Phoenix: David Baca Saturday summary

David Baca Eighth at Phoenix; Races McClenathan in Sunday's First Round

CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 26, 2005 - Warmer weather Saturday made Firebird Raceway's quarter-mile asphalt hotter and slipperier, but David Baca didn't seem to mind. He drove the Baca Motorsports Top Fuel dragster to two consistent runs and will start eighth in Sunday's Checker Schuck's and Kragen Nationals eliminations.

The Brentwood, Calif.-based driver squares off against Cory McClenathan in the opening round. Baca also qualified eighth at the Winternationals, two weeks ago at Pomona, Calif.

Baca's best effort in two days of qualifying (4.553 seconds at 326.32 mph) came, ironically, on Friday's first effort.

"We came out pretty good," Baca said. "We were one of the first cars to get down the track Friday, and the same was true today. We kind of went a little too far in the tune-up last night, trying to run a real low number."

His dragster lost traction and he shut off early on that run and he coasted through in 11.106 seconds at 78.99 mph.

"We needed to go from point A to B today," Baca added. "I thought our first run was a little better than it showed. I'm glad we stayed in the top half of the field. I really would have liked to move up a little bit but the track was getting hotter and trickier."

-bm-