Stanton John Long Report

John Long Serves As Hired Gun At IHRA CARQUEST Northern Nationals

STANTON, MI.--- Super Eliminator driver John Long returned to IHRA competition at the CARQUEST IHRA Northern Nationals this weekend, with a mixed bag of goodies for the competition. The last time Long ran his Spectra One dragster, was to the winner's circle at the Amalie Oils IHRA Spring Nationals at Cordova, Illinois. This weekend, new owner, Mark McElwee, took his turn in the winning seat. Long, driving this weekend for Greg Good, took a ride in a supercharged, alcohol-burning, small block. After selling his own Spitzer digger, Long, 42, is helping Good find the right combination for the brand new Anthony Crane Rentals ride. Long opened qualifying with a 6.91/195.51 in the new car, but his run was disallowed when the car came up light at the scales. He continued his improvement with a 6.848/191.05 which ended his first day of qualifying in the 15th spot. Long entered Saturday's qualifying with every intention of improving on his previous day's efforts. He reached his objective in the third session with a 6.698/202.09. He went into the final session as the 13th qualifier. The veteran printer got bumped out and in a last ditch effort produced enough to record a 6.585/206.23, good enough for the 14th spot. And with all the factors that could have played havoc with this team for the weekend, starting line gremlins kept Long out of the win in the first round against the CARQUEST Dragster of Scotty Ray.

Long and his Spectra One Motorsports Printing Team plans to resume their championship conquest at the IHRA MOPAR PARTS World Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, August 26 - 29. Long, along with each Super Eliminator contestant, will be afforded four qualifying runs during the course of the event and the quickest sixteen entries will compete in final eliminations on Sunday.