In the first rounds of qualifying at Yellowstone Drag Strip, for the
6th Annual Summer Championships and the second to last event in the
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Northwest Division Top Alcohol
Dragster driver Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., CAN., and Top Alcohol Funny
Car pilot Sean O’Bannon, Ontario, Calif., took the No. 1 qualifying
positions in their classes.
Cowie outran the field with a pass of 5.579 seconds at 257.19 mph with
Kevin Wayman and defending event champion Jim Whiteley landing in the
No.’s 2 and 3 positions. Cowie has all but clinched the Northwest
Division Championship with a 168 point lead but sits second in the
national points chase just twelve points behind 2008 Champion Bill
Reichert.
O’Bannon who is in a battle for second place in national points made a
5.839-second, 246.53 mph run to take the pole. Defending Northwest
Division Champion Brian Hough is in second at 5.958, 242.41 and is
looking to break the tie he is in for the division funny car points
lead with Ken Webster who is qualified fifth.