NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Pro Stock Q3

After closing Friday on a very quick session that saw nearly everyone improve, we came up almost empty-handed here in the third session of qualifying. Faced with the most displeasing atmospheric conditions of the weekend so far, it was highly unlikely that many positions would switch, but Kenny Delco, Derrick Reese, and Deric Kramer were all on the outside intending to break in.

After a fiery crash that destroyed his GESi Chevrolet the night before, Eric Latino was on the bump with a 6.578, and none of the three drivers on the outside were able to knock him off. They’ll have one more attempt to make the show later today.  

Incoming points leader Dallas Glenn didn’t get any bonus points on Friday while Aaron Stanfield, No. 2 in the standings, picked up two. This time around, Stanfield picks up one with a third-best 6.571 in his JHG/Melling/Janac Brothers entry, and Glenn is low of the round with a 6.555, 210.54 for three bonus points in his RAD Torque Systems entry. 

Greg Anderson gets two bonus points for his HendrickCars.com team with a 6.563, 209.90 and remains No. 1 heading into the final qualifier. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q3

Richard Gadson’s run was thrown out last night when he was light at the scales, so he was out of the gate first in this session and goes 6.84 — not an improvement, but still a good run for the conditions.

John Hall makes his best run of the weekend early in the session, so it became clear that we truly could see some movement in the order. 

Matt Smith says they put a whole new clutch in the bike and started from zero today.  He was not pleased with the 6.796. 

Steve Johnson, riding the Wings & Warrior Suzuki, made an awesome run this round, one that he’s been aiming for a long while. His 6.780 netted a bonus point.

“It’s just really fun to run good,” said a beaming Johnson, who encouraged fans to visit sponsor  wingsandwarriors.com to learn about the air show they’re planning for next year. 

Hector Arana Jr. and his GETTRX Buell record an impressive 6.773 for a pair of bonus marks. Gaige Herrera and the Vance & Hines RevZilla Mission Foods Suzuki make a statement here with a 6.749 at a big speed of 202.52 mph to claim three more bonus marks.

Top Fuel Q3

The air temperature was at 91 degrees and about what the teams will see Sunday, so these are important runs to prepare for that. As expected, there weren’t many improvements over Friday’s runs in cooler conditions but one of those who did improve was reigning world champ Doug Kalitta, who broke into the field from the outside with a soft, get-‘er-done 3.79 that put him 14th. Not comfortable but at least in the show with a chance (and maybe even a necessity) to improve in Q4.

Tony Stewart also entered the session outside the field and with a soft 4.55 bump spot figured to easily get in, but his gold and black Mobil 1 50th Anniversary entry smoked the tires a few hundred feet out and he coasted to a 5.07. After qualifying second at Indy and fourth in Reading, the TSR team seemed to have a good qualifying rhythm but not here so far. They’ve qualified at all 17 events so far this year and will face a bump spot of 3.883, currently held by Scott Palmer, when they line up for Q4,

Jasmine Salinas improved on her Friday 3.788 with a 3.780 that was second quickest of the round behind Tony Schumacher (3.768, no t better than his standing 3.762) and just ahead, by speed, of Shawn Langdon (3.780 against a previous 3.727)

Championship contender Justin Ashley, who made the strong decision to skip the event’s final three sessions in observance of Yom Kippur, looks solid in the No. 11 spot with one session to go.

Funny Car Q3

The session opened with Texas privateer Terry Haddock on the bump with a 4.100 and Jeff Diehl, Chris King, and Buddy Hull hoping to bust in, but none could as tire smoke and dropped cylinders were a common sight throughout the early part of the session.

Haddock ran 4.110 which ended up being the third best pass of the round. “Fast Jack” Beckman picked up three bonus points with a 3.924 that was best of the session while teammate and points leader Austin Prock got none after stepping off the gas early.

Rookie sensation Daniel Wilkerson had the session’s only other three-second pass, a 3.949, after a 3.87 Friday.