As a group, Top Fuel field decided not to run second qualifying session Friday night.
The NHRA’s Top Fuel class sacrificed the best qualifying conditions of the Lucas Oil Nationals weekend and collectively decided not to run the Friday night session at Minnesota’s Brainerd International Raceway, citing unsafe conditions and unresponsiveness from officials of the sanctioning body.
The trouble started early in the second session of Funny Car qualifying, when Blake Alexander’s car broke and dumped oil on the track. A 50-minute clean-up robbed both nitro classes of precious daylight and the best racing surface. Seven more Funny Car pairs made runs, and most lost traction.Josh Hart, owner-driver of the R+L Carriers Dragster, said, “It was a terrible situation for the Safety Safari. The clean-up effort unfortunately was not suitable for either Funny Car or Top Fuel.
“Most all crew chiefs and owners tried to call NHRA, and the phone was not answered,” he said. “So we collaborated on the decision not to even start any Top Fuel car.” Brittany Force posted a No. 3 elapsed time in the Top Fuel’s first qualifying session, and she said, “Unfortunately, because of uneven lanes and lack of light with the sun going down, we lost our second qualifying pass, which is really disappointing,” Force said. “After that first solid run, we were really going to step it up and push this car in the best conditions we would have all weekend. That’s the way the game is played.
The only racer probably not unhappy with the situation was Doug Kalitta, who had taken the provisional No. 1 position in opening session.Related StorySusan Wade has lived in the Seattle area for 40 years, but motorsports is in the Indianapolis native’s DNA. She has emerged as one of the leading drag-racing writers with nearly 30 seasons at the racetrack, focusing on the human-interest angle.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NHRA Brainerd Friday Qualifying: Hungry Doug Kalitta Leads Top Fuel FieldKalitta still seeking 50th career win; Ron Capps, Greg Anderson lead in Funny Car, Pro Stock
Read more »
4 Drivers on Cusp of NHRA Drag Racing Milestones at BrainerdLeah Pruett, Doug Kalitta, Erica Enders and Eddie Krawiec all hope to celebrate career accomplishments this weekend.
Read more »
Big Names Dot Winless Drivers in NHRA Nitro ClassesEight racers, including five multi-time champions and the greatest driver of all time, enter Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd with something to prove.
Read more »
Surprising Names Make List of Winless Drivers in NHRA Nitro Classes This YearSix racers, including five multi-time champions and the greatest driver of all time, enter Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd with something to prove.
Read more »
Bailey Zimmerman & Parmalee Add Country Airplay Top 10s, Luke Combs Doubles Up in Top 3“Religiously” and “Girl in Mine” each reach the top 10.
Read more »
Zelensky Travels to Sweden as Putin Heads to Site of Failed MutinyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Sweden, his first visit to the country since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.
Read more »