Fri, 04 Sep 2015, 19:35 PM Pro Modified Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Larry Sullivan

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 61st annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

---

Right Lane: Richard Snavely Runs 9.265/97.83, Now #1

5:50 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 95 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 29.08 inches, adjusted altitude 4,233 feet, track temperature 127 degrees.

Snavely started trailing smoke and leaving a slick trail about 200 feet out and it got worse as he went down the track.

The Safety Safari is hard at work, scrubbing and scraping.

---

Left Lane: Richie Stevens Runs 6.020/238.26, Now #1
Right Lane: Jimmy Widener Runs 6.077/233.76, Now #2

That's a little more like it - two full passes, though both were over six seconds.

---

Left Lane: Billy Harper Runs 6.007/238.34, Now #1
Right Lane: Sidnei Frigo No Time, Now #5

Frigo made a burnout and was pushed away. Nice, straight run by Harper and he is now atop the list

---

Left Lane: Michael Biehle Runs 6.223/248.34, Now #5
Right Lane: Harold Martin Runs 6.063/240.00, Now #3

---

Left Lane: Shane Molinari Runs 6.334/242.10, Now #6
Right Lane: Jay Payne Runs 13.459/98.10, Now #8

Payne boiled the tires. Molinari made a smooth pass, just not a quick one.

---

Left Lane: Jeff Naiser Runs 6.023/237.75, Now #3
Right Lane: Doug Winters Runs 6.148/236.13, Now #6

Two more clean runs and it looks like conditions are not favoring quick runs.

---

Left Lane: Gerry Capano Runs 6.264/228.65, Now #9
Right Lane: Chip King Runs 6.006/238.81, Now #1

---

Left Lane: Jim Bell Runs 7.047/155.92, Now #12
Right Lane: Steven Whiteley Runs 5.920/245.76, Now #1

Whiteley breaks into the fives with a good run. Bell shook and slowed.

Steven Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.996 sec., 330ft-2.626, 660ft-3.912/193.05 mph, 1,000ft-5.003.

---

Left Lane: Clint Satterfield Runs 8.413/151.26, Now #14
Right Lane: Dan Stevenson Runs 6.129/240.85, Now #8

Satterfield also shook and slowed.

---

Right Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 6.008/242.54, Now #4

Jim Whiteley moved into the top part of the field on another six-second run.

---

Left Lane: Khalid alBalooshi Runs 5.908/245.09, Now #1
Right Lane: Steve Matusek Runs 5.976/245.72, Now #3

alBalooshhi will do double-duty here, also driving a DSR Top Fuel dragster. Nice run to take over the #1 spot. Matusek also broke into the fives to move into third spot.

Khalid alBalooshi's incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.615, 660ft-3.896/193.27 mph, 1,000ft-4.989.
Steve Matusek's incremental times: 60ft-1.020 sec., 330ft-2.670, 660ft-3.966/192.38 mph, 1,000ft-5.060.

---

Left Lane: Mike Castellana Runs 6.013/239.27, Now #7
Right Lane: Kevin Fiscus Runs 8.081/115.44, Now #18

Castellana made a full pass, but in the sixes. Fiscus had problems in the middle of the run and the chutes were out early.

---

Left Lane: Kenny Lang Runs 6.207/237.92, Now #15
Right Lane: Danny Rowe Runs 5.952/245.00, Now #3

Lang had some early shake, but Rowe made a smooth, full pass and joins the other five-second runners at the top of the qualifying sheet.

---

Left Lane: Pete Farber Runs 6.446/237.92, Now #20
Right Lane: Rickie Smith Runs 5.901/246.48, Now #1

Farber spun the tires, backpedaled and continued. Smith went right down the middle of the groove and right into the #1 spot.

Rickie Smith's incremental times: 60ft-0.991 sec., 330ft-2.634, 660ft-3.909/195.00 mph, 1,000ft-4.989.

---

Left Lane: Troy Coughlin Jr. Runs 5.979/249.95, Now #6
Right Lane: Bill Glidden Runs 6.317/181.69, Now #20

Glidden launched hte hood scoop into orbit past half track. He was a tenth ahead of Coughlin at the 660, so it was a very strong run until the car backfired. Coughlin joined the five-second cluster atop the list on a good run.

Troy Coughlin Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-1.060 sec., 330ft-2.755, 660ft-4.014/198.03 mph, 1,000ft-5.079.
Bill Glidden's incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.625, 660ft-3.912/190.92 mph, 1,000ft-5.132.

---

Left Lane: Don Walsh Runs 5.940/250.74, Now #4
Right Lane: Mike Janis Runs 5.962/242.89, Now #6

Nice side-by-side show with this pair, clean and straight in both lanes. Now the top five are in the fives.

---

Left Lane: Troy Coughlin Runs 5.948/249.12, Now #5
Right Lane: Bob Rahaim Runs 6.005/243.90, Now #10

6:45 p.m. Last pair pulled through the water, then stopped and the stands started to clear - it's raining. Appears to be a passing shower, but there has been a lot of lightning west of the track. Fortunately, Lucas Oil Raceway has fibre-optics cabling for the CompuLink timing system, so lightning in the area isn't enough to trigger a shutdown. However, rain doesn't care what type of cabling is used.

7:25 p.m. The two cars just fired their engines again, the trac k warm enough to dry quickly once the water stopped falling from the sky. Jimmy Widener is on the bump spot at 6.077, Rickie Smith is #1 at 5.901.

Two good runs, Coughlin into the fives with the turbo car and Rahaim just over six second in the nitrous car.

Now it's Jeff Naiser on the bump spot at 6.023 and still Smith at #1 with a 5.901. Troy Coughline Jr. has top speed of the event so far with a 249.95 mph clocking.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 22- NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino
Oct 22- NHRA Breakfast at 2026 SEMA Show Features Legends, Champs & A Rookie Talking Funny Car Showdown
Oct 22- DALLAS - Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Wrap Up
Oct 22- Five NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Drivers Currently Eligible for 2026 Rookie of the Year
Oct 22- Lucas Oil and NHRA Celebrate 25-Year Partnership with Multi-Year Extension
Oct 19- DALLAS - Sunday Video
Oct 18- DALLAS - Sunday Wrap Up
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Super Stock
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Competition Eliminator
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Top Fuel