Thu, 13 Nov 2008, 05:28 PM Pro Stock Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Bob Panella Runs 6.731/205.69, Now #1
Right Lane: Gordie Rivera Runs 7.832/130.73, Now #2

1:46 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 28.82 inches, adjusted altitude 3,329 feet, track temperature 102 degrees.The PS Bike session was OK, but not remarkable, so we may expect similar times from the door cars.

Panella gets a reasonable 1.006 sixty foot time and finishes the run without drama. Rivera goes bowling for reflectors and takes out both half track boxes.

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Left Lane: Ben Watson Runs 6.729/204.20, Now #1
Right Lane: Richie Stevens Runs 7.269/164.11, Now #3

1:55 p.m. ...and we are back after dusting and cleaning.Steven's Dodge is lazy off the line and he will not qualify in this session. Watson runs better with a 0.998 sixtyfoot time.

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Left Lane: Vinnie Deceglie Runs 6.709/206.73, Now #1
Right Lane: Rickie Jones Runs 6.727/205.22, Now #2

New top of the ladder times and Deceglie runs close to his career best MPH.

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Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 6.704/206.01, Now #2
Right Lane: Jim Yates Runs 6.697/206.70, Now #1

Two more good passes and we finally get our first six sixty pass. Once again a new #1 and #2.

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Left Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 6.694/206.29, Now #1
Right Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 6.708/207.69, Now #4

Watson was the only car to run under a one second 60 foot time and he is #5!

Morgan moves the top spot again and Johnson cards another big MPH for slot into the current #4 spot.

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Left Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 6.674/206.76, Now #1
Right Lane: V. Gaines Runs 6.705/206.48, Now #5

The left lane continues to card the best ET's and Krisher is the next car to take over the top spot for now. Gaines is right there to capture the #5 of 12 spot. Gordie Rivera is on the bump spot at 7.832.

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Left Lane: Greg Stanfield Runs 6.707/206.13, Now #7
Right Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 6.675/207.27, Now #2

Strong MPH for Johnson to take over the current #2 spot. Stanfield

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Left Lane: Jason Line Runs 6.664/208.04, Now #1
Right Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 6.677/207.18, Now #4

Whoa! Line moves to ET and MPH mark up a bunch with a clean and straight pass into the new top spot. Good pass for Edwards too and the first 207 plus MPH pass.

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Left Lane: Dave Connolly Runs 6.660/207.75, Now #1
Right Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 6.670/207.34, Now #3

Rickie Jones is on the bump spot at 6.727. Connolly is running in Comp. Eliminator this weekend and moves the top spot up another notch. Johnson does run as fast as Dad, but has a better ET to move into the new #3 spot.

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Left Lane: Greg Anderson Runs 6.675/207.30, Now #5
Right Lane: Jeg Coughlin Runs 6.678/206.95, Now #8

Two nice high six sixty pass into the top half of the field.

2:12 p.m. Connolly is #1 at 6.660 and V. Gaines is on the bump spot at 6.705.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink