Saturday

The “R” Word

Much as it did on Wednesday, things have gotten off to auspicious start today with rain showers wiping out this morning’s scheduled sportsman rounds of eliminations. Professional teams and those in the Pro Modified and Top Alcohol divisions are slated for two qualifying attempts today, but it could be a long next couple of days for those in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Jasmine Salinas, competing in her first U.S. Nationals, is solidly in the Top Alcohol Dragster field thus far at 5.385, good for sixth in the provisional order.

The good news is that Warren Johnson is A-ok after his wild trip into the guardrail yesterday behind the wheel of a new Chevrolet Camaro SS. The bad news is that he and fellow Pro Stock icon and former protege Greg Anderson will not take part in their unique side-by-side exhibition today.

Pure Domination

Former Pro Stock standout Mark Pawuk has laid down the gauntlet on the SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown field this weekend, recording Loe elapsed time off both qualifying sessions thus far. In a very quick second session, Pawuk improved to a career-best 7.86 to retake the top spot. Twelve cars have record 7-second elapsed time; most impressively, the top three currently features a Dodge, a Chevrolet, and a Ford, in that order.

Force and Beckman Extend Qualifying Leads; Butner, Sampey Climb To Top

In a fast and furious third session of Top Fuel qualifying that was pushed into the late afternoon by morning showers and a host of on-track delays, Brittany Force brought the crowd to its feet with a track record 3.645 at 332.26 mph blast to climb back to the top of the provisional order. Force, who has been bumped to second just one pair prior by Billy Torrence and his stellar 3.65, edged out points leader Steve Torrence, whose 3.656 put him third, just .001-seconds behind his father.

“They’ve all felt fast this weekend and consistency is really what we’ve been looking for,” said Force, who has one win in 2019. “That’s the main thing we’ve been struggling with and to put a number like that on the board, that was pretty awesome. I was pumped when they told me what we ran. I knew we were going to push again, but I didn’t know conditions were going to be better. We stepped it up and got around everybody. It’s the biggest race of the season and it’s Indy, and everything is kind of falling together at the right time.”

Most impressively, T.J. Zizzo’s 3.782 bumpy spot makes this the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history.

Friday Funny Car qualifying leader Jack Beckman extended his lead, improving to a 3.861, just ahead of teammate Matt Hagan at 3.874 and John Force at 3.876. Phil Burkart’s 4.06 sits on the bump spot.

“I think we’re arguably the best car out here right now,” said Beckman. “We’re making a statement repeatedly here, and because it’s also ‘bonus’ bonus points in each qualifying session, we got four points for being low of Q1, four points for being low of Q2, and another three in Q3. We were low of the lane we were in during Q3, and it’s hard to ask for any more as a driver. And, you drive better with a higher degree of confidence.”

“We can stick a different clutch disc in it tomorrow,” Beckman explained of his team’s race-mode approach on Sunday, the final day of qualifying. “We have the luxury of trying some things that might be a little outside of our comfort zone, and we’re still going to be just fine. I don’t know if the weather will be similar to what we experienced today or yesterday. Maybe we’ll get a couple more hero shots at it, maybe it’s hot and sunny, but I think we’ve proven we’re pretty darn good in all conditions.”

Paul Lee, who owns clutch manufacturer McLeod, announced this week his purchases of Florida-basded FTI Converters, officially putting entering himself in the automatic transmission business. Lee is flying the FTI colors on his McLeod/Lucas Oil Dodge this weekend. Lee is currently qualified No. 8.

Bo Butner supplanted teammate Jason Line atop the Pro Stock sheet with his 6.559. The top half of the field is impressively tight, as Fernando Cuadra holds the No. 8 spot with his 6.587.

“I’ve had the car for weeks now, I just haven’t driven it well. I think I drove decent that time,” said Butner. “I’m just happy to have the chance to race at the U.S. Nationals,” he said. “The more you sit and think about it, the more goosebumps you get. It’s pretty cool.”

Angelle Sampey, with a fresh focus on her motorcycle from the Vance & Hines gang, jumped atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle qualified field aboard her Harley-Davidson with a 6.816, edging rival Matt Smith and his 6.820. Teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec sits Nos. 2 and 5, respectively.

Robert Falcone hung ’em high in the final qualifying session of Factory Stock Showdown qualifying. The Pleasant Valley, New York runner sits ninth in the largest field of FS/XX cars ever with a 7.961. Mark Pawuk will enter raceday on the pole with his 7.86. S year ago just one car ran in the sevens at Indy — this time 14 have done it.