PRO STOCK

Mopars may have dominated the Funny Car field at St. Louis, but continue to struggle in the Pro Stock class. Dodge Dart drivers Jeg Coughlin Jr., Erica Enders, Allen Johnson, Alan Prusiensky and Deric Kramer all lost in the first round.

Alan Prusiensky (near lane) and Aaron Strong during qualifying. Both lost in the first round of eliminations. (Jeff Burk photo)

The class, which was a runaway for the Ken Black Chevrolet team of Jason Line and Greg Anderson at the start of the season, seems to have caught up on their new EFI combinations. Anderson was knocked out in the second round at St. Louis by Line 6.636/208.49 to 6.645/208.39. Line, who maintains the points lead, was out in the semifinals when Bo Butner’s holeshot gave him the win.

The Pro Stock finals brought together Butner and Alex Laughlin. Laughlin, in only his second year in Pro Stock, did not qualify for the Countdown, but picked up his first win against Butner, who is still looking for his first win and got his fifth runner-up finish of the season.

(Ron Lewis photo)

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Laughlin. “It’s not even real at this point. This has got to be a dream. The whole day has been a blur. Took it one round at a time and ended up coming up to the final. I was a little nervous but took a couple deep breaths and told myself, ‘It’s just like any other round, just to up there and do your deal.’ As soon as I let the clutch out, I knew my crew chief gave me a good car.”

Alex Laughlin is surrounded by photographers during his top end interview on FS1. That’s DRO’s own Ron Lewis in the red shirt. (Jeff Burk photo)

Shane Gray came up short a scant .002-second from reaching his first final round of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Sunday.

Gray, driver of the Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Pro Stock racer for Gray Motorsports, started eliminations from the lofty No. 1 qualifying spot (6.604 seconds, 209.43 mph). It was his second time starting from the top spot this season. It also marked 14 consecutive events for Gray to qualify in the top half of the eliminations field.