PRO MODIFIED

Jeff Naiser joined Moyer and Riesterer as the third Texan to win a class in St. Louis, putting together a pair of impressive passes in eliminations to win in Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified.

Naiser went 3.876 in the semifinals to beat an improving Scott Ray. Ray, who usually can be found racing with the NHRA, was on hand at Gateway and managed to upset number-one qualifier Pat Musi on the first round. Naiser, who qualified in the fifth spot, improved his ET every round and saved his best for last with a 3.867 at 193.32 mph in beating Edward Wilson in the final when Wilson slowed to 4.04.

“This is real exciting. We’ve got a new manifold and new nitrous and we stepped up the nitrous every round,” Naiser said. “The car showed its potential and this was an awesome win. This class just fits us perfectly.”

TOP SPORTSMAN/JR DRAGSTER

In keeping with the trend at this event of the top qualifiers not getting to the finals, the finals in the Top Sportsman class was a matchup of underdogs between Chris Nyerges, the No. 16 qualifier and Jim Sackuvich, No. 15 qualifier. Number-one qualifier Chuck Mohn from Fountainville, PA, pushed his '69 Camaro to the best ET ever for the class, 4.089 in qualifying, but was never able to run close enough to back it up for the national record. Number-two qualifier T/S superstar Ronnie Davis went 178.66. Both racers made early exits.

Nyerges went 4.467 at 157.72 mph to overcome Jim Sackuvich’s holeshot  and win by a mere 12 inches for his first victory in the ADRL.

“We had a couple of lucky rounds, but this is nice,” Nyerges said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a win.”

In Pro Junior Dragster, Mitchell Seymore got the win, running 7.95 at 76.35 mph.

(Josh Hachat contributed to this report)

RECORDS SET

The new world records were John DeFlorian - E.T. and speed (4.018 at 179.92) and Chuck Mohn in TS (4.089).

Track records that were set:
Pro Extreme - Mick Snyder - 3.609 at 210.05
Pro Nitrous - Rickie Jones and Doug Riesterer - 3.800 - and Jones - 196.76
Extreme 10.5 - Alan Pittman - 3.803. Would have been world record, but he couldn't back it up
Pro Extreme Motorcycle - Eric McKinney - 4.072
Extreme Pro Stock - DeFlorian.