Brainerd Friday Wrap Up

McClenathan, Capps, Yates and Smith Capture Provisional Poles at VisionAire NorthStar Nationals

By Rick Green

Cory McClenathan, Ron Capps, Jim Yates, and John Smith are sitting on the provisional pole for their respective categories at the 17th annual VisionAire NorthStar Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Cory McClenathan's 4.598 seconds pass this evening was quick enough to take away the number one spot in Top Fuel from Cristen Powell who ran a 4.661-second in the first session today. She remained number two while Joe Amato and Doug Kalitta rounded out the top four. Number five qualifier Bruce Sarver ran the fastest speed of the day with a 316.56 mile per hour pass.

Ron Capps took his Copenhagen Camaro Funny Car down the quarter-mile in 5.003 seconds in the evening session for the number one spot. Capps slowed on that pass to a 266.42 miles per hour because he lost a blower belt right before the finishline. Del Worsham, Tim Wilkerson and Cruz Pedregon finished today in the top four spots.

The evening Pro Stock session proved to be one of constant shuffling of the competitors, and Jim Yates finished today atop the field. Closely behind Yates' elapsed time of 7.023 seconds were Warren Johnson, then Bruce Allen and Tom Martino.

Minnesota's own John Smith captured the number one spot in Pro Stock Bike with a pass of 7.469 seconds at a track record 185.07-mile per hour. Antron Brown, Angelle Seeling, and Matt Hines filled out the top four positions.

The racing action will continue tomorrow with two more rounds of professional qualifying at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. The Federal-Mogul categories will complete qualifying and begin eliminations.

Results provided by the FastNews Network, courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment ** http://www.summitracing.com/ **