 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Kyle Koretsky (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Torrence powered to a run of 3.655-seconds at 327.43 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster during the first qualifying session in St. Louis, looking to make up some ground in a hurry. If it holds, Torrence, who is currently fifth in Top Fuel points, would pick up his third top qualifier of the season and 34th in his career. Torrence, though, is trying to rack up victories in the Countdown to the Championship after falling in the second round at the first two playoff races. He's had recent success in St. Louis as the defending event winner and will hope to add to that this weekend. "That's a year's work that goes into a run like that," Torrence said. "These guys have worked really hard to get the car where it's at. We're behind the eight-ball right now, but we're going to do everything we can. We didn't get to be the four-time champs by doing dumb stuff, but we have backed ourselves into a corner. "The class has really stepped up and everyone is so quick and so fast right now. We needed to run well and we're trying to get ourselves back in there. That was great for us to do that tonight." Doug Kalitta is currently in the second spot with a stout 3.684 at 334.32, while Clay Millican rounds out the top three after going 3.703 at 334.24. Points leader Justin Ashley is currently 16th.
"(Crew chiefs) Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham were a little perplexed because a lot of teams weren't making it down. But they stuck with their gameplan because they know what this car can do," Hight said. "We amassed a pretty good lead after Reading and we gave a lot of that back last weekend. We worked hard at the shop and to come out here and make a run like that, that was very impressive." Hight's teammate, 16-time world champ John Force, ran an identical 3.853 but was slightly slower with a 334.15 to put him second. Matt Hagan, the defending event winner, went 3.896 at 334.98 to slot him in the third spot.
"That was a great first run off the trailer," Koretsky said. "St. Louis has been pretty good to us, and the guys have been working hard on the engines. We've been struggling a little bit, but the guys at KB Racing have been working hard and we don't give up. It's cool to sit No. 1 after Friday night, but you never know out here. Everyone is tough and we're going to give St. Louis a heck of a run." Defending world champ and KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson also dipped into the 6.51 range, going 6.517 at 210.44 to sit second, while two-time race winner Troy Coughlin is third after a 6.529 at 210.60. Points leader Erica Enders is currently fifth thanks to a 6.536.
"The motorcycles have evolved a lot in the last few years," Smith said. "I'm excited to be back and it's a fast track, and I'm looking forward to what happens tomorrow. If we have the same weather, we're definitely going to go and swing for the 6.60s because we've never done that before, and we would love to do it." Angelle Sampey also impressed on Friday, going 6.726 at 201.67 and Angie Smith followed with a 6.748 at 201.19. Gladstone is currently seventh after his pass of 6.792. Qualifying continues at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
|
|
Ready to take your order at 1-800-230-3030 | Customer Service 1-800-517-1035