Veteran driver Jay Payne raced to the qualifying lead Friday at Gainesville Raceway in the debut of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Payne, of Ontario, Calif., covered the quarter-mile distance in 5.887 seconds at 241.28 mph in his supercharged 1968 Camaro, which is tuned by Brad Anderson.

Payne, who has 36 career NHRA victories in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car competition, will try to earn his first official Pro Mod victory Sunday when Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals eliminations begin for NHRA’s newest national touring series. Payne has seven wins in NHRA Pro Mod exhibition racing.

Veteran driver Jay Payne raced to the qualifying lead Friday at Gainesville Raceway in the debut of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Payne, of Ontario, Calif., covered the quarter-mile distance in 5.887 seconds at 241.28 mph in his supercharged 1968 Camaro, which is tuned by Brad Anderson.

Payne, who has 36 career NHRA victories in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car competition, will try to earn his first official Pro Mod victory Sunday when Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals eliminations begin for NHRA’s newest national touring series. Payne has seven wins in NHRA Pro Mod exhibition racing.

“It was absolutely awesome,” Payne said. “There's going to be more rubber on the track tomorrow, which is going to make it better for the guys who run in front of me. If it makes it better for them, it makes it better for us. We just have to make the power to race with them. I really didn't drive it good, but I'm not going to complain because it went real fast. There was room for improvements on my end, because it was dark and I was really amped up.”

Melanie Troxel, who also is competing in Funny Car at this event, was second in her In-N-Out ’63 Corvette with a 5.888 at 236.71. Mike Knowles powered his ’63 Corvette to the third spot with a 5.909 at 244.60.

Qualifying continues Saturday with two sessions for Sunday’s eliminations.