Friday Qualifying for the 37th NHRA Gatornationals
by Marvin T. Smith
A beautiful day greeted fans and racers as professional qualifying for the Gatornationals began on Friday. Results were mixed. In the first qualifying session, most of the fuel cars had trouble getting down track under power. However, in the second session, with the sun going down and not beating on the track, the pace picked up considerably.
During the first session of Top Fuel, Morgan Lucas and Hillary Will both posted mid 4.6 second runs, but the third car was in the 5s. The bump spot was a miserable 11.89. This may have been the worst qualifying session in the history of NHRA Powerade drag racing. Luckily, by the second session, the racers were ready and the track was better. David Grubnic and Morgan Lucas both belted out identical 4.555 elapsed times to lead the pack, with Grubnic winning the number one spot on his better 323.62 mph. Brandon Bernstein and Doug Kalitta were also in the 4.50s. Rod Fuller, Larry Dixon, Hillary Will, Doug Foley, and Clay Millican were in the 4.60s. Georgian BobVandergriff was 10th with a 4.74. The bump spot was lowered to 7.073. The biggest surprise was that Tony Schumacher was still on the outside. Doug Kalitta grabbed top speed with a run of 328.22 mph.
In Funny Car, the first session was again pretty hopeless. Del Worsham won the Number One spot with a 4.872 at 309.17 mph. Tony and Cruz Pedregon, Tommy Johnson, Jr, Jeff Arend, Gary Densham, and Ron Capps were in the 4.90s. The bump was 9.24, and four cars were slower than 6.0 seconds. Again, the pace picked up in Round Two. Whit Bazemore ran an outstanding 4.769 at 321.88 in his new Dodge Charger to grab the pole until John Force came up and ran a 4.751 at 323.62 to steal it away from the former Georgian. It was still an impressive debut for the new body style. Showing that the new Charger is for real, Gary Scelzi grabbed top speed on Friday with a blast of 325.61. At the end of session two, it was an all four second funny car field. With 22 cars on the track, many top competitors will attempt to bump their way into the field on Saturday.
Pro Stock was led by Greg Anderson with a fine 6.664 at 206.80. Larry Morgan, Jason Line, Mike Edwards, Warren Johnson, and Erica Enders were all in the 6.60s. The bump after two rounds of qualifying was 6.729. Georgians Warren Johnson (#5) and Kurt Johnson (#10) are solidly in the field, with Barry Grant just outside at number 18.
The Gatornationals is the first race in the series for Pro Stock Motorcycle. Everyone was waiting to see how the new rules would affect qualifying. In Session One, Ryan Schnitz led qualifying on his Buell at 7.048 192. In Session Two, Antron Brown came back to show that the Suzukis are not dead yet, taking the pole with a run of 7.046. The top ten has five Suzukis, four Buells, and one Harley. Tom Bradford claimed top speed at 193.88 mph on his Buell. It is going to be an interesting year. Georgian Chip Ellis is fourth with a run of 7.069 on his Buell.
Pro Mod also had its season debut at Gainesville. 22 cars attempted to qualify for the field on Friday. After two rounds of qualifying, Jay Payne grabbed the number one spot with a 6.134. Rick Distefano was second with top speed of 233.03. Mike Castellana, with the only Nitrous Oxide equipped car in the field, was third with a 6.14 230. Georgia’s Eddie Ware was in the sixteenth spot with a 6.491 206.99 with his new, still primered, Camaro.
Two more sessions of qualifying are scheduled for Saturday, with final eliminations on Sunday.
A beautiful day greeted fans and racers as professional qualifying for the Gatornationals began on Friday. Results were mixed. In the first qualifying session, most of the fuel cars had trouble getting down track under power. However, in the second session, with the sun going down and not beating on the track, the pace picked up considerably.
During the first session of Top Fuel, Morgan Lucas and Hillary Will both posted mid 4.6 second runs, but the third car was in the 5s. The bump spot was a miserable 11.89. This may have been the worst qualifying session in the history of NHRA Powerade drag racing. Luckily, by the second session, the racers were ready and the track was better. David Grubnic and Morgan Lucas both belted out identical 4.555 elapsed times to lead the pack, with Grubnic winning the number one spot on his better 323.62 mph. Brandon Bernstein and Doug Kalitta were also in the 4.50s. Rod Fuller, Larry Dixon, Hillary Will, Doug Foley, and Clay Millican were in the 4.60s. Georgian BobVandergriff was 10th with a 4.74. The bump spot was lowered to 7.073. The biggest surprise was that Tony Schumacher was still on the outside. Doug Kalitta grabbed top speed with a run of 328.22 mph.
In Funny Car, the first session was again pretty hopeless. Del Worsham won the Number One spot with a 4.872 at 309.17 mph. Tony and Cruz Pedregon, Tommy Johnson, Jr, Jeff Arend, Gary Densham, and Ron Capps were in the 4.90s. The bump was 9.24, and four cars were slower than 6.0 seconds. Again, the pace picked up in Round Two. Whit Bazemore ran an outstanding 4.769 at 321.88 in his new Dodge Charger to grab the pole until John Force came up and ran a 4.751 at 323.62 to steal it away from the former Georgian. It was still an impressive debut for the new body style. Showing that the new Charger is for real, Gary Scelzi grabbed top speed on Friday with a blast of 325.61. At the end of session two, it was an all four second funny car field. With 22 cars on the track, many top competitors will attempt to bump their way into the field on Saturday.
Pro Stock was led by Greg Anderson with a fine 6.664 at 206.80. Larry Morgan, Jason Line, Mike Edwards, Warren Johnson, and Erica Enders were all in the 6.60s. The bump after two rounds of qualifying was 6.729. Georgians Warren Johnson (#5) and Kurt Johnson (#10) are solidly in the field, with Barry Grant just outside at number 18.
The Gatornationals is the first race in the series for Pro Stock Motorcycle. Everyone was waiting to see how the new rules would affect qualifying. In Session One, Ryan Schnitz led qualifying on his Buell at 7.048 192. In Session Two, Antron Brown came back to show that the Suzukis are not dead yet, taking the pole with a run of 7.046. The top ten has five Suzukis, four Buells, and one Harley. Tom Bradford claimed top speed at 193.88 mph on his Buell. It is going to be an interesting year. Georgian Chip Ellis is fourth with a run of 7.069 on his Buell.
Pro Mod also had its season debut at Gainesville. 22 cars attempted to qualify for the field on Friday. After two rounds of qualifying, Jay Payne grabbed the number one spot with a 6.134. Rick Distefano was second with top speed of 233.03. Mike Castellana, with the only Nitrous Oxide equipped car in the field, was third with a 6.14 230. Georgia’s Eddie Ware was in the sixteenth spot with a 6.491 206.99 with his new, still primered, Camaro.
Two more sessions of qualifying are scheduled for Saturday, with final eliminations on Sunday.
posted by David @ 5:18 PM
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