Denver: Shelly Howard qualifying

MORRISON, Colo. - Today, NHRA Federal Mogul Dragster driver Shelly Howard added one more accomplishment to her growing list of achievements this year in qualifying No. 1 for this weekend's Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, just outside of Denver. In addition to already having a career year, this weekend's event is the first national event pole. Howard hopes to pick up her second national event victory of the year at the site of her first career win in Denver.

Howard, a registered nurse from Tulsa, Okla., had problems in Thursday's first qualifying session and was unable to make a pass. Howard and team took it in stride however, and jumped to the top of the pack in Friday morning's first session with an elapsed time of 5.71 seconds, then improved in the evening session with a 5.683 at 249.03 mph to keep the top spot.

"The car has been really good this weekend," said Howard. "My tuner Tom Conway and my crew have given me a great car to drive. We were concerned coming into today since we missed yesterday's session, but everything worked itself out. Today was a really good day for the team, but we have to keep our focus in order to keep going in the right direction. Just because we qualified No. 1 doesn't mean that anybody is going to give us anything."

In tomorrow's first round, Howard will face No. 12 qualifier Larry Traugott. Howard hopes to maintain the consistency in this weekend's eliminations that have put her fifth in points nationally coming into this weekend.

"It's up to Tom [Conway] and the crew as to how the car will be set up for tomorrow," commented Howard. "I just have to make sure I cut a decent light, and do my job as a driver. I really can't be concerned about who is in the other lane."

-Shelly Howard Racing