Sat, 26 Oct 2002, 06:45 PM Pro Modified Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Darryl Jackman

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Second annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals 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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Right Lane: Dennis Radford Runs 6.396/227.73, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.630/210.64, Was #11

Pro Mod makes it's third appearance of the weekend. Radford is not in the field but takes care of that in a short hurry. He also sets top speed for the Pro Mods.

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Left Lane: Rickie Smith Runs 6.666/174.32, Now #12; Best prior run: 7.411/137.30, Was #17
Right Lane: Bill Kuhlmann Runs 9.702/105.98, Now #17; Best prior run: 7.307/138.17, Was #16

Kuhlmann was able to get off the starting line yesterday but had problems down track. Today different story. His car made a hard right at the hit and he is forced to shut it off. Smith was loose at the hit and he recovered only slightly.

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Left Lane: Dan Vogt Runs 6.706/214.11, Now #15; Best prior run: 6.752/214.45, Was #14
Right Lane: Randy Hagerty Runs 6.525/219.51, Now #10; Best prior run: 6.795/207.66, Was #15

Both drivers improve but not enough to make the show. Hagerty made the best move and he picked up over two tenths.

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Left Lane: Wayne Torkelson Runs 12.159/67.38, Now #16; Best prior run: 6.935/172.25, Was #16
Right Lane: John Scialpi Runs 10.085/94.39, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.483/215.03, Was #9

Both cars make huge right hand turns almost at the hit. Both drivers lift and wind up just motoring down the track.

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Left Lane: Bill Hill No Time, Now #14; Best prior run: 6.690/211.83, Was #14
Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 6.342/221.52, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.450/220.84, Was #7

Hill can't wait for the tree and leaves before Stewart can throw the switch. No time for him. Ashley goes right into the top half of the field. Barklage is on the bump spot.

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Left Lane: Lee Smith Runs 6.465/222.18, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.578/219.26, Was #12
Right Lane: Zach Barklage No Time, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.456/214.86, Was #8

Barklage's chance to get off the bump spot fails as Rick Stewart spots something under the car and shuts him off before he can stage. Smith has his hands full of Corvette and he has to manhandle the car back into the center of the lane a couple of times. He just misses the show. Both drivers get a final chance in a couple of hours.

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Left Lane: Thomas Patterson Runs 6.273/223.02, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.567/218.51, Was #12
Right Lane: Troy Critchley No Time, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.433/218.51, Was #7

Critchley makes the burnout but again there is some liquid on the track and he's not allowed to run. Patterson goes from outside the field all the way to #2. Nice pass. The bump is Critchley with a 6.433.

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Left Lane: Johnny Rocca No Time, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.376/220.91, Was #5
Right Lane: Andy Neyer Runs 6.655/217.42, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.379/225.00, Was #6

Rocca was sideways and straddling the center stripe at about 330. How he missed the markers I have no idea. Neyer was very busy with his own set of problems in his own lane. If he had time to look over all he would have seen was Rocca's Merc coming after him. Neyer pedaled once and got the car hooked and streaking away from the lane invading Rocca. Pro Mods are fun!!!!

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Left Lane: Mitch Stott Runs 6.344/222.18, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.298/224.81, Was #3
Right Lane: Shannon Jenkins Runs 10.642/80.53, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.261/222.99, Was #1

Here come the two heavy hitters this season. They've been close to each other all weekend . Only Patterson sits between them. Jenkins shook the tires pretty hard and the hit and clicks it off. Stott doesn't improve and we will end the session there.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink