Given the opportunity to try some new parts on Angie McBride's Nitro Fish/Carolina Speed Pro Stock
Motorcycle, team owner Matt Smith did so prior to Saturday's final two qualifying sessions for
Sunday's Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
The results -- elapsed times of 7.151 seconds and 7.126 seconds -- were consistent, "but certainly
not where they need to be," said McBride, whose 7.023-second run Friday was fourth quickest.
"We'll put everything back together again and be ready for eliminations."
She was consistent on Friday, too, adding a 7.036-second quarter-mile lap. She races Douglas Horne
(No. 13, 7.160 at 182.84) in the opening round.
"I think we will be contenders for the race win on Sunday," McBride added. "The bike is running
well."
Smith, driving the Nitro Fish Suzuki for Don Schumacher Racing, was eighth overall (7.058 at
182.18). He races Steve Johnson (No. 9, 7.058 182.189 mph).
Dave Northrop and the crew on Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish Pro Stock Dodge worked diligently to run
quick enough to qualify for the Carolinas Nationals, but fell short by an agonizing
nine-thousandths of a second when qualifying concluded Saturday afternoon.
"We sure gave it our best shot," said Northrop, of Perkasie, Pa. "And we tore up a lot of stuff,
too. We changed motors three times, Eddie (Guarnaccia, crew chief) and the guys did a good job
getting the car to come around. We were able to get the car to run quicker early in the first 330
feet.
"But the parts breakage really hurt us."
His quickest time was 6.695 seconds while the 16th quickest time was 6.686 seconds.
Kyle Koretsky continued to show his driving talents, winning his first two rounds of Competition
Eliminator racing. Kyle's driving the Nitro Fish Super Modified Chevy Cavalier.
