"This Trane is on a rail," said Pro Mod driver Rick Stivers as he reveled in his provisional No. 1
qualifying position in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge event at the NHRA Virginia
Nationals. Both of Stivers passes in the Trane '06 Stratus Pro Mod on Friday were in the five
second zone, saving his best for last and blasting to a 5.906 at 242.32 mph to lead the field
overnight.
"Actually, I had to drive it pretty good on that second pass because I got out of the groove a
little and had to push her back in. If it'd been straight, you'd have seen a 5.80-something for
sure," Stivers said.
Stivers ran a 5.977 at 239.70 mph in the first round, and improved to a 5.906 in round two.
"Brad (Anderson, crew chief) made some changes from the first round and whatever he did really
worked. This track is amazing, and the weather today was really good. The sun was shining and there
was a little heat in the track, but it held everything we threw at it.
"If we can another round in tomorrow, we should get even quicker - but who knows what the weather
will do. Right now, it's forecasting rain, and it's raining at home in Kentucky, right now and that
usually moves east, so we'll see.
Along with running a thriving HVAC business in Lexington, Ky., he also is a partner in a horse
farm, and if Saturday runs as scheduled, Stivers will be putting his 2,700 horsepower Pro Mod on
the line in round one of eliminations at 4:00 p.m. at the same time one of his fillies, Life
Lessons, is running for a $250,000 prize in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes of America at Keenland in
Lexington.
"Now, that'd make me really happy. Win a round and go into Sunday here, and take home a piece of
that purse back home. My horse is undefeated at that track, and I haven't lost a round of
competition since before the Charlotte race, so things are looking good. I just hope Mother Nature
cooperates," Stivers said.
Weather permitting, the final round of qualifying is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, with
eliminations scheduled to begin Friday evening with the B&J Transmissions Bonus round at 4:00 p.m.
The balance of eliminations is scheduled to run Sunday afternoon.
