In opening day qualifying at O’Reilly Raceway Park for the NHRA Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Michael Manners,
Willis, Texas, and Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Mick Snyder, Demotte,
Ind., took the No. 1 qualifying positions in their classes.
Manners outran the field with a stellar pass of 5.249 seconds at 272.94
mph. Manners is more than a tenth of a second faster than the rest of
the field, including the No. 2 qualifier and defending National
Champion Bill Reichert of Owosso, Mich., clocking in at 5.405 seconds,
260.41 mph.
Snyder, the former 3-time North Central Division Funny Car Champion
posted a 5.611-second pass at 256.02 mph in this the season opening
event in the division. Andy Bohl and defending champion Bobby Martin
are 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Terre Haute, Ind., racer Tom Stultz grabbed the top spot in the Top
Sportsman class at 6.770 seconds, 204.05 mph. Not to be out done, Tom
Elliott put his Top Dragster on the pole running 6.255 seconds, 221.02
mph out of Brooks, Ky.