Backstretch Motorsports

COMMERCE, Ga. – Cory McClenathan piloted his FRAM dragster to a 4.562 at 327.03 provisional low qualifying effort for what may be his first No. 1 qualifier of the season, 31st of his career and third at Atlanta Dragway.

“I think coming in here we knew the track was going to be a little on the green side,” said McClenathan. “They re-did the surface and did a good job with that. NHRA came in and did their stuff and it was great.”

Tim Wilkerson looked to continue his qualifying domination as he took the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car Friday at the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.

Wilkerson drove his Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.774-second pass at 325.92 mph to become the provisional top qualifier. It will be his 13th career No. 1 and second in Commerce.

“The track is pretty good, really,” said Wilkerson. “It was a little green on the first run, there wasn’t a lot of rubber on the track. It’s pretty dang good now!”

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

“I’d got used to it before,” said Krisher, referring to his five-years since his last No. 1. “We got a fast racecar, we got a good crew chief, Tommy Utt, I’ve got good guys lining me up. It takes a whole bunch of people to make a run like that, you can’t lay it on just one person.”

Andrew Hines drove his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson Motorcycle to a 6.950 a 191.40 for the provisional top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle and setting the track record in the process. It will be his first No.1 qualifier of the season, 22nd of his career and second at the track.

“So far it’s very pleasing to be No. 1,” said Hines. “My dad is kind of stepping back more and more lately, and he’s been putting the pressure on Matt (Hines, crew chief) to lead this team more and more. I hope everyone back at home is extremely excited.”

COMMERCE, Ga. — Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, sixth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Cory McClenathan, 4.562 seconds, 327.03 mph; 2. Rod Fuller, 4.572, 320.74; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.582, 324.44; 4. Larry Dixon, 4.597, 313.66; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.601, 320.05; 6. Hillary Will, 4.604, 324.67; 7. Doug Kalitta, 4.620, 323.58; 8. David Grubnic, 4.628, 319.90; 9. Doug Herbert, 4.725, 306.19; 10. Bob Vandergriff, 4.729, 314.83; 11. Antron Brown, 4.753, 298.87; 12. Terry McMillen, 4.827, 315.19. Not Qualified: 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.837, 247.25; 14. Alan Bradshaw, 5.770, 153.44; 15. J.R. Todd, 8.499, 95.54.

Funny Car — 1. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.774, 325.92; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.812, 314.53; 3. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.829, 318.02; 4. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.849, 308.78; 5. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.853, 316.90; 6. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.858, 313.95; 7. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.860, 312.93; 8. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.882, 310.34; 9. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.897, 310.05; 10. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.898, 316.30; 11. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.901, 318.39; 12. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.911, 311.70. Not Qualified: 13. Scott Kalitta, 4.917, 316.60; 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.931, 295.27; 15. Gary Scelzi, 4.936, 311.92; 16. Bob Gilbertson, 4.944, 311.27; 17. Jack Beckman, 4.949, 310.13; 18. Melanie Troxel, 4.966, 314.53; 19. Frank Hawley, 4.968, 303.57; 20. Mike Neff, 5.078, 267.75; 21. John Force, 7.988, 95.75.

Pro Stock — 1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.644, 207.69; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.650, 207.53; 3. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.655, 207.24; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.656, 207.69; 5. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.656, 206.83; 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.662, 207.05; 7. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.662, 207.24; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.668, 206.92; 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.673, 207.98; 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.673, 205.72; 11. Dave Northrop, Pontiac GTO, 6.684, 205.91; 12. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.684, 205.47. Not Qualified: 13. Greg Stanfield, 6.685, 206.86; 14. Todd Hoerner, 6.694, 205.51; 15. Kenny Koretsky, 6.696, 205.29; 16. Johnny Gray, 6.705, 205.69; 17. Jim Yates, 6.708, 205.07; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.711, 205.29; 19. John Nobile, 6.713, 205.88; 20. Matt Hartford, 6.717, 205.79; 21. Max Naylor, 6.727, 203.74; 22. Bill Glidden, 6.732, 205.66; 23. Tom Hammonds, 6.747, 204.94; 24. Jim Cunningham, 6.807, 201.79; 25. Lamar Swindoll Jr., 6.819, 203.22; 26. Matt Scranton, 6.861, 200.98; 27. Kurt Johnson, 11.809, 75.63.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.950, 192.30; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.999, 188.89; 3. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.023, 190.03; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.023, 188.52; 5. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.027, 188.49; 6. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.052, 186.74; 7.Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.063, 188.28; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.065, 190.78; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.070, 192.25; 10. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.078, 189.66; 11. Edward Murphy, Suzuki, 7.101, 187.99; 12. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.103, 188.67. Not Qualified: 13. Mike Berry, 7.105, 187.44; 14. Junior Pippin, 7.164, 183.49; 15. Angelle Sampey, 7.165, 183.74; 16. Michael Phillips, 7.213, 189.04; 17. Redell Harris, 7.297, 180.67; 18. Darin McCurdy, 7.324, 179.35; 19. Wes Wells, 7.344, 180.72; 20. Angie McBride, 8.575, 102.32.