Brad Brand
After the first round of qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags V, Brand appears on the right path. He made a big opening statement in Extreme 10.5, driving his jet-black 2007 Mustang to an incredible 3.875 at 201.40 miles per hour.
With ideal conditions and sunny skies at Summit Motorsports Park, Brand, currently 10th in the points standings, delivered one of the top runs during the morning qualifying session. Joining him was Alan Pittman, who made his first 3-second pass with a 3.99. Dan Millen is right behind and Grant McCrary, also trying to squeak into the top eight, went a 4.023.
It didn’t take long for Jason Scruggs to have an impact in Pro Extreme, as he stayed hot right off the bat. He was the first pair to run and now everyone has to chase him, as he went a blazing 3.63 at more than 208 mph.
Entering the race, Joshua Hernandez was 24 points out of eighth place, but he started the day on the right track, going 3.727. The man in front of him, Terry Leggett, did not make it down the track.
Alex Hossler, holding onto the No. 7 spot in points, had a great run, going 3.714 to go to No. 2, while Joey Martin is right behind with a 3.722.
Joshua Hernandez
Rickie Jones is doing all he can to get into the “Battle For The Belts” and he started his Saturday with a great start. With the Summit Racing Equipment logo on the side of his doors, Jones had the top run, going 3.862 at 193.52 mph.
Right behind him are two drivers hoping to stay in the top eight at a race at their hometown track. Bob Rahaim went 3.868 just two hours from home, while John Decerbo, the Ohio native, went 3.87.
Pat Stoken went 3.875 and will try to slip into the top eight as well in what should be an absolutely wild day in the class.
In Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Billy Vose kept his momentum going from his win at Dragstock two weeks ago, and he’ll have a chance to back up a speed record later today. Vose went 4.065 to move to No. 1 after one session, going 180.77 mph, which would be a new record if he backs it up on Saturday.
Travis Davis went a career-best 4.109, while Ashley Owens went 4.111 as he moved closer to officially clinching a world championship in Pro Extreme Motorcycle.
Speaking of records, Cary Goforth will have a chance to re-set his own E.T. record in Extreme Pro Stock, which hasn’t been challenged in more than a year.
With incredible conditions for the XPS car, Goforth went 4.045 at 177.86 mph to jump to the top spot in another loaded and quick XPS field.
Doug Kirk made a career-best pass, going 4.069 on his first run, while John Montecalvo, who is trying to chase down Goforth for the points title is third at 4.081.
A second round of qualifying will follow on Saturday, with eliminations to immediately follow. With so much on the line, everyone will be pulling out all the stops in both the world championship hunt and trying to get into the “Battle For The Belts.”
In Summit Racing Top Sportsman, Mark Malcuit went 4.326 and Marco Abruzzi is right behind with a 4.39.
Pete Farber went 4.166 to take the top Penske Truck Leasing Pro Modified spot, while Dave Pierce’s 4.167 has him in second.
(Photos by ADRL/Richards)
