Heavyweight Hernandez still in charge at U.S. Nationals
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/JEGS_Pro_Mod_08.jpg" alt="JEGS_Pro_Mod_08" align="right"borders="0"/>
(9/1/08) INDIANAPOLIS -- Reigning series champion Josh Hernandez flexed his considerable muscle once again Sunday night in the first round of eliminations in the JEGS ProMod Challenge, posting the quickest pass of the session to highlight a somber day at the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
Hernandez won his race when Raymond Commisso's '68 Firebird crossed the center line. However, Hernandez, who is the only Pro Mod driver to post a sub-6 second lap at the U.S. Nationals this year, pushed his '68 Team Rage Camaro to an impressive 6.010 second lap at 240.47 mph.
With the win, Hernandez, last year's champion, pulled to within three points of current leader Tony Pontieri, who was bumped from the elimination field by Troy Coughlin during the last round of qualifying, which took place earlier in the day.
Hernandez faces off against Danny Rowe and his '67 Camaro in the second round. Rowe ran a 6.098 at 237.67 mph to beat Taylor Lastor and his Camaro, which ran a 6.093 at 238.72 mph.
No. 2 qualifier Mike Knowles got a bye against Rick Stivers, who was a no-show. Knowles ran a 7.744 at 123.69 mph. Mike Castellana's '67 Firebird is next for Knowles after he dispatched Coughlin. Castellana went 6.047 at 237.25 mph to beat Coughlin's 6.091 at 236.38 mph.
Former series champion Rickie Smith pushed his '63 Al-Anabi Corvette into the second round after Ohio Crankshaft pro Scott Ray red-lighted in his '53 Corvette.
Smith faces the '41 Willys of Kirk Kuhns who had a 6.094-second pass at 233.28 mph, enough to get past No. 3 qualifier Joe Baker's 6.104 at 231.52 mph.
Tim Tindle put his '67 GT into the second round after defeating Harold Laird. Tindle made a 6.024 second lap at 237.92 mph which easily beat Laird's 12.209 at 68.97 mph.
Valvoline's Jay Payne also had an easy time putting his '69 Camaro into the second round. He ran a 6.049 pass at 237.00 mph to down the '57 Bel Air of Von Smith, who clocked a 14.172 lap at 70.54 mph.
The final three rounds pick up on Monday.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/JEGS_Pro_Mod_08.jpg" alt="JEGS_Pro_Mod_08" align="right"borders="0"/>
(9/1/08) INDIANAPOLIS -- Reigning series champion Josh Hernandez flexed his considerable muscle once again Sunday night in the first round of eliminations in the JEGS ProMod Challenge, posting the quickest pass of the session to highlight a somber day at the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
Hernandez won his race when Raymond Commisso's '68 Firebird crossed the center line. However, Hernandez, who is the only Pro Mod driver to post a sub-6 second lap at the U.S. Nationals this year, pushed his '68 Team Rage Camaro to an impressive 6.010 second lap at 240.47 mph.
With the win, Hernandez, last year's champion, pulled to within three points of current leader Tony Pontieri, who was bumped from the elimination field by Troy Coughlin during the last round of qualifying, which took place earlier in the day.
Hernandez faces off against Danny Rowe and his '67 Camaro in the second round. Rowe ran a 6.098 at 237.67 mph to beat Taylor Lastor and his Camaro, which ran a 6.093 at 238.72 mph.
No. 2 qualifier Mike Knowles got a bye against Rick Stivers, who was a no-show. Knowles ran a 7.744 at 123.69 mph. Mike Castellana's '67 Firebird is next for Knowles after he dispatched Coughlin. Castellana went 6.047 at 237.25 mph to beat Coughlin's 6.091 at 236.38 mph.
Former series champion Rickie Smith pushed his '63 Al-Anabi Corvette into the second round after Ohio Crankshaft pro Scott Ray red-lighted in his '53 Corvette.
Smith faces the '41 Willys of Kirk Kuhns who had a 6.094-second pass at 233.28 mph, enough to get past No. 3 qualifier Joe Baker's 6.104 at 231.52 mph.
Tim Tindle put his '67 GT into the second round after defeating Harold Laird. Tindle made a 6.024 second lap at 237.92 mph which easily beat Laird's 12.209 at 68.97 mph.
Valvoline's Jay Payne also had an easy time putting his '69 Camaro into the second round. He ran a 6.049 pass at 237.00 mph to down the '57 Bel Air of Von Smith, who clocked a 14.172 lap at 70.54 mph.
The final three rounds pick up on Monday.
