Edmonton Friday qualifying summary

Calgary's DiStefano Leads IHRA Pro Modified Qualifying at Second Annual Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (July 2, 2004) - Rick DiStefano was low Pro Modified qualifier Friday during the Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Northern Provincial Pipelines and Edson Chrysler at Budweiser Motorsports Park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. DiStefano, of Calgary, Alberta, took the top spot with a 6.266 elapsed time at 225.45 mph.

Other No. 1 qualifiers include Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., (Top Fuel); Rob Atchison, London, Ontario, (Funny Car); and Pete Berner, Crete, Ill., (Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock).

DiStefano, who earned a runner-up Pro Modified finish at this event last season, is trailed by current points leader Harold Martin, Mike Castellana and Shannon Jenkins.

Defending Top Fuel world champion Millican, who qualified No. 1 here in 2003, holds the No. 1 spot with a run of 4.718 at 302.31 and is trailed by Tim Cullinan, 4.892, and Todd Paton, 4.979. Edmonton's Terry Capp is in the field with a 5.701 ET.

In Funny Car, Atchison, the 2003 No. 1 qualifier, covered the quarter-mile in 5.929-seconds and is trailed by points leader Mark Thomas, Terry McMillen, Jeff Burnett and Winnipeg, Manitoba's Scott McVey. Edmonton's John Evanchuk, Atchison's teammate, is qualified seventh.

The Sunoco Pro Stock class is led by Berner with a 6.632 ET. Steve Spiess is second, followed by John Montecalvo and Ron Miller. Montecalvo's 210.82 mph run set the track speed record.

Qualifying for the Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals resumes Saturday at 2 p.m. Final eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

-ihra-