Sun, 6 Sep 2009, 11:46 PM Rain Claims Final Qualifier

Courtesy of Matthew Brammer Rowe Remains On Top

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Rain showers and live television scheduling conflicts forced NHRA officials to cancel the final round of qualifying scheduled in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the Mac Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. The field was set based on the two previously completed qualifying rounds.

Danny Rowe stayed on top of the class with his Saturday afternoon shot of 5.943 at 245.54 mph. Rowe has only qualified number one in Pro Mod Challenge competition once before, in 2001 at St. Louis, where he also went on to win the event. He has won one event this year so far, the event in Houston, in two final round appearances.

Newcomers Jason Stock, Ike Maier, and Dennis Radford along with John Russo all made the field that has the rookie from Oklahoma, Kirk Wilmes, on the bump spot with a 6.120. This is the quickest field ever for a U.S. Nationals, surpassing last season when Josh Hernandez took the pole with quickest ET and top speed at 5.993 at 241.20 and a bump spot of 6.132.

Local Indiana-resident Brad Personett has top speed of the meet so far at 248.84, and Rowe has low ET so far at 5.943 seconds.

Notably not making the field were Scott Ray representing the weekend's featured Pro Mod sponsor, Ohio Crankshaft; world ET record holder and the winner of the last event Raymond Commisso; and the Trane-backed Rick Stivers who was making his return after suffering a crash in St. Louis that sidelined him for several months. Also missing out were Adam Flamholc from Sweden, Canadian Rick DiStefano, Tommy D'Aprile and his beautiful '62 Bel Air, and Scott Christoffel from Oswego, Ill. who had suffered with back problems the entire weekend.

Eliminations are scheduled to begin Monday morning and run throughout the day, weather permitting.