Matt Smith qualified third Saturday to lead Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish NHRA race team going into Sunday's final qualifying sessions for Monday's U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park.
Smith registered his quickest run on the Don Schumacher Racing Nitro Fish Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 6.698 seconds at 190.57 mph -- in the second session.
Angie McBride, meanwhile, had Smith's Nitro Fish Buell 13th overall with a 7.090-second elapsed time and Matt Hartford was 20th after three runs in the Nitro Fish Pro Stock Dodge.
"We had hoped to qualify in the top 10 going into Sunday's runs," said McBride, "but now we'll just get ready for Sunday's runs."
Smith said he made clutch changes and knows what he needs to do to get her into the starting lineup.
Hartford, in his first event with the Nitro Fish team, was consist on his opening three runs, but they weren't quick enough. He ran 6.69 seconds Friday and added times of 6.700 and 6.691 Saturday.
Crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia and engine builder David Nickens opted to change motors.
"We made three respectable runs, but Eddie and David decided to put the backup motor in and take two more shots with it," Hartford said. "We tested with that motor and it ran really good. We have high hopes for it.
"The only thing is there will be 18 cars competing for only four spots."
Kyle Koretsky missed the starting Competition Eliminator line-up in his second national event driving the Nitro Fish Super Modified Chevy Cavalier.
Smith registered his quickest run on the Don Schumacher Racing Nitro Fish Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 6.698 seconds at 190.57 mph -- in the second session.
Angie McBride, meanwhile, had Smith's Nitro Fish Buell 13th overall with a 7.090-second elapsed time and Matt Hartford was 20th after three runs in the Nitro Fish Pro Stock Dodge.
"We had hoped to qualify in the top 10 going into Sunday's runs," said McBride, "but now we'll just get ready for Sunday's runs."
Smith said he made clutch changes and knows what he needs to do to get her into the starting lineup.
Hartford, in his first event with the Nitro Fish team, was consist on his opening three runs, but they weren't quick enough. He ran 6.69 seconds Friday and added times of 6.700 and 6.691 Saturday.
Crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia and engine builder David Nickens opted to change motors.
"We made three respectable runs, but Eddie and David decided to put the backup motor in and take two more shots with it," Hartford said. "We tested with that motor and it ran really good. We have high hopes for it.
"The only thing is there will be 18 cars competing for only four spots."
Kyle Koretsky missed the starting Competition Eliminator line-up in his second national event driving the Nitro Fish Super Modified Chevy Cavalier.
