prior Run

These are two very good racers to not be qualified. I have to believe that Jones' absence from the tour has hurt him.

Morgan goes left and shuts off. Rickie (the Kid) bumps Glidden (the Legend).

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Left Lane: Rodger Brogdon Runs 6.621/208.10, Now #11; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Justin Humphreys Runs 6.631/207.27, Now #14; No Prior Run

Brogdon is another racer who we wouldn't have expected to see on the outside this far into qualifying. He has all the tools but has continued to have problems with getting a good pass when he needs one.

It looks like his problems got a lot better as the car is very racy off the line and looks good the entire length of the track. He bumps into the 11th spot while Humphreys follows him a couple of slots back.

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Left Lane: Bob Benza Runs 6.633/207.59, Now #17; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 6.618/207.85, Now #11; No Prior Run

Richie Stevens is now on the bump spot at 6.642.

KJ seems like he was ready to run hard since changing to WJ's spare GXP, but it hasn't happened so far this weekend.

That all changes quickly as Kurt lays down a very quick pass and Benza just misses.

Kurt Johnson's incremental times: 60ft-0.990 sec., 330ft-2.767, 660ft-4.251/165.78 mph, 1,000ft-5.535.

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Left Lane: Ronnie Humphrey Runs 6.633/208.59, Now #13; Best prior run: 6.622/208.49, Was #13
Right Lane: Jason Line Runs 6.580/209.95, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.587/208.81, Was #5

AJ is still on top over Jeg by MPH at 6.580

The KB Racing cars put on a show. Line reels off another 6.580 but has to settle for second. Ronnie, who was right alongside Jason most of the track, takes over 13th.

Ronnie Humphrey's incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.789, 660ft-4.273/165.80 mph, 1,000ft-5.553.
Jason Line's incremental times: 60ft-0.990 sec., 330ft-2.759, 660ft-4.232/166.99 mph, 1,000ft-5.506.

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Left Lane: Bob Yonke Runs 6.632/208.14, Now #16; No Prior Run
Right Lane: V. Gaines Runs 6.584/209.56, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.606/209.10, Was #9

V looks REAL strong and better than he has for a very long time. That was a good looking run from the first turn of the slick!

Yonke takes over the bump spot, putting Rickie Jones on the outside with one session to go.

Bob Yonke's incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.784, 660ft-4.268/165.78 mph, 1,000ft-5.550.
V. Gaines' incremental times: 60ft-0.993 sec., 330ft-2.765, 660ft-4.240/166.83 mph, 1,000ft-5.512.

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Left Lane: Steve Spiess Runs 6.627/208.07, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 6.590/208.91, Now #7; Best prior run: 6.593/209.01, Was #7

Gray repeats with his 6.59, and Spiess finally gets a decent pass for the 15th spot.

This is classic Pro Stock stuff, fans. There's a new bump spot every pair and it's fun to watch it happens.

Bob Glidden is towing back in front of the stands - and is getting a standing ovation. Cool.

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Left Lane: Shane Gray Runs 6.606/208.68, Now #10; Best prior run: 6.623/208.30, Was #14
Right Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 6.591/209.65, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.586/209.56, Was #6

Gray steps up, Krisher falls back. A couple of hundredths is worth 4 spots.

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Left Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 6.608/209.17, Now #11; Best prior run: 6.609/208.55, Was #11
Right Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 6.579/209.14, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.585/209.26, Was #5

Edwards does what he has to and takes over the top spot by the least margin possible. That's why there's a big #1 on his car.

WJ stays put but is looking consistent. In my mind, that's a huge step forward for that program.

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Left Lane: Greg Stanfield Runs 6.584/209.14, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.594/208.68, Was #8
Right Lane: Jeg Coughlin Runs 6.598/209.23, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.580/209.39, Was #4

Stanfield steps up, and Jeg stays put.

That was a good session, with one more to go.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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