QUALIFYING

As teams started to arrive at the track about 8 a.m. to prepare for the first session at noon, the weather was good. Sun was out and light winds were blowing. The first session of qualifying at noon went off without a hitch.

Kris Krabill

In Nostalgia Funny Car there are 10 cars running for the eight spots. On point was Kris Krabill with a 5.97, followed by Dan Horan with a 6.06 and Robert Overholser at 6.186. Reigning series champ, Jason Rupert, was fourth at 6.187 followed by Tim Boychuk at 6.23. Number six is Dennis LaCharite at 6.24, local hero Scott Stanger seventh with a 6.37 and rounding out the top eight was Bob Godfrey with a 6.43.

On the outside looking in were Mark Sanders at 8.35 and Nathan Sitko.

Then the weather came back into play and the high winds and light rain caused many brief delays in the program. The second round of qualifying, scheduled for 2 p.m., did not run till after 5 p.m.

This was delayed again for nearly hour and a half as gusty winds blowing up the track were playing havoc with some of the cars as they deployed their parachutes. The RMR General Manager decided to err on the side of safety and put a weather hold on until the front blew through.

At the end of Q2, Krabill held onto the pole, picking up two hundredths and running a 5.95.

Jason Rupert

Rupert flexed his muscles and moved into the second slot with a 5.96 second run. It might have been quicker but the Bays & Rupert car made a violent right turn in the right lane at a thousand feet and Rupert shut off the car.