<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/M_Thomas.jpg" alt="m thomas" align="right"borders="0"/>
DENVER, July 15, 2006 -- Mike Thomas, who has missed the starting NHRA Pro Stock line-ups by mere thousandths of a second more times than he wants to remember, had sixth-thousandths of a second to spare Saturday when he qualified 16th for Sunday's Mopar Mile- High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
"We get to make runs on Sunday," said Thomas after waiting out the final Pro Stock runs on Saturday. His 7.147-second run at 192.28 mph put Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish Wear Dodge into the field on a very hot day in mile-high atmospheric conditions seen only once a year. Temperatures crept over 100 degrees Friday and Saturday, creating more obstacles for the crew chiefs.
Thomas will race No. 1 qualifier Jason Line (7.062 at 195.65) in the opening round.
"This is such a weird place . . . the weirdest for racing conditions," said crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia. "We have to change the car all around to race here in atmospheric conditions we only see up here. It's always nice to be in the (16-car) field. There were 20 good cars that came to qualify and we're happy to be one of them. It just not easy running here."
Nitro Fish Wear Dodge Driver Gets in with 7.147-second Run
DENVER, July 15, 2006 -- Mike Thomas, who has missed the starting NHRA Pro Stock line-ups by mere thousandths of a second more times than he wants to remember, had sixth-thousandths of a second to spare Saturday when he qualified 16th for Sunday's Mopar Mile- High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
"We get to make runs on Sunday," said Thomas after waiting out the final Pro Stock runs on Saturday. His 7.147-second run at 192.28 mph put Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish Wear Dodge into the field on a very hot day in mile-high atmospheric conditions seen only once a year. Temperatures crept over 100 degrees Friday and Saturday, creating more obstacles for the crew chiefs.
Thomas will race No. 1 qualifier Jason Line (7.062 at 195.65) in the opening round.
"This is such a weird place . . . the weirdest for racing conditions," said crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia. "We have to change the car all around to race here in atmospheric conditions we only see up here. It's always nice to be in the (16-car) field. There were 20 good cars that came to qualify and we're happy to be one of them. It just not easy running here."
