Greg Stanfield’s description of Sunday’s first-round race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals was different from most races. “It was violent,” he said of its unexpected tire-shaking start.
The severe shake began when the green light flashed in Stanfield’s race against Rodger Brogdon at Houston Raceway Park and it knocked Stanfield out of eliminations. He aborted the run in Kenny Koretsky’s Nitro Fish Pro Stock Pontiac GXP after it was “fish-tailing” in the lane. He was timed in 13.079 seconds at 65.57 mph to Brogdon’s 6.605 at 209.85.
“We had a 50-50 chance with lane choice and thought we made the right decision,” said Stanfield. “I was surprised because the track felt fine on the burnout. It was deceiving. You go up there, hit the throttle and hope. You never know.”
Six other drivers experienced traction problems and only one driver won in that lane in the first round.
“We’ll try to redeem ourselves at Las Vegas,” added Stanfield.
The Summitracing.com Nationals is scheduled Friday through Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Tony Pedregon fought his way back from an engine explosion that also damaged his chassis as well as destroying the Nitro Fish body during qualifying.
He began the day in exciting fashion, stunning series point leader John Force, who was the No. 1 qualifier to Pedregon’s 16th, by winning a tire-smoking race, 4.708 seconds at 193.79 mph to 4.898 at 240.77.
Pedregon left first in eliminating Tim Wilkerson in the next round, 4.225 at 302.89 mph to 4.213 at 299.13. Matt Hagan ended his competitive afternoon when Pedregon’s car smoked the tires – 4.632 at 230.29 mph to 5.838 at 130.56.
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Hagan (Funny Car), Dixon (Top Fuel) & Coughlin (Pro Stock) Claim O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Win
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