Pro Nitrous racer Tim Savell used a cue from a practice run to land in the top qualifying spot during Friday’s provisional qualifying at the ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza V.
 
The Terry, Miss.-based driver really had no other choice.
 
Between the fenders of his 1968 was a brand-new and unproven 822-inch Reher-Morrison engine.
 
“That was the first eighth-mile hit the engine had ever made,” Savell admitted, alluding to Friday’s 3.994, 185.89.
 
If Friday’s provisional run holds, it will mark the first time he’s nailed down the top qualifying position.

Del Cox Jr. sets provisional Top Fuel pole Friday night; Commisso, Collins top Pro Mod, Pro Stock

Del Cox Jr. topped the charts Friday night in Top Fuel qualifying for
the opening night the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Mardi Gras Nationals
at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge.

Cox (Downey, Ca.) made a 4.712 run at 314.83 mph to hold off 2008 IHRA
Nitro Funny Car Champion Terry Haddock (Woodinville, Wa.) who set his
personal best Top Fuel E.T. and speed with 4.768, 302.41 mph pass.
 
Ray Commisso (Toronto, Ont.) took home the Ironman in Pro Modified with
a record-challenging 5.993 pass at 245.09 mph. Ed Hoover (Gilbert, SC)
was second with a 6.049 run at 237.88 mph.

Robert
Patrick may not be the quickest and fastest Extreme Pro Stock racer to
compete in this weekend’s ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza V in Houston,
Texas. He might not emerge as the winner on Saturday night when the
event concludes.
 
That kind of reality doesn’t concern the driver of the Purvis
Ford-sponsored Shelby Cobra, nor does it bring cause for disappointment.
 
The Fredericksburg, Va.-based driver holds one title that none of his colleagues can ever lay claim.

Last Saturday Ashley Force Hood emceed the 2009 Cal State Fullerton Front & Center fund raising

Ashley Force Hood, Reba McEntire, and CSFU president Dr. Milton Gordon

event
at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The event was a huge success and Force
Hood enjoyed the experience especially introducing and meeting country
music legend Reba McEntire.

After coming home empty-handed from last week’s long business trip to Bahrain, Von Smith will be searching for a happier ending this weekend a lot closer to home.

Smith, crew chief Howard Moon and the crew of the new Al-Anabi Racing
1968 Chevy Camaro will be at Houston Raceway Park for the
season-opening National Guard ADRL Tour’s Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza V in
Baytown, Texas, March 6-7.

Getting the Tim McAmis-built Pro Mod Extreme race car ready for
Friday’s qualifying in just a few days became the sole focus of the
team after it arrived in Oak Ridge Sunday.

Matco Tools, one of the nation's leading manufacturer and distributors
of quality professional automotive equipment, tools and toolboxes, is
planning to fill a lucky Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge
driver's toolbox with a $25,000 check, series officials announced
Thursday.
 
Beginning March 12-15 with the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, drivers
will earn points for the $35,000 Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash  -- a
"race-within-a-race" which pits the top Get Screened America Pro Mods
against each other with the chance to race for a $25,000 top prize.
 
"Matco Tools is very proud to be associated with this exciting class of
racing," John Torok, Manager of Motorsports Marketing for Matco Tools,
said. "Just like our Distributors are rewarded every day by
outperforming their competition, Matco Tools will reward the Pro Mod
teams that outperform the others in the class throughout the season."

Twenty Years Apart the IHRA Enters Its Toughest Season …
 
Ted Jones knows a thing or two about survival.
 
Two decades ago, the former drag racing executive had to call on every instinct he possessed to keep the IHRA afloat.
 
The IHRA of '89 when compared to the 2009 version bears a striking
resemblance. There’s no series sponsor and the only semblance of a
points fund are a few special shootout programs. In both cases, a
modest sportsman championship fund is the foundation from which to
build.
 
A sportsman fund, an office and a field full of dedicated IHRA staffers determined to churn their way through a tough season.

Leah Pruett-LeDuc will be the driver for Ed and Ron Lenarth at the upcoming running of the 51st March Meet in Bakersfield, CA.

Mike Thompson, crew chief of the Lenarth’s “Holy Toledo” Jeep said, “This past weekend, it was confirmed that Leah Pruett-LeDuc will be driving the Holy Toledo Jeep at the March Meet and the entire team has happy to have her on board!”

Leah will be one of approximately 24 drivers looking to win the coveted March Meet title in either the gold or silver nitro Funny Car field.