John Force (Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Bike) all capture top qualifying position at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park.
Pro Bike – Final Session
Eddie Krawiec captured top qualifier for the Sunday’s Finals. This was his 9th top qualifier of the season and 23 of his career.
“We killed it,” Krawiec description of his Friday top qualifying run. ” We got from point A to B quite well”
His final Saturday run was not his best but no-one could top his Friday run.
“Every run you learn,” said Krawiec. “That lap in left lane we overpowered it. We got our threshold for our setup.”
Krawiec will face Shawn Gann in the first round.
Jerry Savoie qualified in second place and will face Craig Treble on Sunday’s first run.
Pro Stock – Final Session
Erica Enders-Stevens continued her dominance at Gateway Motorsports Park. Her Friday would have held throughout the weekend but she ripped off the fast run at 6.511 and 213.03 mph and she captured 6 additional championship points.
Enders-Stevens came to Gateway fourth in the points standings after two of the six Countdown to the Championship races, trailing leader Jason Line by 59 points.
“(Qualifying points) are huge,” Enders-Stevens said. “I know I said it before but these baby points are going to be like thousandths of a second in Pro Stock racing out there on Sunday. Every little point matters, especially coming into this race. We’re only nine points behind third, 16 behind second, and three rounds behind first, so they all add up.”
Enders-Stevens will face Larry Morgan in first round of Eliminations on Sunday.
Jeg Coughlin Jr. vaulted from 5th to 2nd best qualifier with his final run of 6.522 at 213.03 mph. Coughlin will face Deric Krammer who sneaked into the final 16 with his final Saturday run of 6.589 at 210.41 mph.
Top Fuel – Final Session
Doug Kalitta shocked the field with the best run of the weekend with a pass of 3.758 at 325.45 mph.
“We are excited,” said Kalitta. “We are running really strong. I could not be happier.”
Kalitta will face Chris Karamesines in the first round on Sunday. For Kalitta it was his 6th top qualifier of the season and 42 of his career.
Richie Crampton held on to his provisional top spot all weekend until Kalitta’s final run. Crampton still captured the 2nd best qualifying spot with his Friday run of 3.758 at 325.45 mph.
Funny Car – Final Session
John Force
Pro Bike – 1st Session
Eddie Krawiec improved his provisional lead in Pro Bike action. He ran a 6.851 seconds at 194.160 mph to solidify his lead.
“Still one more session,” cautioned Krawiec. “The Harley ran really well. We started to drift to the right, but I will take it. We are moving on.
Hector Arana Jr. moved up two spots to second with 6.851 seconds at 195.82
Pro Stock – 1st Session
Erica Enders-Stevens held on to her top spot after the 1st session on Friday. She ran a time 6.524 at 211.93 mph.
“Hats off to my team,” said Enders-Stevens. “They have our Camero flying this weekend.”
Shane Gray ran a time of 6.547 at 211.79 mph.
Summit Racing NHRA Pro Stock racer Jason Line held on to third place with at 6.529 at 212.19 mph. Line will is the current NHRA Pro Stock points leader. Line is trying his best to win at Gateway.
“I think the fact that I haven’t won there means I’m due, and the odds are becoming more and more in my favor,” reasoned Line, a 35-time NHRA Pro Stock winner and 37-time victor overall. “This particular racetrack hasn’t been kind to me, but we’ve run well there the last few years, and there is a first time for everything. Every bad streak must come to an end at some time, and if everything goes as planned, the Summit Racing team will see this one end this weekend.”
Top Fuel – 1st Session
Richie Crampton held on to his provisional top spot.
Funny Car – 1st Session
John Force ran a blistering pass a 408/0 at 311.85 mph.
John Force and wife Laurie Celebrate Wedding Anniversary
“My day started bad,” said Force. It’s my anniversary with my wife, Laurie; we’ve been married for 33 years, and so I went down and bought her a plaque and had it carved with her name, and I put the wrong date on it. So I went back with my daughter and got her another one, but I told her ‘(Laurie), I’m going to run low e.t. for you tonight,’ and she said, ‘Why?’ and I said, ‘I just feel I can, I know this car has been fast.’ And then it did, so then she comes over and says ‘If you can pull that off, then I’ll believe anything you say from now on,’ so anyway, we got away with it, and that’s her anniversary present – and some roses,” said John Force.
Sunday Race Schedule
10:00 AM – Pre-Race Ceremonies
11:00 AM – Nitro Eliminations – Round 1
12:00 PM – Pro Stock Eliminations – Round 1
12:45 PM – Pro Mod Eliminations – Round 2
1:00 PM – Nitro Eliminations – Round 2
1:30 PM – Pro Stock Eliminations – Round 2
1:45 PM – Sportsman Eliminations – Semi-Finals
2:15 PM – Pro Mod Eliminations – Semi-Finals
2:30 PM – Nitro Eliminations – Semi-Finals
2:45 PM – Pro Stock Eliminations – Semi-Finals
3:00 PM – Sportsman Eliminations – Finals
3:40 PM – Pro Mod Eliminations – Finals
3:50 PM – Pro Stock Eliminations – Finals
3:55 PM – Nitro Eliminations – Finals