Fri, 07 Feb 2014, 16:25 PM Pro Stock Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Pro Stock at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Jimmy Alund Runs 6.580/210.31, Now #1

Weather conditions: air temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 57 percent, barometer 29.04 inches, adjusted altitude 1,706 feet, track temperature 82 degrees.

Jimmy Alund is subbing for Greg Anderson for the first few races. This is his eighth NHRA event and his first since Topeka 2012. Alund was straight down the groove and runs his career best E.T. and speed. Jimmy Alund's incremental times: 60ft-1.005 sec., 330ft-2.778, 660ft-4.248/167.36 mph, 1,000ft-5.513.

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Left Lane: Dave Connolly Runs 6.550/211.53, Now #1
Right Lane: Shane Tucker Runs 9.059/99.25, Now #3

Connolly will be on tour all year and this is first race since he was runner-up in the 2012 Reading event. Dave Connolly's incremental times: 60ft-0.995 sec., 330ft-2.761, 660ft-4.224/168.24 mph, 1,000ft-5.485. Tucker is the Australian Pro Stock champion and making his NHRA debut. He starts to shake and pushes in the clutch early.

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Left Lane: Paul Pittman Runs 11.405/78.40, Now #4
Right Lane: Deric Kramer Runs 15.375/109.82, Now #5

Kramer with violent tire shake right at the hit and clicks it off. Pittman pushes in the clutch early.

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Left Lane: Chris McGaha No Time, Now #7
Right Lane: Matt Hartford Runs 19.758/62.54, Now #6

McGaha making his debut with his new Mike Edwards' car/operation after buying it during the off season. McGaha with problems as soon as he let then clutch out and clicked off and came to a stop. He will not get a time. Hartford with a lot of tire shake and he shuts it off.

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Left Lane: Greg Stanfield Runs 6.569/210.60, Now #2
Right Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 6.576/210.41, Now #3

Stanfield teamed up with Jeff Isbell during the off-season. He launches hard and is straight down the groove to go to the number two spot. Greg Stanfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.980 sec., 330ft-2.749, 660ft-4.225/166.81 mph, 1,000ft-5.496. Morgan with a good looking pass and was right there with Stanfield to go to the number three spot. Larry Morgan's incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.752, 660ft-4.230/166.62 mph, 1,000ft-5.504.

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Left Lane: Rodger Brogdon Runs 6.541/211.79, Now #2
Right Lane: Vincent Nobile Runs 6.528/212.29, Now #1

This was a great looking drag race. Nobile made the switch from Mopar to Chevy during the off season and is running KB Racing power. He is straight down the groove to go to the number one spot. Vincent Nobile's incremental times: 60ft-0.985 sec., 330ft-2.747, 660ft-4.209/168.56 mph, 1,000ft-5.466. Brogdon was right there with him to go to the number two spot...Rodger Brogdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.978 sec., 330ft-2.745, 660ft-4.213/167.82 mph, 1,000ft-5.476.

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Left Lane: V. Gaines Runs 6.554/211.96, Now #4
Right Lane: Erica Enders-Stevens Runs 8.511/114.16, Now #8

Gaines with real nice pass to get into the top half of the show. V. Gaines' incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.769, 660ft-4.233/167.99 mph, 1,000ft-5.492. Enders-Stevens with a new ride this year, now driving for Elite Motorsports. This car won the finals last fall with Rickie Jones at the wheel. She has tire shake and clicks it off before half track.

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Left Lane: Shane Gray Runs 6.559/211.69, Now #6
Right Lane: Jason Line Runs 6.549/212.36, Now #3

Gray with Charter livery this year and he gets into the top half of the show. Shane Gray's incremental times: 60ft-0.997 sec., 330ft-2.768, 660ft-4.232/168.22 mph, 1,000ft-5.494. Line with a good clean pass to start the year to go to the number three spot. Jason Line's incremental times: 60ft-0.986 sec., 330ft-2.755, 660ft-4.224/167.78 mph, 1,000ft-5.486.

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Left Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 6.547/212.53, Now #4
Right Lane: Jeg Coughlin Runs 6.541/212.39, Now #2

Johnson with a great looking pass to go straight down the groove...Allen Johnson's incremental times: 60ft-0.996 sec., 330ft-2.760, 660ft-4.227/167.78 mph, 1,000ft-5.487. Coughlin the reigning Pro Stock champion and launches hard and keeps it hooked up to go to the number two spot. Jeg Coughlin's incremental times: 60ft-0.995 sec., 330ft-2.758, 660ft-4.221/168.30 mph, 1,000ft-5.480.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink