“It was a bummer to lose out on the All-Star Callout, however we received the No. 1 qualifier,” Drive mentioned. “We felt good going into (the Callout) and received to the semifinals, however we received beat, so our larger focus now could be raceday tomorrow. We’ll put as we speak behind us, and received in that final qualifying session, which was good, stable run for us.
“It’s excellent, to be in numerous circumstances run in and nonetheless have the ability to run that. We missed it the one time within the Callout, however all of us really feel fairly good.”
In Humorous Automobile, Capps opened his title protection with an impressive run to shut out qualifying, going 3.874 at 333.25 in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Elements Toyota GR Supra. It provides Capps 36 No. 1 qualifiers in his standout profession, and he’ll open raceday towards Terry Haddock. Capps misplaced within the remaining spherical of the season-opener final 12 months and ended together with his second straight world title, which has him hoping for an enormous displaying this weekend in Gainesville.
“All of us talked about how powerful it was going to and also you noticed it within the final session,” Capps mentioned. “Final 12 months I find yourself profitable Indy for the primary time in my profession, then we win the Callout in the identical weekend after which we go on to win the championship and it’s only a dream 12 months. So, it’s nearly like how do you high that? However we present up right here and we come from behind and we lay down low E.T. My gosh, what a solution to begin the 12 months.”
John Drive is certified second with a 3.878 at 332.59 and Robert Hight was a spot behind after his 3.879 at 333.99
Coughlin made an enormous transfer on Saturday in Professional Inventory, leaping to the highest spot and transferring previous his teammate, Erica Enders, with a run of 6.515 at 212.29 in his JEGS.com/White Fortress/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. After a breakout season a a 12 months in the past, which included his first two skilled wins, Coughlin is off to a fast begin in 2023, taking his third profession No. 1 qualifier. He’ll open eliminations towards Larry Morgan.
“I’m very happy with what we’ve completed thus far. Kudos to Elite Motorsports and everybody on our staff,” Coughlin mentioned. “All of them work laborious and we’re a whole household. The blokes within the engine store by no means cease working. I want everybody may come to our store and expertise it firsthand. It’s simply such an honor to be part of.”
Enders, the reigning world champ, certified second after going 6.515 at 211.73, simply lacking out on the highest qualifier place. Mason McGaha took third because of his run of 6.519 at 211.59.
Making his debut for Vance and Hines, rising Professional Inventory Bike star Gaige Herrera loved an amazing day on his Vance & Hines/Mission Meals Suzuki, delivering a 6.685 at 203.49, breaking the observe pace document. Herrera made his PSM debut final 12 months and joined the Vance and Hines staff within the low season. He’s made a robust impression already and can go for his first win on Sunday, opening eliminations towards Ron Tornow.
“I actually don’t have phrases for this,” Herrera mentioned. “Simply being right here with one of the best staff in Professional Inventory Bike is a dream after which to run 6.68 on back-to-back runs after which go 203. It’s been an superior journey thus far. It’s nonetheless not actual to me. Once I received that cellphone name from (Vance & Hines crew chief) Andrew Hines in November it took some time to sink in. Then I received my new leathers and realized I’d be driving one of the best bike within the class.”
Steve Johnson’s 6.746 at 198.90 stored him second and rookie Chase Van Sant took third in his first PSM race with a 6.747 at 200.80.
Eliminations for the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals start at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the primary of 21 occasions within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Sequence.
Pairings primarily based on leads to qualifying, which ended Saturday.
DNQs listed under pairings.
High Gas — 1. Brittany Drive, 3.699 seconds, 336.99 mph vs. 16. Keith Murt, 3.988, 255.43; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.723, 331.36 vs. 15. Scott Palmer, 3.840, 298.34; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.723, 327.82 vs. 14. Spencer Massey, 3.815, 324.90; 4. Leah Pruett, 3.724, 327.51 vs. 13. Doug Foley, 3.805, 319.14; 5. Clay Millican, 3.728, 331.36 vs. 12. Austin
Prock, 3.779, 324.44; 6. Antron Brown, 3.734, 332.84 vs. 11. Shawn Langdon, 3.776, 326.16; 7. Josh Hart, 3.748, 331.53 vs. 10. Tony Schumacher, 3.774, 328.62; 8. Mike Salinas, 3.751, 333.41 vs. 9. Justin Ashley, 3.768, 328.94.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jacob Opatmy, 4.126, 292.71.
Humorous Automobile — 1. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.874, 333.25 vs. 16. Terry Haddock, Ford Mustang, 6.367, 106.29; 2. John Drive, Chevy Camaro, 3.878, 332.59 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.218, 236.30; 3. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.879, 333.99 vs. 14. John Smith, Dodge Charger, 4.178, 250.37; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.885, no pace vs. 13. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.012, 297.75; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.890, 333.08 vs. 12. Tim
Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.980, 327.66; 6. J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.900, 329.99 vs. 11. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.969, 325.14; 7. Chad Inexperienced, Mustang, 3.922, 326.40 vs. 10. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.960, 324.51; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.933, 282.95 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.954, 326.71.
Professional Inventory — 1. Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.515, 212.29 vs. 16. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.575, 209.01; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.515, 211.73 vs. 15. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.573, 209.30; 3. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.519, 211.59 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.569, 208.52; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.524, 212.19 vs. 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.554, 210.93; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.524, 211.03 vs. 12.
Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.547, 211.33; 6. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.526, 211.23 vs. 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.546, 210.70; 7. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.527, 211.06 vs.
10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.542, 210.28; 8. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.539, 211.53 vs. 9. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.539, 209.49.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 6.578, 209.62; 18. Alan Prusiensky, 6.620, 208.59; 19. Val Smeland, 6.625, 208.78; 20. Shane Tucker, 20.728, 30.52.
Professional Inventory Bike — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.685, 203.49 vs. 16. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.922, 196.47; 2. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.746, 198.90 vs. 15. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.846, 195.56; 3. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.747, 200.80 vs. 14. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.830, 197.31; 4. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.751, 201.76 vs. 13. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.824, 196.36; 5. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.789, 198.61 vs. 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.824, 198.61; 6. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.790, 200.02 vs. 11. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.823, 198.79; 7. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.792. 196.90 vs. 10. John Corridor, Buell, 6.819, 197.97; 8. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.797, 198.20 vs. 9. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.803, 200.98.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Malcolm Phillips Jr., 6.954, 193.02; 18. Chris Bostick, 7.066, 191.10; 19. Lance Bonham, 7.100, 187.65.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Pep Boys Name Out remaining round-by-round outcomes from the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT:
ROUND ONE — Josh Hart, 3.765, 331.77 def. Austin Prock, 4.564, 164.89; Brittany Drive, 3.744, 335.48 def. Clay Millican, 5.247, 128.69; Mike Salinas, 3.751, 333.41 def. Justin Ashley, 3.870, 299.06; Doug Kalitta, 3.753, 330.88 def. Steve Torrence, 3.774, 331.28;
SEMIFINALS — M. Salinas, 3.763, 330.63 def. D. Kalitta, 7.924, 101.35; J. Hart, 3.757, 330.88 def. B. Drive, 8.884, 74.07;
FINAL — J. Hart, 3.748, 331.53 def. M. Salinas, 10.235, 74.57.
