Budds Creek qualifying

Crane Cams President's Cup qualifying release...

Alesci, Cannon, Dobbs lead qualifying at Crane Cams President's Cup

BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- Angelo Alesci, Scotty Cannon and Larry Dobbs led professional qualifying in their respective categories Friday afternoon at the 6th annual Crane Cams President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway. The race is the third of eight national events on the IHRA Snap-on Tools Championship Drag Racing Series. Cleveland, Ohio's Alesci, driving a 1996 Chevy Monte Carlo, covered the quarter-mile in 6.744 seconds at 205 miles per hour to take the top qualifying spot in Pro Stock. Alesci, who won the recent Prolong Super Lubricants Spring Nationals at Bristol, Tenn., established a new track record on the run. In Pro Modified, Cannon of Lyman, S.C., drove his 1941 Willys to a top qualifying effort of 6.523 seconds, 211 mph. The five-time IHRA World Champion just edged Tommy Mauney and Rickie Smith in a tight battle for the top spot. Canadian Dobbs ran a personal best 5.994 second, 235 mph pass in his 1996 Chevy Camaro to claim top qualifying honors in Alcohol Funny Car. Second round qualifying for professional categories begins Saturday at 1 p.m.

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