INDIANAPOLIS, IN. (September 2nd-3rd, 2016) The biggest race of the year finally upon us. The Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals is a 5 day event. Qualifying for the professional classes stared with one session on Friday and two on Saturday.
Top Fuel
The Capco crew looked like they were on their way to adding another green hat to their 2016 collection with Steve Torrence’s 3.702 pass that kept them on top during Q1 and Q2. But an unsuspecting Clay Millican made a great pass at 3.692 in Q3 to gain not only the provisional pole, but the track ET record as well. Millican isn’t normally a front runner in qualifying, so to make a statement run like that at the biggest race of the year further adds to the excitement of the race weekend. Torrence, Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher, and Antron Brown fill up the top five spots.
Funny Car
Most notably, Robert Hight had a wild right Saturday night when his Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car blew the body during Q3. Hight emerged from the injured racecar without a scratch. The same could not be said for his car that was trashed and replaced by a new chassis and body in less than 24 hours. Matt Hagan stayed on top throughout the first three qualifying sessions with a 3.858 pass, a track ET record at Lucas Oil Raceway. His DSR teammates Jack Beckman and Ron Capps are holding down second and third. Courtney Force and DSR driver Tommy Johnson Jr. are also in the top five. Alexis Dejoria has had smooth sailing upon her return to Funny Car competition and currently sits in tenth.
Pro Stock
Vincent Nobile stays on top of the qualifying ladder with a 6.582 pass that he laid down in Q1. Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Bo Butner, and Alex Laughlin currently make up the top five. Elite Motorsport’s Mopar Dodge entries, Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin, are yet again struggling on their engine performance. Enders sits twelfth while Coughlin sits in the thirteenth position. Delayed Seattle race winner, Aaron Strong, gets an honorable mention for his eight position qualifying effort.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Jerry Savoie came out of the gate in Q1 with a very impressive 6.848 at 195.28 mph to take the provisional pole position on Friday and continued to get faster during the second and third qualifying sessions on Saturday. He sits in the top qualifying spot just ahead of Angelle Sampey with 6.841 at 195.28 mph. The Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson riders, Eddie Kraweic and Andrew Hines are holding down the third and fourth spots respectively. Cory Reed is the other bookend to the Vance & Hines duo, thus rounding out the top five.
