Network
We have near perfect weather this weekend in Bradenton this weekend after a difficult summer that saw several events here and across the southeast were victimized by inclement weather. Temps should reach near 80 today with three qualifying sessions on the schedule. Stay tuned through the day for the latest updates.
A special thanks to the presenting sponsor of our same day event coverage, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels!
Jeff Gibbud debut his new X275/Ultra Street Mustang this weekend out of the Real Speed shop in Clearwater, Florida. It’s got a small Ford on nitrous from Induction Solutions on board for power adder and has been nearly a four year project for Jeff and Team Real Speed.
Team Fat Boy Racing is rolling two cars deep with Justin “Lil Country” Swanstrom pulling double duty in X275 and Ultimate Street with “Hand me Down”. Justin and father Corey just got this one back together after installing a fresh engine Thursday. Today marks the first runs since as Justin also plays high school football and wasn’t able to test here Friday.
Team Pirez is here this weekend with it’s own two car threat. Troy Sr. pulled a 4.81 this morning and is working some issues out after some changes late this week. Troy Jr. is running 7.50 and 6.50 index with the Pirez/Sanders Racing fox.
Candido Sanchez and crew were making a gear change this morning in the Pro Drag Radial Camaro looking to tame the car down after testing last night.
Robert Coady from Catagory 5 Race Cars is featuring new beadlocks this weekend along with his pro style jack system. The beadlocks are a new item from the shop.
Charles Hull hails out of Georgia and debut this car just last month at No Mercy IIII. It features a 400 ci Bennett Racing small block Ford tuned by John Kolivas and fed by a large frame 88 Precision turbo and backed by a Keith Neal powerglide. Wade Hopkins’ Southern Speed out of Tupelo Mississippi did the chassis. His best run was last weekend at Holly Springs with a 4.58 at 156 MPH, last night he laid down a 4.74 at 154 and several clean straight runs.
Don Lamana has been running his new car for a couple of months now out of the Pro Fab Performance Plus shop in New Port Richey, Florida. It has a 430 cubic inch Pro Line Racing small Ford with TFS R heads fed by a mid frame Garrett turbo. The car has been in the 5.0 range in X275 trim. The team swapped the AR housing for this weekend which should allow the engine to build boost sooner. The change earned the team it’s first four second pass with the car in last night’s session.
Round One Qualifying Results
Sean Knighton broke the rear on his X275 Mustang and was unable to make the call for round one qualifying. Troy Pirez sits number one with a 4.82 at 150.
Frank Meshaw was the only car to make a good run in Pro Drag Radial and leads the field with a 4.503 ay 172 MPH.
Jason Carlton is here this weekend and is qualified ninth in Outlaw Pro Mod with a 4.37 at 132. He was out of shape down track and the car started to wiggle some and he shut it down safely.
Jimmy Keen sits third in Pro Mod with a 4.12 at 194 MPH behind Josh Klugger and top qualifier Chris Patrick.
Rob Wells is doing well after a switch to big tires and alcohol. The Ford Speed Racing entry saw some dyno time just last week at the shop, his 4.200 at 178 earned fifth after one session.
Mark McElwee put his Port St. Lucie based 2005 Iron Man dragster on the Open Outlaw pole running a 3.74 at 193 MPH.
Open Outlaw champion Matt Gilmore put up a 3.86 at 186 for second.
Melissa Hutson was one of many racers struggling with a tight starting line today. Her 2010 Spitzer basically shook the tires at the hit.
Round Two Qualifying Results
Troy Pirez (far lane) paired up with Tony Alm in the second session of X275. Alm’s single turbo small block bumped Pirez to second with a nice 4.775 at 152.41.
Charles Hull (far lane) moved up to third running a 4.828 at 151.59 moving up to third, Marasco was unable to improve on his earlier 5.033 this round.
Corey Swanstrom is workin out on Walt Drakefords car in preparation for their third round match race with his son Justin next session. They sit one and two in Ultra Street, Swanstrom has the advantage.
Cliff Connolly is getting a handle on his 1988 T Bird qualifying fourth with a 5.19 at 134 for the Naples, Florida resident.
Will Stevenson landed second in Pro Drag Radial after two rounds with a 4.588 at 168 for the Procharged Steve Morris powered 84 Camaro.
Lakeland, Florida based J.R. Atkins was bumped to second by Rob Briscoe in this session of Outlaw 632. Atkins runs a manual trans and as you can see it hits the tire hard.
Anthony Masieko sits on the bump with his new and refurbished car which was campaigned most recently by Jesse James in NMCA Super Street 10.5W and several races here. Masieko is starting out in Outlaw 632 and made his first nitrous runs on the car today.
Bob Meiring dusted off their 63 Vette and came out to race OL 632. He is qualified eleventh with this stunner classic Chevy
Chris Patrick sits number one in Outlaw Pro Mod laying down a 3.909 at 193 driving for Robert Mathis this weekend.
Robert Sellers swapped out his Avenger for this 58 Fury a while back and is starting to get the bug worked out. His 4.32 was good for eight in class so far.
Klugger is chipping away running a 4.006 at 195 this round, just so close to his first three second run.
Pro Lite Batteries team mate Ruben Tetsoshvili is running his Pro Mod Camaro this weekend and sits eleventh after two rounds of Pro Mod qualifying.
Robert Abbott’s new ride is looking good out there so far. His 4.205 this round puts him sixth of sixteen cars.
Troy Blake stayed in Pro Mod despite the small tires to get some testing in. He has not had a full hit today, the car made a move right on this run clicking it to a 5.73.
Ken Cruz blew the burst panel on this run but is qualified fourth with a 4.143 from the first session.
Jason Carlton was on a good run till the tires let go near half track. The Celica was out of shape before Carlton could react, crossing the center and nosing into the opposite wall near 800 feet out before coming to a rest just past the quarter mile. He was out of the car quickly and was not injured in the crash. Thanks to Hans Pierre Jr. from Free Life Films for the use of the video.
Final Qualifying Results
Troy Pirez turned it up for the final session of X275 setting a new personal best and taking the top position with a 4.657 at 148.73 MPH. Check out the video courtesy of Hans Pierre Jr., the old girl was truckin’ for sure.
Eric Kenward was struggling this weekend keeping the front down and the rear hooked on his Garrett turbocharged Malibu. He went straight down running a 4.87 at 149 taking over fourth in X275.
Billy Driscoll carried out a nice wheelie in the final session though was unable to improve on his earlier 4.92.
Carl Mitchell bumped Tiona to second in 5.50 Index running a perfect 5.000 at 126 MPH with his Miami based 1978 Zephyr.
Neal Watkins is a crowd pleaser in this full weight El Camino. This one got up there pretty good, he sits tenth with a 5.685 at 122 in 5.50 Index.
Drakeford and Swanstrom lined up for a little grudge action in the final session. Drakeford took it on a holeshot, his 5.143 at 134 to Swanstrom’s quicker 5.139 at 139.
Will Stevenson took over the top qualifier in Pro Drag Radial running a 4.495 at 172.18 MPH.
Rodney Campbell squeaked in under J.R. Atkins running a 4.623 at 146 for top qualifier in Outlaw 632. He paid a price though as the team was replacing a piston in the pits tonight.
Jimmy Keen improved to first in Outlaw Pro Mod but suffered the same fate as Campbell and the team went to work after qualifying to make repairs.
