Gainesville: Angie McBride Saturday summary

McBride qualifies No. 8 at first NHRA event

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2004) - Qualifying for the NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway is complete. Running consistently, with elapsed times of 7.220-, 7.217-, 7.219-seconds, in the three sessions she attempted to qualify, rookie Angie McBride, rider on the G Squared Motorsports/Star Racing Suzuki, finished in the No. 8 position on the qualifying ladder.

The 24-year-old McBride, from Lewisville, N.C., is running her first race on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Tomorrow will be her first competition in actual NHRA eliminations.

Team owner and crew chief George Bryce indicated that they missed the final session because of the weather conditions.

"We had tested the track over three qualifying sessions and felt we had nothing to gain by running that final session," said Bryce. "We found that we could lay down consistent numbers in the hot, humid weather and didn't feel that missing the last session would help or hurt us. Tomorrow's weather conditions should be more of the same. The bike is ready."

Final eliminations get underway at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

-gsm-