Backstretch Motorsports

Andrew Hines

COMMERCE, Ga. – The No. 1 provisional qualifiers from Friday in all four categories held on to those top spots as qualifying wrapped up Saturday for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.

Tim Wilkerson’s run of 4.774-second pass at 325.92 mph in his Levy Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS from the previous day was enough to keep him in the top spot in Funny Car. It is Wilkerson’s third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 13th of his career.

“It’s a good feeling to be first, no doubt about that,” said Wilkerson. “Hopefully we can win some rounds tomorrow. It would sure be special going in to St. Louis leading the points, especially for the people at Levy Ray & Shoup.”

Cory McClenathan and his FRAM dragster entered Saturday qualifying in the No. 1 spot, and by the end of the day, his run of 4.562 at 327.03 was strong enough for the top spot in Top Fuel. This is McClenathan’s first No. 1 qualifier of the season, 31st of his career and third at Atlanta Dragway.

“When things are going good, you just roll with it,” said McClenathan, who comes off a win in Las Vegas. “My guys are on a natural high right now. It’s been incredible. When we went to Las Vegas, we beat the odds and put the FRAM dragster in the winner’s circle and entering this event we’ve done the same.”

Ron Krisher held on to the No. 1 spot, driving his Valvoline Chevy Cobalt to a 6.644 at 207.69 for the top spot in Pro Stock. It is his first No. 1 qualifier of the season, 14th of his career and first in over five years.

“There’s a lot of emotion involved in this,” said Krisher, referring to his five-years since his last No. 1. “At this race track we had qualified at 77 straight races and on the 78th race we didn’t qualify by a thousandth. This track owed me.”

Andrew Hines kept his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson Motorcycle in the No. 1 spot, driving to a 6.950 a 191.40 for the Pro Stock Motorcycle top qualifying position as well as the track record for time. It’s his first No.1 qualifier of the season, 22nd of his career and second at the track.

“It can be a good thing and it can be a bad thing,” said Hines, referring to entering Sunday in the No. 1 spot. “At the same time it makes you feel good entering into Sunday. Especially with the motorcycle I have right now. It’s really a tribute to my team.”

COMMERCE, Ga. — First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Cory McClenathan, 4.562 seconds, 327.03 mph vs. 16. Todd Paton, 6.474, no speed; 2. Rod Fuller, 4.572, 320.74 vs. 15. Terry McMillen, 4.740, 315.19; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.582, 324.44 vs. 14. Morgan Lucas, 4.739, 317.27; 4. Larry Dixon, 4.597, 313.66 vs. 13. Bob Vandergriff, 4.729, 314.83; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.601, 320.05 vs. 12. J.R. Todd, 4.725, 299.20; 6. Hillary Will, 4.604, 324.67 vs. 11. Alan Bradshaw, 4.701, 299.13; 7. Doug Kalitta, 4.620, 323.58 vs. 10. Doug Herbert, 4.656, 310.91; 8. David Grubnic, 4.628, 319.90 vs. 9. Antron Brown, 4.635, 314.83.

Funny Car — 1. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.774, 325.92 vs. 16. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger, 4.939, 311.92; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.812, 314.53 vs. 15. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.911, 311.70; 3. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.829, 318.02 vs. 14. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.901, 318.39; 4. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.849, 308.78 vs. 13. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.900, 314.17; 5. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.853, 316.90 vs. 12. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.898, 316.30; 6. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.858, 313.95 vs. 11. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.897, 310.05; 7. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.860, 312.93 vs. 10. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.882, 310.34; 8. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.867, 309.42 vs. 9. John Force, Mustang, 4.868, 313.80.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Melanie Troxel, 4.971, 314.53; 18. Frank Hawley, 4.983, 304.12; 19. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.993, 303.03; 20. Bob Gilbertson, 5.028, 311.27; 21. Scott Kalitta, 5.639, 316.60.

Pro Stock — 1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.644, 207.69 vs. 16. Bill Glidden, Pontiac GTO, 6.728, 205.66; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.650, 207.53 vs. 15. Todd Hoerner, Dodge Stratus, 6.726, 205.51; 3. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.655, 207.24 vs. 14. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.707, 206.86; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.656, 207.69 vs. 13. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.684, 205.47; 5. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.656, 206.83 vs. 12. Dave Northrop, GTO, 6.684, 205.91; 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.662, 207.05 vs. 11. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.684, 206.86; 7. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.662, 207.24 vs. 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.673, 205.72; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.668, 206.92 vs. 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.673, 207.98.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Matt Hartford, 6.731, 205.79; 18. Max Naylor, 6.733, 203.74; 19. Kenny Koretsky, 6.734, 205.29; 20. Johnny Gray, 6.736, 205.69; 21. Jim Yates, 6.738, 205.07; 22. Larry Morgan, 6.750, 205.29; 23. Tom Hammonds, 6.758, 204.94; 24. Jim Cunningham, 6.807, 201.97; 25. Matt Scranton, 6.833, 201.04; 26. Lamar Swindoll Jr., 6.837, 203.22; 27. John Nobile, 12.840, 205.88.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.950, 192.30 vs. 16. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.198, 189.04; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.973, 191.67 vs. 15. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.147, 187.18; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.999, 188.89 vs. 14. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.119, 187.44; 4. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.008, 189.92 vs. 13. Edward Murphy, Suzuki, 7.101, 187.99; 5.
Hector Arana, Buell, 7.010, 191.48 vs. 12. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.075, 190.46; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.012, 189.52 vs. 11. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.068, 185.87; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.022, 192.25 vs. 10. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.063, 188.28; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.037, 191.32 vs. 9. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.038, 188.38.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Redell Harris, 7.246, 182.58; 18. Darin McCurdy, 7.312, 181.84; 19. Wes Wells, 7.346, 183.29; 20. Angie McBride, 10.728, 102.32.