Doorslammer veteran Randy Weatherford claimed the No. 1 qualifying position Friday at the inaugural IHRA Pro Mod Nationals, topping a 31-car field with a run of 3.607 seconds at 210.67 mph at Darana Dragstrip.
Weatherford said his team targeted that performance after running 3.64 earlier in the session. “That’s the number we were looking for,” he said. “We know what we can run, and everybody else knows what we can run, so that makes it tough on them.”
With only 31 entries in the 32-car field, Weatherford will receive a first-round bye in Sunday’s eliminations for the $125,000 winner’s purse. “That round one bye run is a break,” he said. “We’ll go out there and see how fast we can run right then.”
Multi-time doorslammer champion Jason Harris was second at 3.608, with Jeff Rudolph third at 3.628. Ty Tutterow and Robin Roberts completed the top five.
In Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Dwayne Rice set an IHRA class record with a 4.086-second run at 175.23 mph. Tuned by veteran Terry Adams, Rice said his team pushed harder on the record-setting pass.
“[Engine builder] Ron Miller’s been working really hard on the Chevy wedge,” Rice said. “We’re the only wedge and the only real Chevrolet in the class. The pass felt great — it went .966 down low.”
Past champion John Montecalvo qualified second at 4.091, with Chris Powers third at 4.116.
Mike Savoia led Top Sportsman qualifying at 4.030 seconds and 182.48 mph, followed by Bob Mandell III at 4.088 and 181.01 mph.
Kara Jo Brank won the 64-car IHRA Top Bulb Shootout on a holeshot, posting a .022 reaction time to defeat Jamie Elrod. She ran 4.713 seconds at 136.94 mph on a 4.67 dial-in, while Elrod broke out with a 4.656-second pass at 149.95 mph.
Eliminations begin Sunday following Saturday’s 3 p.m. opening ceremonies.
