2017 NO MERCY 8 - EVENT RESULTS
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FINAL RESULTS
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THURSDAY - STINNETT LIVES LARGE WITH THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVROLET EN ROUTE TO THE TOP
In a Radial Vs. The World class where the odds are stacked with those cars with large engines and sleek bodies, during Thursday’s qualifying at the No Mercy 8 Drag Radial event hosted by South Georgia Motorsports Park located outside of Valdosta, Ga.
Marty Stinnett, in his two qualifying attempts during the second day of the event, proved size matters. Or, in his case, the lack thereof. He sat out Thursday’s third and final qualifying session.
Because of impending rain expected to wash out Sunday’s schedule, promoter Donald Long made the calculated decision to complete most of the qualifying scheduled for Friday and Saturday on Thursday.
Stinnett, driving a traditional Radial Vs. The World fox-bodied Mustang powered by a small block Chevy, blasted out a 3.751 elapsed time at 196.16 mile per hour during the Q-3 session.
“Our whole team is riding high just overwhelming with emotion,” Stinnett said. “I’m very excited but humbled as well. I know we are running against some bad boys. There are some really good race teams out here. You cannot take any for granted. The top three are all in the 3.75s. For my small block, my little Jeff Burns small block Chevy, what more can I say? My team is awesome.”
Earlier in the day, Stinnett jumped to the top in Q-2 with a 3.771, 197.33. He couldn’t say the jump to the front was a total shocker.
“I think most of the teams out here respected us because we’ve been around here for a little while,” Stinnett said. “We’ve had some pretty good performances, so Praise the Lord, I am sure they know we are out here.”
Daniel Pharris closed the day as the second quickest with a 3.755 in a tie with Stevie “Fast” Jackson. The deciding factor was the Corvette’s faster 209.92 speed.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ruben Tetsoshvili anchored the 32-car field with a 5.217.
Josh Minzenmayer paced the Limited 275 division with a 4.715 elapsed time at 149.02 mile per hour blast. Second quickest Mark Brewton recorded a 4.721 before crashing in the Q-3 session.
Dean Marinis led a Mustang charge in the X275 division with a 4.402 ahead of Marty Chance and Eric Moore.
Other low qualifiers included Shane Stack (Limited Drag Radial), and Shawn Pevlor (Ultimate Street).
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WEDNESDAY - SITTON IS THE MAN TO BEAT IN Q-1 RADIAL VS. THE WORLD
Just two days shy of being a month ago, Stevie "Fast" Jackson issued a proclamation. He declared the new Jerry Bickel-built Chevrolet Camaro for team owner Jeff Sitton would not only be quick but in due time be the quickest.
Wednesday during first day PTC Radial V. The World qualifying at No Mercy 8, the popular drag radial event at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Sitton drove the car, still complete with the new car smell, to the top spot with a 3.774 elapsed time at 196.19 miles per hour.
"I felt like there was a good chance this car was going to go to the top in the first session," Sitton confirmed. "We've made some good test runs with the car, so we were pretty confident in what it could do."
Sitton said the car has responded as expected with each pass up until Wednesday's inaugural competition run.
"The car has just worked from Day One," Sitton said. "Not sure if this run will hold through tomorrow's qualifying, in fact, I believe we can run quicker."
When asked if he bought into Jackson's initial confidence in the car, Sitton responded, "If anyone would know, it would be him."
"And I don't lie," Jackson added.
Dean Marinis drove his way to the top of the X275 division, running a 4.406, 163.93 to edge out Marty Chance, who turned in a 4.426. Josh Minzemayer topped the Limited 275 entries with a 4.715.
Jason Ruckert, of Terre Haute, Ill., laid down a 4.263 elapsed time, which by .001 edged out Shane Stack. Lights Out 8 winner Lyle Barnett was third with a 4.304.
Jim Aldous paced the Outlaw 632 division, as he drove his 1992 Camaro to a 4.472 elapsed time at 159.16.
Qualifying for No Mercy 8 resumes on Thursday morning at 9 AM, EST.
