FREEMAN EARNS FIRST CAREER PRO STOCK NO. 1 IN WILD SATURDAY AT BANDIMERE

Written by Larry Crum, photo by Richard Brady    Sun, 2019-07-21 08:00

 

Talk about a thriller.

Pro Stock’s one and only qualifying session on Saturday at the 40th annual Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Bandimere Speedway pretty much had it all - wild weather, crashes, and a surprise name atop the ladder.

Elite Motorsports owner and part-time driver Richard Freeman, typically standing behind the cars on race day, found himself behind the wheel this weekend in Denver after Rodger Brogdon informed the team that he would not make the western swing. On Saturday, Freeman became the 65th different driver to earn a No. 1 qualifier award in the class when he drove his Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to the top spot in the only qualifying session of the day.

“It is really neat. I’ve always got to stand behind the cars and enjoy that perspective and now we are up here,” Freeman said. “I honestly didn’t think it would stick, but we were super excited when it did.”

After rain pushed the Pro Stock session to late in the evening culminating in a wild swing in temperatures, Freeman drove to the pole position with a 6.948-second pass at 197.33 mph, his first time pacing the Pro Stock field.

In fact, Elite Motorsports-powered drivers occupied the top three spots on Saturday with Jeg Coughlin placing the Jegs Camaro second with a 6.953 at 197.51 mph and Matt Hartford qualifying third with a 6.954 at 196.93 mph. Deric Kramer (6.954) and Steve Matusek (6.956) rounded out the top five.

Greg Anderson, who previously held the top spot entering the day, slipped all the way to ninth.

With Freeman’s surprise run, he becomes the first new driver to earn a green hat since Deric Kramer in 2018.

“You can’t say enough about our program and all of the guys that I’ve got back there and our other drivers,” Freeman said. “It has been an awesome ride.”

Saturday’s session was full of drama as drivers struggled to get a handle on the rapidly-changing conditions and even saw a scary incident when Kenny Delco’s Camaro darted across the track just past the finish line, hitting the wall and rolling multiple times before coming to rest on its roof. Delco exited the car under his own power.

Now, with his first career No. 1 under his belt, Freeman shifts his focus to first round opponent Joey Grose on Sunday with hopes of perhaps adding to an already memorable weekend up on the mountain.

“I am just hoping I don’t lose from the No. 1 spot,” Freeman said. “I struggle at the Christmas tree, but who knows. I think I am going to be good. I think all of my cars are going to be good. Hopefully we can come out of here with a win.”

 

 
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