American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals Saturday News & Notes
News, notes, quotes, and photos from qualifying at the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals Saturday. Updated throughout the day.
UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY
And away we go on what will be an extra busy Saturday with three Pro qualifying sessions that will also include the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in the second and third sessions.
We’ll be kicking off with Top Fuel and Funny Car, and then Pro Stock Motorcycle, then rinse and repeat twice more.
Qualifying took place yesterday and this morning in Sportsman classes as well in Congruity Pro Mod and Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle. Right now, Dymtry Samorukov leads Pro Mod with a 5.764 and to no one's surprise. world champ Larry McBride tops the nitro bikes with a 4.831.
Not unlike Bristol two weeks ago, there was definitely a favored lane on the opening lap, and that was the left, where the majority of successful passes were completed, including Clay Millican’s low-of-the-session 3.864
"I think in 2023 had the hot weather combo, but that changes every time you get in the race car, it changes a little bit, but I do love my chances when it's hot out," said Millican. "The hot weather doesn't bother me as bad because I am a Memphis boy and this humidity is kind of normal, but I still don't like it. It's hot. I'm sweating, but stomped on that loud pedal and the Parts Plus car right down the racetrack."
Bristol winner Steve Torrence and “them Capco boys” were among the best in the right lane with a 3.883 that has them second, but the rest of the representative runs — 3.885 by Shawn Reed, 3.893 by Brittany Force in the Chevrolet Accessories entry, and 3.896 by Doug Foley in the United Garage Doors machine — were recorded in the left lane.
In between the Bristol and Richmond events, Reed returned to his drag boat racing roots by participating in the alcohol-fueled Pro Mod class at the KDBA Summer Thunder on Lake Lucas in Wheatland, Mo., where he secured the No. 1 qualifying position but red-lighted in round one.
Englishman Smax Smith kicked off qualifying in the Leverich family’s Ant Hill Mob entry in his first showing since last year’s Reading event, but didn’t make it down the track, nor did points leader Tony Stewart in the American Rebel Light-backed machine in the right lane.