Sat, 20 Jul 2013, 18:38 PM West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By David Gerard

SONOMA, Calif. - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, event at Sonoma Raceway presented by Korbel California Champagne listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Lee Smith Runs 11.935/90.83, Now #13; Best prior run: 8.136/213.37, Was #13
Right Lane: Marc Meadors Runs 6.262/210.44, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.871/251.11, Was #3

3:06 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 29.73 inches, adjusted altitude 1,555 feet, track temperature 119 degrees.

Joe Lepone Jr. is on the bump spot at 6.155.

Smith has been too agressive off the line on the prior two passes and he is so again. The car drives right towards the center line at the green and he has to lift.

Meadors couldn't keep the candles lit earlier, but he is all over the track this time, getting to the finish line. He doesn't improve.

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Left Lane: Scott Bailey Runs 6.008/241.67, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.007/245.63, Was #6
Right Lane: Rob Moore Runs 6.177/241.28, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.217/239.36, Was #10

Bailey was on a strong pass until right near the lights. Smoke starts to come from under the Camaro, followed by a Big Boomer right after that.

Moore gets off the line better this time and makes a full pass to move up to the number nine position.

Scott Bailey's incremental times: 60ft-1.013 sec., 330ft-2.707, 660ft-4.006/192.91 mph, 1,000ft-5.090.
Rob Moore's incremental times: 60ft-1.068 sec., 330ft-2.800, 660ft-4.126/187.65 mph, 1,000ft-5.241.

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Left Lane: Dan Myers No Time, Now #10; Best prior run: 6.202/200.17, Was #10
Right Lane: Scott Oksas Runs 9.541/91.63, Now #11; Best prior run: 6.413/252.52, Was #11

Blower vs. Turbo: Two broken runs.

Myers car isn't happy at the green and the engine quickly dies. The crew runs out and pushes the Corvette back.

Oksas has too much power too early. The slicks start to spin about 100 feet out and the back end steps out. The car whips back and almost crosses the center line before he can get it calmed down.

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Left Lane: Mike Maggio Runs 31.680/211.79, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.834/256.26, Was #1
Right Lane: Dan Nickelson Runs 5.819/249.39, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.869/252.95, Was #2

Maggio's Camaro is still struggling, as the car grumbles off the line and slows.

It's the wrong time for Maggio, as Nickelson finds some good HP and powers into the new top spot with ease.

Dan Nickelson's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.590, 660ft-3.850/194.88 mph, 1,000ft-4.915.

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Left Lane: Sean Renteria Runs 5.945/249.67, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.557/240.21, Was #12
Right Lane: Jay Diedrich Runs 9.615/113.64, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.987/244.96, Was #5

Renteria is the last car that can bump into the field and he'll need more than four tenths to do it. POW! The little black Valiant flies off the line and thunders on down the track for a career best ET and speed. That's good enough to move him all the way up to the number five spot.

Diedrich over power the track at the launch and slows.

Sean Renteria's incremental times: 60ft-1.026 sec., 330ft-2.696, 660ft-3.964/195.25 mph, 1,000ft-5.041.

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Left Lane: Rod Burbage Runs 6.003/244.69, Now #7; Best prior run: 6.068/243.46, Was #8
Right Lane: Joe Lepone Jr. No Time, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.155/234.78, Was #9

Rod Burbage is on the bump spot at 6.068 and has a chance to improve. He does so with ease and moves off the bump spot on a straight and true pass.

Lepone gives up any chance he had to bump back in, as he leaves before the green.

Rod Burbage's incremental times: 60ft-0.985 sec., 330ft-2.671, 660ft-3.984/190.51 mph, 1,000ft-5.082.

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Left Lane: TK Krupa Runs 6.101/241.02, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.941/243.85, Was #4

No joy for Krupa, as the engine drops a cylinder right off the line and he can't improve.

3:29 p.m. Dan Nickelson stays number one with a 5.819 and Scott Bailey is on the bump spot at 6.007.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink