By Lee Elder
NORWALK, Ohio (June 22, 2018) – It’s early June in northeastern Ohio. Mother Nature reigns supreme.
Brittany and Courtney Force topped the nitro category charts and Matt Smith led Pro Stock Motorcycle before cool temperatures and a wet forecast stopped the first round of qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park. Qualifying will resume Saturday with two more rounds scheduled for the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
Brittany Force stopped Tony Schumacher and Steve Torrance in Top Fuel with a 3.776-second run. Force said the possibility of limited chances to make trips down the track made her only opportunity important.
“With the (uncertain weather looming) it was very important for our team to get the run in,” Brittany Force said. “You don’t know how many runs you are going to get before race day.”
Courtney Force’s 3.935-second run was the best of the day in Funny Car. Ron Capps and Matt Hagan were next on the list. Force said she was surprised by the decision to make an aggressive run under the circumstances.
“Honestly, going up there I was a little surprised we were going to lay down a number like that,” Courtney Force said. “With the rain coming in, I was just looking for a clean run.”
She got one.
Smith’s 6.866-second Pro Stock Motorcycle pass topped his category.
“It was good to get the first run down,” Smith said. “I was low here last year. … I looked at last year and used a turnup that was close to the same.”
Eliminations are slated for Sunday.
