(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)
By Logan Morris
Day Two of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals got off to a soggy start with a two hour rain delay Saturday afternoon. Luckily, the delay did nothing to dampen the spirits of the fans who turned out to see the final day of qualifying.
Doug Kalitta continued his domination of the Top Fuel ranks, setting an all-time speed record by going an incredible 337.16 mph at 3.703 seconds. Kalitta won Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty challenge I asked the reigning champion if it meant a little more because Norwalk serves as a home track for the Ypsilanti, Michigan naive.
“You know, running at the speeds these things are doing, and breaking records it’s a personal best for me and It's fun. Connie's out here and he's driven these things and been tuning them and everything else and really to see the performance. I think he's even impressed. So he's out here with us this weekend, and we're just real happy that car's going down the track and setting good times.”
Kalitta goes into Sunday’s eliminations looking for his fourth Wally of the season.
In Funny Car, Austin Prock continued to fly the banner for John Force Racing. Prock won his Third straight Mission #2Fast2Tasty challenge by defeating Bob Tasca III thanks to yet another new track record of 3.853 seconds while going 330.55 mph. The No. 1 Qualifier will come into Sunday looking to make it three consecutive opening eliminations against Joe Morrison.
(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson remained one step ahead of the field. He won his second consecutive Misson #2Fast2Tasty challenge by defeating Erica Enders thanks to a 6.595-second pass at 204.94 mph. Sunday appears poised to be very different weather conditions and the 105-time Pro Stock winner admitted that’s a challenge for tomorrow’s eliminations, especially early in the day,
(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)
”There's so many things that are going to have to be changed overnight or you'll get smoked right away tomorrow. So you're going to have to make wholesale changes and and hope you hit the target fairly close. I expect that we'll make a ton of changes and you'll come out first round. And you probably won't be exactly right with everything because there's so many changes to be made. So you've got to find a way to win and get that car better as the day goes on and hopefully progress through the day. So that's what it's going to be. We will do our job, we can to get it ready for E1, but knowing it probably won't be perfect and hopefully find a way to win the first round to get a chance to make it better each round.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson, got his ever-elusive first NHRA win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challage Saturday with a 6.819s at 196.87 mph. I asked if he’d been battling any self-doubt leading up to his first win.
“I'd be lying if I said I didn't. That did creep in a couple times this year, that kind of started to turn around for me in Bristol. I started to turn around in Bristol and then the last race in Virginia was really a confidence booster, I just starting to feel like myself again. I didn't really ride a bunch for the last two years and I'd like to say I lost the step for a little bit and I'm just starting to feel like myself. I'm getting that dog back in me, as I like to call it.” Matt Smith enters Sunday as the No 1 qualifier.
Eliminations for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at Summit Motorsports Park.