EVENT PAGE - 2022 U.S. STREET NATIONALS, BRADENTON, FLA.
COLD WEATHER FORCES BRADENTON MOTORSPORTS PARK TO THROW IN THE TOWEL
Another full day of forecasted cold weather led to the cancellation of Sunday eliminations at the 17th annual U.S. Street Nationals presented by Diamond Pistons at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The race will not be rescheduled, and the guaranteed payout funds will be distributed to all drivers left in competition.
“Long story short, by the time this track gets enough temperature in it to run you guys, we'll be lucky if we get one round done,” said track owner Victor Alvarez at a driver’s meeting Sunday morning. “We're going to call the race because we want everybody to go home in one piece and everybody be safe. All the payouts are guaranteed so we'll split everything up.”
When Alvarez and his track prep team – which included Jimmy Bradshaw and Tyler Crossnoe – considered the track conditions and the possible outcomes, they determined it was best to make the call early enough to give teams time to pack up and get on the road.
“It's just not the right thing to do to keep you guys here all day to get one round in – maybe,” Alvarez said. “It's not the right thing to send you guys down a track that is ridiculously cold. We can't get enough temperature in it.”
The Bradenton Motorsports Park team has been fighting weather all week, as two days of testing were washed away by rain. Cold temperatures on Saturday reduced the racing window to a little over six hours. Just one round of qualifying in all classes and six pairs of eliminations in M&M Transmission Pro Mod presented by Carmack Engineering were completed Saturday before the rest of the event was postponed to Sunday.
“You guys rely on us to make the right calls,” Alvarez continued in his speech. “Unfortunately, the right call is to call the race. We appreciate everyone who's come and traveled from afar. We know everybody was really excited about this race. This isn't how we wanted it to end, but unfortunately, it's just how it has to end. I know not everybody is happy with that decision, but we hope you guys respect it. These [track officials] worked really hard to try to get it done, but it's just not in the cards.”
Classes that weren’t able to start eliminations included Voss Wheelie Bars Pro Outlaw 632 presented by $hameless Racing, Proline Racing Pro 275 presented by FuelTech USA, Precision Shaft Technologies X275 presented by Mickey Thompson, Rife Sensors Limited Drag Radial presented by Motion Raceworks, TRZ Motorsports Ultra Street presented by Innovative Racecraft, and the 5.50 Index, 6.50 Index, and 7.50 Index classes.
SATURDAY - UNSEASONABLE TEMPERATURES BRING SATURDAY'S ACTION TO A HALT IN THE FIRST ROUND
Rapidly dropping track temperatures forced track officials to postpone eliminations Saturday evening at the 17th annual U.S. Street Nationals presented by Diamond Pistons at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Racing was six pairs into the first round of eliminations in M&M Transmission Pro Mod presented by Carmack Engineering when the track temp dropped out of a safe range.
“Earlier in the week we had a ton of rain and we've been fighting the weather ever since then,” said Victor Alvarez, owner and promoter, Bradenton Motorsports Park. “We got a good handle on the track, but it's just so cold and the sun was going away. Within 15 minutes, we lost 20 degrees of track temp. It was going away really quickly. Rather than put anyone at risk, we decided to call it. If it's not safe, we just won't race. We'll try to race again tomorrow. We'll do whatever we can. We're going to do our best to get it done and crown a champion and keep everyone safe.”
Two qualifying sessions were completed in all classes before going into Pro Mod eliminations. First-round winners included Kevin Rivenbark, Stan Shelton, Randy Adler, Randy Merrick, Stevie “Fast” Jackson, and Ken Quartuccio.
The tentative plan is to continue first round of eliminations in Pro Mod, though the run order and schedule is dependent on the weather. Sunday’s forecast also calls for unseasonably cold conditions.
“We'll start as early as we can as long as the sun has put enough heat in the track,” Alvarez said. “We'll pick up where we left off with Pro Mod. It has to be safe. If we can't run a safe race, we just can't race. We'll do whatever we can.
“Thank you to everybody for being understanding,” Alvarez continued. “This is a really tough one. I'm not too upset because we've had a lot of good ones. This one is out of our control. We're going to do everything we can to get it done. It's not for lack of effort. The whole crew has stepped up and we're just going to do our best.”
Classes also left to start eliminations are Voss Wheelie Bars Pro Outlaw 632 presented by $hameless Racing, Proline Racing Pro 275 presented by FuelTech USA, Precision Shaft Technologies X275 presented by Mickey Thompson, Rife Sensors Limited Drag Radial presented by Motion Raceworks, TRZ Motorsports Ultra Street presented by Innovative Racecraft, and the 5.50 Index, 6.50 Index, and 7.50 Index classes.
SATURDAY RESULTS
FRIDAY - RAIN WINS OUT ON FRIDAY, BUT NOT BEFORE HALSEY LAYS ONE DOWN
Three-time and defending PDRA Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey is kicking off his 2022 season as the provisional No. 1 qualifier in M&M Transmission Pro Mod presented by Carmack Engineering at Bradenton Motorsports Park’s 17th annual U.S. Street Nationals presented by Diamond Pistons.
Halsey recorded a 3.635-second pass at 208.17 mph during the second qualifying session, which was cut short due to popup rain showers and cool temperatures. Qualifying will continue Saturday.
The 3.63 pass was one of the first few on a brand-new Fulton-built 959ci engine in Halsey’s “Daddy Shark” ’68 Camaro. It also powered Halsey to a 3.66 in Thursday testing.
“We're pretty happy with that part,” Halsey said. “We're just trying to gain a little bit of time like we have been over the last few years.”
Though Halsey was one of the quickest in Thursday testing and the quickest in Friday qualifying, he hasn’t yet had the chance to really flex the muscles in his Brandon Switzer-tuned hot rod.
“We actually came down to do some testing and we didn't get to test on Tuesday and Wednesday due to weather,” Halsey said. “We got a couple runs [Thursday]. We fell behind trying new stuff and just took a run or two to figure it out. The track was very, very good.”
The challenging weather that threatened Friday’s night session will continue Saturday, making for unpredictable conditions for the continuation of Pro Mod Q2 and the start of eliminations.
“If it's going to be a high of 50 and windy and cold, it's anybody's game then,” Halsey said. “It's a tuner's game. I'm glad I have Brandon [Switzer] in my corner, that's for sure.”
Second-generation doorslammer racer Amber Franklin is on top in Voss Wheelie Bars Pro Outlaw 632 presented by $hameless Racing after posting a 4.175 at 170.49 in the Musi-powered “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro formerly driven by her father, two-time Pro Nitrous champion Tommy Franklin.
Chassis builder David Reese drove his new supercharged ’19 Mustang to a 3.794 at 202.97 to take the provisional No. 1 spot in Proline Racing Pro 275 presented by FuelTech USA.
The current low qualifier in Precision Shaft Technologies X275 presented by Mickey Thompson is Jamie Stanton in his ProCharger-boosted ’02 Camaro with a 4.252 at 171.18.
Tennessee’s Tim Kincaid leads the Rife Sensors Limited Drag Radial presented by Motion Raceworks qualifying order on the strength of his 4.038 at 183.97 in his supercharged ’69 Camaro.
Haley James is the provisional low qualifier in TRZ Motorsports Ultra Street presented by Innovative Racecraft with a 4.548 at 157.12 in her turbocharged “War Eagle” 2000 Mustang GT.
The tentative run order for Saturday will begin at 10 a.m. with the remainder of Pro Mod Q2, followed by Pro Outlaw 632, Pro 275, X275, Limited Drag Radial, Ultra Street, Sealed Crate Engine, No-Time Shootout, and the index classes.