Huge Crowd Sees Lee Jump to Top of Nitro Funny Car Qualifying Sheet at Rockingham Dragway
Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Laurie Cannister (Alcohol Funny Car),
Mike Janis (Pro Modified) and Pete Berner (Pro Stock) also claim #1
qualifying spots at IHRA Spring Nationals
Paul Lee hadn't planned to come to Rockingham and after changing his mind, drove to the top spot.
Paul Lee, whose weekend participation at Rockingham Dragway was almost
an afterthought, drove Paul Smith’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo Funny Car to
a track record Saturday and, as a result, will start Sunday’s 37th
annual IHRA Spring Nationals from the No. 1 starting position.
Lee covered the quarter mile in 4.797 seconds at 315.34 miles per hour,
shattering the Funny Car record of 4.877 seconds set last October by
Charlotte’s Bob Gilbertson. As a result, the Wynnewood, Pa., driver
will start from the No. 1 position for the first time in his pro career.