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Sunday Preview: Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil

After a wild night of winner-take-all qualifying efforts and a Pro Stock qualifying order dictated by points standings, the order is set for race day.
04 Oct 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Leah Pruett Top Fuel Round 1 Midwest Nationals

After a challenging day full of weather-induced qualifying delays that caused a lot of shuffling of Sportsman racing and rescheduling of start times for NHRA’s four pro divisions, the stage is set for Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

The cool temperatures we all longed for after a swelteringly Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals last weekend promised record runs, and we expect to see them today. The moisture kept the racers in a holding pattern, and the NHRA Safety Safari working to dry the track into the evening.

With concerns the dew point and ambient temperature would begin condensing water on the World Wide Technology Raceway surface, the decision was made to adjourn Sportsman eliminations and fire Top Fuel cars for Q1 at 3:45 p.m. local time.

Five drivers; Kebin Kinsley, Todd Paton, Luigi Novelli, Kyle Wurtzel, and Chris Karamesines were able to make passes before storm clouds rolled in from the West to delay qualifying action for three more hours.

When the track was dried, Top Fuel’s Q1 restarted at 7:15 p.m. with Tony Schumacher and Pat Dakin. Schumacher immediately quelled any concerns about the condition of the track with a 332.92-mph run—a new Top Fuel speed record for World Wide Technology Raceway.

Following Saturday’s only round of nitro qualifying runs and the calculated qualifying order for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle due to weather; Tony Schumacher, Paul Lee, Jason Line, and Matt Smith have qualified in the top spot in their respective categories.

 

You can catch the action all weekend on FS1 and NHRA.tv.

Whether you’re in Pomona, Indianapolis, or anywhere else around the world, you can follow NHRA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get a closer look at the action.

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Live Timing | Standings | Tickets

TELEVISION SCHEDULE:

Sunday, October 4, FS1 will televise second qualifying session (Q2) coverage from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (ET)

Sunday, October 4, FS1 will televise first qualifying session Q1 coverage will televise final eliminations coverage from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. (ET) LIVE!