HUGE New Jersey CROWD!
What a great weekend turnout over all with record numbers in the stands, and over 200 racers in attendance.
Round 1 Qualifying
Pro Stock:
Looks like it was a slow start for the Clutchmasters team as Saul Salceda broke on the line and had to be backed out. However, for Leslie Armendarez and the Horizon Motorsports team it was just the opposite as they saw a pass to the tune of 9.55 @ 136 mph.
Pro 4-Cylinder:
Stephanie Eggum joined the NDRA for her first event this season, and started out with a bang. She laid down an 8.081 @178.59 mph. Jimmy Jones broke on the line and was unable to make a pass. Dave Zintara, driving Bill Lowe’s Mitsubishi Eclipse, had some major drive line issues, and that took him out of the competition for the weekend. James Farrer made his debut with the NDRA in his Chevy Cobalt out of the Gardella Racing stable.
Pro Street Tire:
Who knew that a celebrity debut with the NDRA would take place as Nate Pritchett for the TV Show Pinks showed up with his 1995 Camaro. Nate ran a 10.00 @ 137.18 in his first pass. Phil Clemmons topped the pole after round 1 running an 8.531 @ 176.93.
Pro Outlaw FWD:
Jason Hunt started out string with his first pass of 7.655 @ 192.96. Gary Gardella and his brand new sponsored Chevy Cobalt bogged at the line and pulled a 14.55 @ 80.94 mph.
Pro Outlaw RWD:
Local driver Tom Kasper made his debut with a 7.563 @ 196.50 mph to top the pole. Dee Karagiannis debut his beautiful looking Mazda 3 this weekend, and took the # 2 spot with a 7.66 @ 175.55. Ray Johnson gave everybody a little scare as he got really close to the wall on the right side at about 180 mph.
Pro:
It seemed that every time a car went down the track a new #1 qualifier was set. After round 1 Timothy Baptista claimed the pole position with a 6.553 @ 204.29. Last years series champion Kevin McCurdy ran a 6.99 @ 155.06 and he lifted at the 1000ft. Brad Personett also ran strong putting down a 6.71 @ 213.91.
Round 2 Qualifying
Pro Stock:
Norris Prayoonto made his first qualifying pass, and set himself on top with a 9.531 @ 142.66 mph. That was just .020 seconds off his current NDRA record. Teammate Saul Salceda was still having problems with his Integra running a 12.11 @ 94.25.
Pro 4-Cylinder:
Things stayed the same after round 2. Jimmy Jones was able to make a full pass to the tune of 14.42 @ 59.46 mph.
Pro Street Tire:
The field got tight in this class after round 2. Chris Anderson and Yamil Widy from the AAP Motorsports team had some tractions issues. Peter Champani shaved almost a full second of his qualifying time to put himself in the #1 spot.
Pro Outlaw FWD:
Jason Hunt had a shaky start off the line, but still managed to lay down a 7.51 @ 190.65 mph. Bryan Jimenez step up his performance with a 7.93 at only 168.98 mph. Gary Gardella had a problem on the line and rolled through the beams, he did not get a time.
Pro Outlaw RWD:
Only ½ a second separated the top 6 drivers after round 2. Tom Kasper shook the tires through first gear and betters his time with a 7.332 @ 199.46. Carl Stevens Jr. had some problems in the staging lanes, managed to get the car fixed and top the pole with a 7.124 @ 198.32.
Pro:
Another close class as .060 second separates the top 6. George Landis surpassed the current NDRA record pushing a 6.365 @ 228 mph!!! Brad Personett was loose on his pass, but still shaved off a tenth with a 6.64 @ 213 mph. Dan Saitz got his brand new 2007 Mustang up to #4 with a 6.69 @ 212.59 mph. Manny Cruz oiled down the track after he blew his engine in his second qualifying attempt.
Round 3 Qualifying
Pro Stock:
Things got really close as the top 3 competitors had times of 9.51, 9.53, and 9.55. That is a difference of .004 between them. Saul Salceda topped the pole followed by teammate Norris Prayoonto, and Leslie Armendariz was in the #3 spot.
Pro 4-Cylinder:
The wind picked up at the track temperatures drop. Tex Blackwell timed-out at the starting line and had to be backed out. Harry Sohn had a great run, but after pulling the chute in the shut down he ran into the wall. He walked away from the incident, but his car was not as fortunate. That would end his weekend early.
Pro Street Tire:
Things did not look good after a head-on hit to the wall for Peter Champani. Peter walks away, but his car will be put on the trailer.
Due to the track and weather conditions racing was suspended for the evening, and Round 3 qualifying will continue early on Sunday.
