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HOUSTON (March 29) -- Reigning JEGS ProMod Challenge champion Josh Hernandez thrilled a partial hometown crowd when he pushed his way into the No. 1 qualifying position Saturday morning at the 21st annual O'Reilly Spring NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
The Conroe, Texas-based Hernandez was one of four racers that recorded five-second passes in qualifying, with his 5.962 at 242.50 mph in the AMS Staff Leasing Camaro the quickest of the pack. Ray Commisso (5.967), Friday leader Steve Engel (5.970), and Gainesville winner Joe Baker (5.981) also dipped into the five-second range.
Taylor Lastor provided some early excitement when his parachutes failed to deploy after a 6.11 at 238 mph. Lastor ended up plowing through the top-end sand trap and into the safety catch-net. He was unhurt in the ordeal but his car was damaged beyond repair. He ended up skipping post-race inspection, which negated his run and allowed Harold Laird to enter the elimination field in the 16th slot.
The final bump spot was a quick 6.171 at 230.10 mph.
Eliminations begin at 4 p.m Saturday.
JEGS ProMod Challenge Agate:
Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in JEGS ProMod at the 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil:
Psn Num Driver, Home Town, Car Type Qual-ET Qual-Spd
1 1 Joshua Hernandez, Conroe TX, '68 Camaro 5.962 242.50
2 1090 Raymond Commisso, Toronto ON, '68 Firebird 5.967 244.87
3 320 Steve Engel, Shandon OH, '63 Corvette 5.970 241.02
4 2103 Joe Baker, Milton FL, '63 Corvette 5.981 241.24
5 38 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '68 Camaro 6.011 238.34
6 1152 Tony Pontieri, Bolton ON, '57 Bel Air 6.020 236.96
7 3 Jay Payne, Ontario CA, '68 Camaro 6.056 236.59
8 1986 John Russo, Middleton MA, '68 Firebird 6.058 241.50
9 763 Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda CA, '41 Willys 6.058 234.33
10 9 Rick Stivers, Lexington KY, '67 GT 6.070 235.15
11 1212 Scott Ray, Greenville OH, '53 Corvette 6.086 232.39
12 8 Shelly Payne, Ontario CA, '05 Stratus 6.089 233.36
13 6 Tim Tindle, Santa Rosa FL, '67 GT 6.095 235.35
14 1211 Mike Ashley, Melville NY, '68 Camaro 6.104 239.23
15 1941 Eddie Ware, Marietta GA, '67 Firebird 6.163 230.69
16 7 Harold Laird, Baton Rouge LA, '63 Corvette 6.171 230.10
Not Qualified
17 1853 Thomas Patterson, Spring TX, '41 Willys 6.269 227.46
18 113 Chip King, Semora NC, '69 Daytona 6.270 229.59
19 5835 Raymond Vettel, Phillips NE, '70 Barracuda 6.391 219.08
20 348 Brad Personett, Elkhart IN, '53 Corvette 6.523 228.61
21 24 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '06 GTO 6.796 229.04
22 777 Steve Wiley, Liberty Hill TX, '68 Camaro 6.868 189.98
23 501 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '68 Camaro 6.875 220.33
24 402 Taylor Lastor, Knoxville NC, '67 Camaro 9.551 108.65
Houston's own Hernandez ends time trials as top qualifier
HOUSTON (March 29) -- Reigning JEGS ProMod Challenge champion Josh Hernandez thrilled a partial hometown crowd when he pushed his way into the No. 1 qualifying position Saturday morning at the 21st annual O'Reilly Spring NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
The Conroe, Texas-based Hernandez was one of four racers that recorded five-second passes in qualifying, with his 5.962 at 242.50 mph in the AMS Staff Leasing Camaro the quickest of the pack. Ray Commisso (5.967), Friday leader Steve Engel (5.970), and Gainesville winner Joe Baker (5.981) also dipped into the five-second range.
Taylor Lastor provided some early excitement when his parachutes failed to deploy after a 6.11 at 238 mph. Lastor ended up plowing through the top-end sand trap and into the safety catch-net. He was unhurt in the ordeal but his car was damaged beyond repair. He ended up skipping post-race inspection, which negated his run and allowed Harold Laird to enter the elimination field in the 16th slot.
The final bump spot was a quick 6.171 at 230.10 mph.
Eliminations begin at 4 p.m Saturday.
JEGS ProMod Challenge Agate:
Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in JEGS ProMod at the 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil:
Psn Num Driver, Home Town, Car Type Qual-ET Qual-Spd
1 1 Joshua Hernandez, Conroe TX, '68 Camaro 5.962 242.50
2 1090 Raymond Commisso, Toronto ON, '68 Firebird 5.967 244.87
3 320 Steve Engel, Shandon OH, '63 Corvette 5.970 241.02
4 2103 Joe Baker, Milton FL, '63 Corvette 5.981 241.24
5 38 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '68 Camaro 6.011 238.34
6 1152 Tony Pontieri, Bolton ON, '57 Bel Air 6.020 236.96
7 3 Jay Payne, Ontario CA, '68 Camaro 6.056 236.59
8 1986 John Russo, Middleton MA, '68 Firebird 6.058 241.50
9 763 Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda CA, '41 Willys 6.058 234.33
10 9 Rick Stivers, Lexington KY, '67 GT 6.070 235.15
11 1212 Scott Ray, Greenville OH, '53 Corvette 6.086 232.39
12 8 Shelly Payne, Ontario CA, '05 Stratus 6.089 233.36
13 6 Tim Tindle, Santa Rosa FL, '67 GT 6.095 235.35
14 1211 Mike Ashley, Melville NY, '68 Camaro 6.104 239.23
15 1941 Eddie Ware, Marietta GA, '67 Firebird 6.163 230.69
16 7 Harold Laird, Baton Rouge LA, '63 Corvette 6.171 230.10
Not Qualified
17 1853 Thomas Patterson, Spring TX, '41 Willys 6.269 227.46
18 113 Chip King, Semora NC, '69 Daytona 6.270 229.59
19 5835 Raymond Vettel, Phillips NE, '70 Barracuda 6.391 219.08
20 348 Brad Personett, Elkhart IN, '53 Corvette 6.523 228.61
21 24 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '06 GTO 6.796 229.04
22 777 Steve Wiley, Liberty Hill TX, '68 Camaro 6.868 189.98
23 501 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '68 Camaro 6.875 220.33
24 402 Taylor Lastor, Knoxville NC, '67 Camaro 9.551 108.65
