Force Maintains Top Qualifier for Eliminations at GIR

(Gateway International Raceway photo)

Under overcast skies Friday, 14-time NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car champion John Force took advantage of ideal track conditions, earning top qualifier honors for the 134th time in his career for this weekend's AAA Insurance NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. His pass of 4.103 seconds was good enough to break the NHRA Funny Car track record, as was his speed of 307.23 mph.

No one threatened Force's numbers during the three qualifying sessions this weekend (Q2 was rained out), but his daughter, Ashley Force Hood, was able to put together a run of 4.123 seconds during Saturday's first session. She will start second Sunday.

In Top Fuel, Cory McClenathan also set a GIR ET record with his pole-sitting time of 3.815 seconds, topping Tony Schumacher's run Friday night of 3.829. Schumacher maintains the track-record Top Fuel speed of 318.62 mph.

Mike Edwards briefly lost the pole in the Pro Stock class to Roger Brogdon, but was able to return to the top spot in the final session of the day with a run of 6.640 seconds. Brogdon is seeded second for tomorrow's eliminations. The surprise of the day was provided by former Pro Stock champ Jason Line who failed to make the 16-car field after 150 straight events without a DNQ. The PS class was the strongest of the event with 27 cars entered.

Hector Arana, the defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, took the top spot from Craig Treble with a pass of 6.905 seconds. Treble's speed of 194.63 mph retains the track record for that class. Missouri native David Hope made the field seeded 11th with a seven-second flat.

Pre-race ceremonies for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals start Sunday at 10 a.m. with eliminations beginning at 11. Weather is expected to cooperate and tickets can be purchased at the track upon arrival.

For the full weekend schedule, click HERE.

For weather information, click HERE.


For up-to-the-minute updates of the action, visit GatewayRaceway.com, Facebook.com/GatewayRaceway, and Twitter.com/GatewayRaceway.

New NHRA Track Records Set at GIR

 

 (Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Gateway International Raceway was blanketed by a thick layer of fog Saturday morning, but the forecast predicts dry weather for the day's NHRA Full Throttle Series qualifying for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.

In the middle of the second round of Pro Stock qualifying Friday night, the NHRA and track officials canceled the round and all track activities due to heavy rains and lightning in the area. Despite the early finish to the day, track records for Top Fuel speed/ET, Funny Car speed/ET, and Pro Stock Motorcycle speed were broken.

Two rain delays halted Pro Stock qualifying in Q1 for a total of approximately 40 minutes, but the overcast conditions allowed some fast times for the four classes: Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock, Funny Car, and Top Fuel. Leading their respective classes after Q1 are: Craig Treble (PSM, 6.920 ET), Mike Edwards (PS, 6.644 ET), John Force (FC, 4.103 ET), and Tony Schumacher (TF, 3.829 ET). In the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series, Danny Rowe earned the top spot for now with a run of 5.955 seconds.

While there are expected to be periods of rain over the course of the weekend, it should have only a minimal effect on the racing. Great seats are still available and can be purchased at the gates upon arrival at Gateway.

For the full weekend schedule, click HERE.

For weather information, click HERE.

For up-to-the-minute updates of the action, visit GatewayRaceway.com, Facebook.com/GatewayRaceway, and Twitter.com/GatewayRaceway.

Q1 is Complete at Gateway

(Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

The first round of NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Class qualifying for this weekend's AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway is in the books. If, for any reason, no other qualifying rounds can be completed, the field would be set for Sunday's elimination rounds based on the times from this session. That shouldn't be the case, however, as it looks like most, if not all, of the qualifying rounds should be run.

Two rain delays halted Pro Stock qualifying for a total of approximately 40 minutes, but the overcast conditions allowed some fast times for the four classes: Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock, Funny Car, and Top Fuel. Leading their respective classes after Q1 are: Craig Treble (PSM, 6.920 ET), Mike Edwards (PS, 6.644 ET), John Force (FC, 4.103 ET), and Tony Schumacher (TF, 3.829 ET). In the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series, Danny Rowe earned the top spot for now with a run of 5.955 seconds.

Pro class qualifying should resume at approximately 7 p.m. For the full weekend schedule, click HERE.

Be sure to check GatewayRaceway.com, Facebook.com/GatewayRaceway, and Twitter.com/GatewayRaceway for up-to-the-minute updates and visit the Sports section of Globe-Democrat.com tomorrow morning for the full rundown of today's events at Gateway.