Sunday Round 3 Qualifying
Pro Street Tire:
Yamil Widy betters his position, and Phil Clemmons will stay in the #1 spot.
Pro Outlaw RWD:
Points leader Jim Blair sits in the #2 spot and Carl Stevens Jr. is ahead by .010. Ray Johnson bumped Yanni Paparosmas to the number #5 spot, and Dee Karigiannis shakes the tires.
Pro:
George Landis did not back-up his record pass. Brad Personett steps up to the #2 spot on the ladder with a 6.536 @ 217.14 mph just .030 off his current NDRA record. Bill Devine got his car running better and laid down a 7.39 @ 168 mph.
Eliminations Round 1
For overall results refer to the NOPI website
Pro Stock:
The Clutchmasters and Leslie Armendariz got the easy byes. Richie Gibson and Austin Johnson III battled it out in round 1. Austin got out of the groove, and shut down at the 1/8th giving the win to Richie Gibson with an 11.26 @ 124.45 mph.
Pro 4-Cylinder:
Stephanie Eggum draws the bye and still runs 8.65 @ 177.67 mph. James Jones takes the win over Mike Gage with a 10.90 @ 97.17 mph. James Farrer got his bye run as Dave Zintari was unable to compete. Due to that incident on Saturday night, Harry Sohn was unable to stage, Tex Blackwell gets the bye.
Pro Street Tire:
Phil Clemmons get the jump on Yamil Widy and takes him with a 8.29 @ 107.15 over Yamil’s 8.75 @ 170.23 mph. Nate Pritchett sits on the line for a couple seconds before his 9.68 bye run. Peter Champani unable to stage gave the win to Nate. The Toyota Supra of Chris Anderson takes out the bigger engine of Todd Amandus’ Mustang getting him with a 8.955 @ 155.62 mph over Todd’s 9.10 161.02 mph.
Pro Outlaw FWD:
Jason Hunt gets the bye. Gary Gardella lined up against Bryan Jimenez, and showed the crowd how his new car can run laying down a 7.55 @ 189.04 mph. Gary takes the wins over Bryan’s 7.943 @ 176.74 mph
Pro Outlaw RWD:
Carl Stevens Jr. ran a 7.21 @ 195.42 mph and gets taken out by Dan Millen running a 7.25 @ 199.79. Carl had the better time, but Dan got him at the tree with a reaction time of .075 to Carl’s .199. Ray Johnson and teammate Yanni Paparosmas lined up in round 1. Ray gets the win with a 7.47 @ 195.11 over Yanni’s 7.66 @ 192.52 mph. Jim Blair looks good with his 7.33 @ 164.37 as Tony Garcia broke and did not complete a pass. Tom Kasper takes the win over Dee Karigiannis. Dee had some bad tire shake and could not hook up running a 9.74 @ 146.46 mph to Kasper’s 7.66 @ 184.19.
Pro:
George Landis takes another shot at backing up his record with a bye run. Landis shakes the tires bad and lifts at the 60’ coasting across the finish with an 11.60 @ 75.17 mph. Dan Saitz had problems getting his car staged and timed out during his match with Kevin McCurdy. Kevin took the green, and the win with a 6.59 @ 209.98 mph. Brad Personett wins over Bill Devine who was struggling with the car first his first time out with the NDRA. Gary White and Pete Farber get loose and White ends up with the win.
Eliminations Round 2
Pro Stock:
Norris Prayoonto cuts the better light and runs a 9.78 @ 131.78 to take the win over Leslie Armendaiz’s 9.77 @ 136.69. Richie Gibson has puts down a 10.70 @ 126.44 mph and takes the win in an upset over Saul Salceda who broke on the line.
Pro 4 Cylinder:
Stephanie Eggum gets the jump and getting loose at the 1/8th on James Jones with a 9.68 @ 97.89 mph. James having some problems getting the car down the track. James Farrer wins over Tex Blackwell, who also had mechanical problems. James ran an 8.55 @ 159.99 mph.
Pro Street Tire:
Phil Clemmons gets the bye run. Nate Pritchett and Chris Anderson line up against each other. Chris cut the better light, but lost traction before the 60’. Pritchett wins with a 9.78 @ 140.14
Pro Outlaw RWD:
Dan Millen goes up against Ray Johnson in the semi-finals. Ray cut a perfect light (.000) and blew up the engine oiling down the track from the 1/8th on…. Dan wins with a 7.18 @ 209.59 mph
Due to the oil down of Ray Johnson, a rain shower, and a track curfew of 7pm… Racing was stopped for the weekend. To be continued at Maryland International Raceway May 19th…….
