Epping Qualifying Recap

EPPING - Qualifying Recap by Larry Sullivan

EPPING, N.H. - SUMMIT FastNews - The traditional "Night of Fire" qualifying session Saturday night wrapped up qualifying for the IHRA North American Nationals at New England Dragway with a flurry of national records. When the final fireworks faded away, Doug Herbert, Johnny Mancuso, Chris Holbrook, Scott Weney, Scotty Cannon, and Larry Snyder were atop their respective Professional ladders for Sunday's eliminations. Herbert grabbed the number one spot on the Top Fuel ladder with a Friday afternoon 4.756 second, 303.43 mph run, just ahead of Tommy Johnson Jr.'s 4.779 at 304.53. Two more rounds of qualifying left the top two spots untouched. In the Screaming Eagles Top Fuel Harley division, Jay Turner took temporary possession of the number one spot with a 6.708 second elapsed time, but Mancuso rebounded to retake that position with a national elapsed time record run, 6.696 seconds at 198.09 mph. In Pro Stock, Holbrook secured the number one spot by resetting both ends of the national record, 6.692 seconds at 208.81 mph. Holbrook's car owner Stewart Evans joined Holbrook, one rung down the ladder, with a 6.709 at 206.64, the third-quickest elapsed time in IHRA history. The story in Pro Modified was similar, Scotty Cannon resetting the ET mark with a 6.388 at 220.66 mph, but the speed mark went to Shannon Jenkins, at 221.05 mph. In Alcohol Funny Car, rule changes since the prior event tamed Scott Weis, who still managed to qualify fifth with a 6.010 at 235.97 mph. Weney saved the best for last, notching a 5.898 at 238.98 to take the top spot in the order. In Super Eliminator, Snyder also reset the elapsed time record, posting a 6.177 at 221.78 mph to take the top spot. Mike Swinarski won an exciting final round in the Holbrook Tools Top Sportsman Quick 8, run during the "Night of Fire," recovering from a late start and a severely-sideways launch to run down Frank Teague and win by less than half a car length, 6.995 seconds at 211.76 mph to Teague's 7.155 at 193.05. Final eliminations start at noon Sunday. Results provided by the FastNews Network, courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment ** http://www.summitracing.com/ **